Eucalyptus is a genus of trees. There are over 700 species of eucalypts, and almost all of them are in Australia. Eucalypts can be found in almost every part of the Australia, and they are adapted to many different habitats. Eucalyptus is one of three similar genera that are commonly referred to as "eucalypts", the others being Corymbia and Angophora.
Eucalyptus trees are an asset to the landscape, adding visual appeal, year-round structure, fragrance and sometimes flowers. Shrub types make excellent windbreaks on coastal sites. They are easily grown from seeds and tolerate dry, sandy and salty soils, thriving in places where other trees can't grow. These fast-growing trees provide shade that cools the environment and they also act as a carbon shed to clean up the air. Because they grow more quickly than most other hardwoods, they are an excellent source of firewood. Using eucalyptus as firewood cuts down on the use of valuable native species as fuel.
The growing stock and yield in eucalypt plantations varies considerably depending on the site, the edapho-climatic conditions and the inputs. The potential productivity is around 5 tons of biomass/ha/yr on an average, but the average production is some 2.5 ton/ha/yr. The average yield from the private plantations is much higher. In Kolar District, Karnataka, the average productivity is around 5 ton/ha/yr. The yield recorded from Government plantations so far is still less. This is due to the increased removal by the people for their bona fide use at regular intervals.