Casuarina for Tropical Reforestation on Adverse Sites
In tropical and subtropical regions, where desert encroachment and soil degradation are major concerns, different species of Casuarina, which undergo nitrogen fixing nodulation, provide means to improve the fertility of nitrogen-deficient soils. Casuarina grows fast and yields upto 150m3 ha-l yr-l of wood even under poor conditions of soils. It provides excellent firewood with high calorific value and can be converted into excellent charcoal.

Coastal sand dunes in tropical and sub-tropical regions can also be stabilized by some species of Casuarina. In Senegal and China, one miIlion hectares of plantations with Casuarina equisetifolia have been established effectively. Similar efforts are also underway to transform some other species of the family Casuarinaceae (e.g. Allocasuarina verticillata) to develop genotypes with wide adaptability.