Planted forests account for 7 percent of the global forest area, covering 290 million hectares (ha) of land. About 131 million ha of planted forests are intensively cultivated for productive purposes with fast-growing trees (FGTs). Fast-growing trees have been developed and used for millennia to provide wood and non-wood products to rural communities, as well as direct and non-direct benefits to urban societies. Globally, FGT plantations are comprised of a variety of tree species in temperate, subtropical and tropical biomes. The objective of this publication, Innovative practices in the sustainable management of fast-growing trees – lessons learned from poplars and willows and experiences with other fast-growing trees around the world, is to address the knowledge gaps and the current and potential development of ...