Forests provide are essential for the Earth's vitality. They play a crucial role in regulating the atmosphere, climate and terrestrial activities, and are home to diverse ecosystems and much of the world's biodiversity. They provide many commodities to humankind including, construction, energy, nutrition and medicines. However, they are being used unsustainably and their rate of loss is accelerating. It is widely agreed that plantations or planted forests are needed in order to provide and maintain these services, in addition to existing natural or modified forests. Another advantage is that plantations can be planned to provide most benefit to societal needs.