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World demand for paper has increased at an average annual rate of 4.7% over the past 40 years. Although future growth will reduce to 2–3% the existing wood resources may be inadequate to meet this growing demand for paper especially in the Asia-Pacific region and Eastern Europe. In addition, logging is coming under increasing pressure from environmentalists concerned about habitat destruction and other longer-term impacts of forest harvesting. It is, therefore, necessary to consider alternative fiber sources to meet the possible shortfall of wood fiber for papermaking. Suitable nonwood fibers are abundantly available in many countries and are the major source of fiber for papermaking in some developing nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]