Aim  To examine the different uses and perceptions of introduced Australian acacias (wattles; Acacia subgenus Phyllodineae) by rural households and communities. Location  Eighteen landscape‐scale case studies around the world, in Vietnam, India, Réunion, Madagascar, South Africa, Congo, Niger, Ethiopia, Israel, France, Portugal, Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic and Hawai‘i. Methods  Qualitative comparison of case studies, based on questionnaire sent to network of acacia researchers. Information based on individual knowledge of local experts, published and unpublished sources. Results  We propose a conceptual model to explain current uses and perceptions of introduced acacias. It highlights historically and geographically contingent processes, including economic development, environmental discourses, political context, and local or regional needs. Four main groupings of case studies were united by similar patterns: (1) poor communities benefiting from targeted agroforestry projects; (2) places where residents, generally poor, take advantage of a valuable resource already present in their landscape via plantation and/or invasion; (3) regions of small and mid‐scale tree farmers participating in the forestry industry; and (4) a number of high‐income communities dealing with the legacies of former or niche use of introduced acacia in a context of increased concern over biodiversity and ecosystem services. Main conclusions  Economic conditions play a key role shaping acacia use. Poorer communities rely strongly on acacias (often in, or escaped from, formal plantations) for household needs and, sometimes, for income. Middle‐income regions more typically host private farm investments in acacia woodlots for commercialization. Efforts at control of invasive acacias must take care to not adversely impact poor dependent communities.

Aim  This study reports on the contribution of the Australian Tree Seed Centre (ATSC) to the international dissemination of Australian acacias. It also describes the current uses and the scale of economic benefits derived from planting Australian acacias, and speculates about possible future trends in usage. This information is crucial for the evaluation of overall human‐mediated transfers of Australian acacias as a global experiment in biogeography. Location  Australia and Global. Methods  ATSC databases were used to determine which taxa were sent to which regions of the world and in what numbers. Location, scale and value of uses of the most important species were described from a review of published and grey literature, and we drew on our collective experience to speculate about future trends. Results  The ATSC despatched samples of 322 taxa (or roughly a third of Acacia species native to Australia) between 1980 and 2010 to 149 countries. Plantations in SE Asia and South Africa supplying the pulp and paper industry cover an area of over 2 M ha and produce pulp worth around $US4.3B p.a. In SE Asia, pulpwood species also provide logs for an expanding industry based on solid wood product. Tannin is produced from Acacia mearnsii in South Africa and Brazil. A suite of multi‐purpose species helps meeting the demand for food, fodder, fuelwood, poles and site amelioration in dry zone regions of Africa and elsewhere and are widely incorporated into agro‐forestry systems. Acacia saligna is the most widely planted non‐timber species with around 600,000 ha established worldwide. Many acacia species also have horticultural uses particularly in Europe. Main conclusions  The ATSC has been the major agent for systematic exploration and worldwide dissemination of Australian acacias over the past 30 years, but seed from local and regional sources of exploited species will dominate future movements. The scale of production from currently planted species will expand to meet the demands of population growth, using improved varieties. Plantations for energy and carbon sequestration might become increasingly widespread.

Some Acacia species native to Australia and neighbouring countries are significant in the rural economy of many countries. Aspects of the domestication process and uses of A. mangium, A. crassicarpa, A. mearnsii, A.�saligna and A. colei are reviewed. Commercial plantations of A. mearnsii in tropical highlands and temperate areas provide high quality tannins for adhesives and leather making and wood for paper pulp, rayon, charcoal and small-utility timbers. Plantations of A. saligna in warm-temperate and semi-arid areas provide stock fodder, soil stabilisation, fuelwood and charcoal. In the humid tropical lowlands of South-east Asia, pulpwood is produced in extensive plantings of A. mangium and in smaller-scale plantations of A. crassicarpa in Indonesia. The human food value of seeds of some dry-zone Australian acacias, such as A. colei, is recognised. Domestication of these and other Australian acacias is at various stages and is influenced by the characteristics of the species, extent of planting and the commercial value of the products. The potential for many acacias to become weeds is recognised. The case studies highlight a number of important aspects in domesticating acacias.

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China's plywood production grew rapidly over the past 15 years from around 9 M m 3 yr −1 in the mid 1990s to over 55 M m 3 yr −1 by 2011. Associated with this has been a proliferation of small-scale eucalypt veneer mills processing young (≤ 5 yrs) small diameter logs (mostly ≤ 12 cm small end diameter); by 2011 there were over 5000 such mills in China with a collective capacity to process well over 15.0 M m 3 yr −1 of logs. We review key characteristics of this eucalypt veneer industry with special focus on three key regions for eucalypt veneer production in China. Factors that have spurred and facilitated the rapid growth of this industry are reviewed along with future challenges likely to emerge for China's eucalypt veneer industry.La production de contreplaqué en Chine s'est accrue rapidement durant les quinze dernières années, de 9 M m 3 yr −1 au milieu des années 1990 à plus de 55 M m 3 yr −1 en 2011. Il faut ajouter à cela la prolifération de scieries de petite envergure produisant le placage d'eucalyptus à partir de jeunes (≤ 5 ans) bûches de petit diamètre (pour la plupart ≤ 12 cm au diamètre le plus étroit). En 2011, il existait plus de 5000 telles scieries en Chine, possédant une capacité collective de produire largement plus de 15.0 M m 3 yr −1 de rondins. Nous examinons les caractéristiques clé de cette industrie de plaqué d'eucalyptus en nous concentrant tout spécialement sur trois régions clé pour cette production en Chine. Les facteurs ayant poussé et facilité la croissance rapide de cette industrie sont examinés ainsi que les futurs défis à l'horizon pour cette industrie du plaqué d'eucalyptus en Chine.La producción de contrachapado en China ha crecido rápidamente en los últimos 15 años, desde aproximadamente 9 millones de m 3 año −1 a mediados de los 90 hasta más de 55 millones de m 3 año −1 en 2011. Asociada a este crecimiento está la proliferación de aserraderos de pequeña escala de chapa de eucalipto que procesan trozas jóvenes (≤ 5 años) de pequeños diámetros (≤ 12 cm en punta delgada). Para el 2011 ya se contaba con más de 5000 de estos aserraderos en China, con una capacidad de procesamiento colectiva de más de 15 millones de m 3 año −1 de madera en troza. Revisamos aquí las características más importantes de la industria de chapa de eucalipto en este país, centrándonos en particular en tres regiones claves para la producción de chapa de eucalipto en China. Se revisan también los factores que han estimulado y facilitado el rápido crecimiento de esta industria, junto con los futuros retos a los que probablemente se enfrentará la industria de chapa de eucalipto en China.

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Teak is an important forest plantation species in Lao PDR (Laos), that has been planted extensively by smallholders, supplying domestic industries and international markets. There have been significant advances in the intensive silvicultural management of teak focused on the production of highquality timber. Laos is not an exception. With support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, there have been advances in the understanding and knowledge of appropriate management practices for smallholder teak, as well as development of supporting technologies (i.e. ex situ conservation, genetic improvement, growth models, thinning and pruning prescriptions, and agroforestry systems). This paper summarises published information on the silviculture and management of teak, including improvement of genetic resources, stocking rate, thinning and agroforestry systems used in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania, and relates this to the current situation in northern Laos. The challenge is to now transfer this knowledge to the teak smallholders, professionals, educators and policy decision makers of Laos.

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