ABSTRACT
The forest resources of the world have been subjected to tremendous pressure due to an ever increasing demand for forest products like wood for pulp, paper, timber and furniture industries. The forests are being cleared in South-east Asia, Africa and South America at an estimated rate of 5 million ha, 2 million ha, and 8 million ha yr-1 respectively (Kumar 1997). At present, there are about 100 million ha of industrial plantations worldwide. Out of this, 70-80% is comprised of conifers, made up about equally of long-rotation and medium-rotation species that include several species of the genus Pinus. The forest cover of India is not very promising, having the present assessment of 63.73 million ha. Northeast India reveals a better condition of having almost half of the total geographical area (about 22.5 million hectares) under forests with valuable timber yielding trees including pines.
