Benefits of Eucalyptus Plantations: Ecological Services, Socioeconomic Contributions, and Innovation—A Global Review

Mensah, Prosper; Pimenta, Alexandre Santos; Melo, Rafael Rodolfo de; Amponsah, James; Rusch, Fernando; Danso, Humphrey; Miranda, Neyton de Oliveira; Medeiros, Priscila Lira de; Gama, Gil Sander Próspero

doi:10.3390/f17060644

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Benefits of Eucalyptus Plantations: Ecological Services, Socioeconomic Contributions, and Innovation—A Global Review

by

Prosper Mensah

^1,2,3

,

Alexandre Santos Pimenta

^2,*

,

Rafael Rodolfo de Melo

³

,

James Amponsah

¹,

Fernando Rusch

³

,

Humphrey Danso

⁴

,

Neyton de Oliveira Miranda

²

,

Priscila Lira de Medeiros

^2,5

and

Gil Sander Próspero Gama

^2,6

¹

CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, Wood Industry and Utilization Division, TECH, Kumasi P.O. Box UP 63, Ghana

²

Graduate Program in Forest Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Rodovia RN-160, s/n, Distrito de Jundiaí, Macaíba 59280-000, RN, Brazil

³

Departamento de Ciências Agronômicas e Florestais (CCA/DCAF), Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA) Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Av. Francisco Mota, 572-Bairro Costa e Silva, Mossoró 59625-900, RN, Brazil

⁴

Department of Civil Engineering, Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, P.O. Box 1277, Kumasi AK-448-3564, Ghana

⁵

Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Sergipe (IFS), Campus Poço Redondo, Rodovia SE-206, Zona Rural, Poço Redondo 49810-000, SE, Brazil

⁶

Graduate Program in Development and Environment—PRODEMA, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Campus Universitário, Av. Senador Salgado Filho, 3000-Lagoa Nova, Natal 59078-900, RN, Brazil

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Forests 2026, 17(6), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/f17060644

Submission received: 5 February 2026 / Revised: 8 May 2026 / Accepted: 19 May 2026 / Published: 25 May 2026

(This article belongs to the Section Forest Economics, Policy, and Social Science)

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Abstract

Eucalypt plantations have expanded across tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions and now play an important role in the global supply of wood and renewable biomass, while remaining at the center of debates on water use, biodiversity, and socio-economic trade-offs. This review examines whether these plantations can deliver ecological, social, and technological benefits under appropriate management. This review synthesizes evidence from nearly 200 peer-reviewed papers, technical reports, and books covering environmental services, livelihood outcomes, and emerging bio-based applications of Eucalyptus species. The literature shows that well-planned plantations can deliver clear benefits. High biomass production supports carbon sequestration, while improvements in soil structure, nutrient cycling, and the recovery of degraded lands are frequently reported. Effects on water, often described in general terms as negative, vary widely with climate, soils, stand age, and previous land use, and are documented to play roles in biodrainage, salinity control, erosion reduction, and local microclimate regulation under suitable conditions. From a socio-economic perspective, Eucalyptus, a widely planted species, supports rural development by generating income, strengthening value chains for wood products and bioenergy, and offering smallholders a fast-growing resource. Technological work on materials and bioproducts, including nanocellulose, essential-oil formulations, biochar-based applications, and wood vinegar, further illustrates this versatility. Overall, while outcomes remain site-specific and dependent on governance, the evidence indicates that, under science-based management and careful landscape planning, eucalypt plantations can contribute to climate mitigation, rural livelihoods, and the circular bioeconomy.

Keywords: carbon sequestration; sustainable forestry; rural livelihoods; engineered wood products; pulp and paper industry; bioenergy and biochar; nanocellulose; circular bioeconomy; landscape restoration; environmental services

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MDPI and ACS Style

Mensah, P.; Pimenta, A.S.; Melo, R.R.d.; Amponsah, J.; Rusch, F.; Danso, H.; Miranda, N.d.O.; Medeiros, P.L.d.; Gama, G.S.P. Benefits of Eucalyptus Plantations: Ecological Services, Socioeconomic Contributions, and Innovation—A Global Review. Forests 2026, 17, 644. https://doi.org/10.3390/f17060644

AMA Style

Mensah P, Pimenta AS, Melo RRd, Amponsah J, Rusch F, Danso H, Miranda NdO, Medeiros PLd, Gama GSP. Benefits of Eucalyptus Plantations: Ecological Services, Socioeconomic Contributions, and Innovation—A Global Review. Forests. 2026; 17(6):644. https://doi.org/10.3390/f17060644

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mensah, Prosper, Alexandre Santos Pimenta, Rafael Rodolfo de Melo, James Amponsah, Fernando Rusch, Humphrey Danso, Neyton de Oliveira Miranda, Priscila Lira de Medeiros, and Gil Sander Próspero Gama. 2026. "Benefits of Eucalyptus Plantations: Ecological Services, Socioeconomic Contributions, and Innovation—A Global Review" Forests 17, no. 6: 644. https://doi.org/10.3390/f17060644

APA Style

Mensah, P., Pimenta, A. S., Melo, R. R. d., Amponsah, J., Rusch, F., Danso, H., Miranda, N. d. O., Medeiros, P. L. d., & Gama, G. S. P. (2026). Benefits of Eucalyptus Plantations: Ecological Services, Socioeconomic Contributions, and Innovation—A Global Review. Forests, 17(6), 644. https://doi.org/10.3390/f17060644

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Benefits of Eucalyptus Plantations: Ecological Services, Socioeconomic Contributions, and Innovation—A Global Review

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