Digital BW, The Print

> 
> > As for tree replants, they create artificial forests where almost
> > nothing lives compared to a natural growth forest.
> 
> Entirely correct but what is the alternative ? 

Bamboo is the alternative.

 If I read the messages
> here it can be bamboo next time. 

It already is, and it always has been. 

The largest investment in paper history is reportedly being made in
bamboo paper manufacture. Amusing, given that bamboo turned into paper
long before wood pulp did.

It's a bit naïve to think that fast
> growing exotic weeds like bamboo will be environmentally
> better than poplar or eucalyptus.


It's bizarre to call bamboo "exotic." !

Poplar and eucalyptus will remain insignificant woods, paper-wise (or
for any other purpose): they grow slowly by comparison to bamboo. 

 It is the growing demand
> for pulp, for hardwood that brings alternatives to the
> market, not the ecological aspect of it.
> 

In horse & buggy era, environment ("ecological") and markets seemed
independent. 

I suggest you read what Jeff Immelt, the CEO of General Electric has
to say about environment and industry, China, India, trends... this
isn't the best link, but it's a starting point:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21517231/

Immelt does know more about these matters than anybody else, IMO, and
he manages more investment capital. 

European, Russian, Australian or American companies won't long compete
using trees (including eucalyptus), which are infinitely
slower-growing than bamboo, especially when you remember bamboo
ventures are close to the equator, where growth is super-charged Vs
cold forests in Europe, US, Canada, Russia, Australia. 

Cotton is another matter. It's the worst possible crop from an
environmental point of view (it destroys soil) and from an economic
development point of view: any student of American history knows how
it precipitated our Civil War. Recycling of cotton entails lots of
fuel for transportation and big factories in countries in which
factory industry is quickly becoming ancient history. 

Factories are Asia's business, and hopefully Africas.