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BUILDING A MODERN NURSERY IN URUGUAY
UPM’s subsidiary Forestal Oriental, which specialises in eucalyptus plantations, is establishing a modern nursery in Uruguay. The new nursery will enhance wood production and improve end-product quality.
The new nursery is a major step forward in the eucalyptus cultivation and fibre development programme, as it will enable the production of Eucalyptus dunnii from rooted cuttings (vegetative propagation).
Two species of eucalyptus are cultivated in Uruguay: E. dunnii and E. grandis. Until now, only E. grandis has been grown from rooted cuttings.
Now, E. dunnii, which until today was propagated only by seeds, is starting to be propagated by cuttings. The elite genetic materials are crossed through controlled pollination and then the outstanding specimens within the resulting offspring are propagated through cuttings, thus capturing their entire genetic potential. The method is familiar to gardeners.
As a result of the propagation through cuttings, the genetic quality and uniformity of the plantations improve, thus making the wood production process more efficient.
UPM’s subsidiary Forestal Oriental, which specialises in eucalyptus plantations, is establishing a modern nursery in Uruguay. The new nursery will enhance wood production and improve end-product quality.
Modern technology
The new nursery will use modern technology to regulate greenhouse temperature, humidity and the amount of light.
The environmental impacts of the nursery will be minimised, since the water utilised will be recycled almost entirely. The roofs of the greenhouses will have a piping system enabling rainwater to be collected.
Working conditions in the nursery, too, will be excellent. Thanks to the latest technology, employee occupational safety and ergonomics will be of a very high standard.
The nursery is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2012. The first cuttings from the nursery will be planted in August/September of the same year after the southern hemisphere’s winter.
Text: Vesa Puoskari
Photos: Roberto Mirande
This article is based on interviews with Ricardo Methol, Technical Development & Planning Manager, UPM Forestal Oriental and Alberto Brause, Director, UPM Corporate Relations and Business Development for Latin America.