On Large-size Timber Plan ta tion Forestry of Va luable HardwoodSpec ies inWarm Sub-tropical Areas of China

Large-size timber p lantation of valuable hardwood species can combine high-quality hardwood p roductionwith biodiversity conservation and great pursuit on ecological benefit and stability of forest ecosystem, and successfully achieve forest sustainable management. In the past two decades much more attentions have been paid to research on a number of valuable hardwood species and p romote greatly understanding about their biological and ecological characteristics, thus their forestry regimes and importance should be re-assessed. The key techniques for develop ing large-size timber plantations of valuable hardwood species are: (1) to plan forested lands considerably onthe basis of habitat heterogeneity and species characteristics; (2) to use elite seeds and sap lings; (3) to controlstand density in time; (4) to establish mixed forestswith two ormore species; (5) to p roduce knot-free timber byp runing; and (6) to regenerate in gap s formed by harvesting selectively so as to keep forest ecosystem stable. Economic benefits for develop ing valuable hardwood specieswere also calculated taking Castanopsis hystrix as examp le.And the p riority in the fields of research on large-size timber p lantation forestry of valuable hardwood species hasbeen pointed out.