Nursery design

I've been looking around for basic manual for restoration nursery design for tropics. I came across this FAO publication written by KA Longman,Growing Good Tropical Trees For Planting, and is useful as helpful in a decision. Below the fold is a discussion of temporary versus permanent nursery development

More...Isn't a permanent nursery always best?

No, it is often a good choice, but sometimes a temporary nursery makes more sense.

When would that be?

Provided that (given the seeds) people locally could raise good planting stock, temporary nurseries can be a good idea, for instance when:

small numbers of young trees are to be grown near the house, perhaps under the shade of a short-duration crop such as bananas;
plants will be wanted nearby for one or two seasons only; or
planting is in remote areas or difficult terrain where bringing in young trees would be very difficult.

What are the advantages of temporary nurseries?

They can be set up near the planting site, so that the young trees:
do not have to be carried far; and
can be moved just before the planting time (Manual 5); and so
may be subjected to considerably less stress (C 41, C 47).
If the nursery is made by clearing a piece of woodland:
the soil may remain relatively fertile during the period of use (C 23);
trees may be left around the nursery, with perhaps a few scattered across it, to give protection from wind and sun (C 25).
Establishing them is less dependent on the availability of substantial funds.
And what counts against temporary nurseries?

Particularly when they are remote, it may be harder to:

provide the knowledge and training (C 50, C 52) needed for small, scattered tree nurseries to succeed, utilising the skills that have been learnt in another area;
bring in the tools and materials needed (C 51); and
check regularly that the work is being done properly, whether the plants are growing well and when they will be ready for planting (C 40, C 47).
Could a temporary nursery be converted into a permanent one?

Yes, this might be possible, provided that it is appropriately sited, and:

there is enough space available (C 22);
the water supply is sufficient and reliable (C 24);
access is adequate (C 20).
You could take this possibility into account when setting up a temporary nursery.

What are the advantages of permanent nurseries?

Larger numbers of young trees can be grown, sometimes at a lower cost per plant;
Planning and supervision of the work may be easier (C 40, C 50), reducing the risks of damage to the young trees (C 3, C 41);
More tools and materials can be held (C 51), immediately available for use;
It is easier to build up the experience and skills of a team of staff and workers (C 50, C 52), and to continue to benefit from the training received;
Fences and buildings can be put up, and hedges and shade trees grown, which improve:
the growing environments for the young trees (C 4, C 10–15, C 25);
their protection from damage (C 3, C 25, C 46, C 60);
the smooth day-to-day running of the nursery (C 54); and
Special facilities for research (C 15) or for valuable collections can be handled.