Jatropha curcas is a pioneer species for plantation in hot-dry valley areas. In China, it is mainly distributed in the hot-dry valley areas in Yunnan, Sichuan, Guangxi, Guangdong and Hainan. Most of China's hot-dry valleys are in Yunnan Province.

In Yunnan province, there are plenty of large areas good for Jatropha curcas. According to statistics from Yunnan forestry authorities, about 500 thousand mu (15 mu = 1 hectar) in Yunnan is currently covered with wild and planted Jatropha curcas forests. The Yunnan forestry authorities say that actually about 500 thousand mu (33 thousand ha) are covered with Jatropha forest. The province has projected to develop about 10 million mu (667 thousand ha) of Jatropha forests in the next few years. China initiated its research and development of Jatropha curcas early in the 1980's, and since then has developed vast plantations. However, the country has experienced a limited period in biomass energy development, now with a number of research institutes and enterprises involved in the field of biomass energy development and application. Shenyu New Energy Company, based in Yunnan, China, is a company specialized in industrial development of biomass energy. In cooperation with many research institutes, the company has made remarkable achievements in industrial development of Jatropha curcas. With select dominant species source, Shenyu has built a large seedling base in Yunnan, and become the owner of multiple patents relating to the development and application of Jatropha curcas. Shenyu now has begun to build its 300 thousand mu of Jatropha curcas planting base in China. The company also has acquired or intends to acquire the right of use for Jatropha curcas planting bases of over a million mu in China, and has planned to launch a planting base of 10 million mu in the next five years.

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