Gmelina (Gmelina arborea): Growth, Allometry and Carbon Potential

Updated 2026-11-02 · 4 min read · By the akar.earth specialist team

Gmelina carbon sequestration in Indonesia: range, short rotations, wood density, Chave 2014 allometry, ARR and agroforestry role, and key risks.

Gmelina sequesters carbon quickly in its first years and coppices after harvest, which makes it a common short-rotation species in Indonesian plantations and woodlots. Its medium-light wood and short cycle mean the creditable carbon depends heavily on how harvest is accounted for.

Identity and range

Gmelina arborea is in the family Lamiaceae, the same family as teak. In Indonesia it is called gmelina or jati putih (“white teak”); in English it is also known as gmelina, yemane or white teak. It is not a true teak, and its wood properties differ.

Gmelina is native to South and Southeast Asia, from India and Sri Lanka through Myanmar and Thailand to southern China. It was introduced widely across the tropics for pulp and timber. In Indonesia it was trialled in industrial plantations in Sumatra and Kalimantan, and it is grown by smallholders in Java, Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara for light construction timber, furniture components and pulp.

Growth habit and rotation

Gmelina is a deciduous, light-demanding tree. It tolerates a range of soils and a moderate dry season, but grows best on deep, fertile, well-drained soils. Like teak, it does poorly on heavy, waterlogged or very acidic soils.

Pulpwood rotations are short, often around 6 to 10 years. Sawlog rotations run longer, commonly 10 to 20 years. Gmelina coppices well, so a second rotation can regrow from stumps without replanting. Reported growth rates vary widely with site, genetics and spacing, so we recommend measuring local plots before forecasting.

Wood density and biomass estimation

Gmelina wood is light to medium. Reported basic density values fall roughly between 0.40 and 0.55 g/cm³. As with any wood density value, it varies with site, age and growth rate. Fast-grown young trees are often lighter.

The default model for above-ground biomass is Chave et al. 2014:

AGB (kg) = 0.0673 × (ρ × D² × H)^0.976

where ρ is wood density (g/cm³), D is DBH (cm) and H is height (m). Species-specific gmelina equations have been published from plantations in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Use them only within the diameter and age range of the source data. Our allometric equations guide sets out the checks.

Convert biomass to carbon with the IPCC default carbon fraction (0.47) and to CO2 with the ratio 44/12. For roots, apply a root-to-shoot ratio accepted by the methodology.

Carbon role in ARR and agroforestry

Gmelina fits:

• Short-rotation woodlots where farmers want quick income alongside an ARR project.
• Early canopy closure on degraded grassland, to shade out Imperata grass and reduce fire risk.
• Agroforestry with annual crops in the first one to two years.

Its weakness is permanence. Under VM0047, harvested systems are credited up to the long-term average carbon stock across the planting cycle. A 6 to 8 year cycle averages far below the stock at harvest. Coppicing helps because the stand regrows without a replanting gap. Model the full cycle with ex-ante carbon estimation before choosing gmelina as a main species.

Co-benefits and livelihoods

Gmelina gives smallholders fast timber income and is easy to propagate from seed or cuttings. Its flowers provide nectar for bees, and leaves can be used as fodder. Coppicing reduces replanting costs.

Risks and cautions

• Harvest cycles. Short rotations lower the long-term average stock. Treat harvest as part of the design, not a risk to ignore.
• Invasiveness. Gmelina has spread from plantations into open land in several countries where it was introduced. It is not native to Indonesia, so watch plantation edges near natural habitat.
• Pests and diseases. Defoliating insects, stem borers and fungal cankers have affected plantations in the region.
• Site sensitivity. On poor or compacted soils, growth falls sharply and stems become crooked.
• Monoculture. Large single-species blocks reduce biodiversity and concentrate risk. See agroforestry vs monoculture.

Planning notes for project developers

• Model coppice regrowth. Second rotations from stumps grow faster than seedlings early on; use separate growth curves.
• Mix with natives. Interplanting gmelina with slower natives gives early cover and long-term stock.
• Record harvest plans. Document intended rotation length and harvest areas in the project design so auditors can check the long-term average calculation.

Worked example

A gmelina tree at harvest with DBH 25 cm, height 17 m and wood density 0.45 g/cm³:

1. ρ × D² × H = 0.45 × 625 × 17 = 4,781
2. AGB = 0.0673 × 4,781^0.976 ≈ 263 kg
3. Carbon = 263 × 0.47 ≈ 123 kg C
4. CO2e = 123 × 44/12 ≈ 453 kg CO2e (above-ground only)

Test different sizes and densities in the tree CO2 calculator. For a whole-stand model, including coppice cycles, see our carbon modelling service.