Reports & Resources

JULY 2008

NEW - Climate Change (Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme) Greenpaper

The Federal Government position on climate change and preferred policy responses arising from the Garnaut Report. Section 2.8 deals with forestry.

Download Climate Change Greenpaper (3.2Mb PDF)

Acesss Garnaut Review Website

May 2008

UPDATED - Australian Plantations Legislative and Regulatory Framework

The review, current June 2007, identifies a range of legislative instruments and regulatory processes associated with plantation development at the Commonwealth Government level, and across all States and Territories of Australia. Summary table of key legislative issues has been updated with 2008 information.

Download Legislative and Regulatory Review (587 kb PDF)

APRIL 2008

NEW - Plantation Facts Sheets

A series of facts sheets on various plantation issues which summarise some recent research and distill the findings into a number of key facts.

Download Plantations and Carbon Facts (1.4 Mb PDF)

Download Plantations and Managed Investment Scheme Facts (1.9 Mb PDF)

Download Plantations and Water Facts (1.6 Mb PDF)

Download Plantations and Investment/Employment Facts (1.7 Mb PDF)

APRIL 2008

The Changing Face of Australia's Forests

This publication summarises changes in Australia’s forests and forest industry since the National Forest Policy Statement (NFPS) was agreed in 1992.

Download Changing Face of Australia's Forests (1.5 Mb PDF)

OCTOBER 2007

Plantations and Water Use

This report by the Bureau of Rural Sciences provides the lastest information on water use in rural catchments from plantations.

Download Plantation Water Use (864 kb PDF)

AUgust 2007

Australia's Plantation Log Supply 2005-2049

This report by the National Plantation Inventory forecasts the future supply of sawlogs and pulpwood from plantations by region and nationally.

Download Plantation Log Supply (2,822 kb PDF)

AUgust 2007

Private Property Plantations in the Landscape in Tasmania inDecember 2006

Plantations (both hardwood and softwood) are a significant feature in Tasmania’s landscape, and have been for almost half a century. The paper presents facts about Tasmania’s private plantation estate.

Download Private Plantations in Tasmania (893 kb PDF)

MAY 2007

Australia's Plantations 2007

The National Plantation Inventory Update for 2007 has been launched with area figures

including 2006 plantings.

Download Australia's Plantations 2007 (977 kb PDF)

OCTOBER 2006

Australia's Plantations 2006

The National Plantation Inventory has been collecting data and reporting on Australia's plantations since 1993. Comprehensive map-based reports are published about every five years and update reports are provided in other years. Australia's Plantations 2006 is the third comprehensive report and provides area data current to December 2005.

Download Australia's Plantations 2006 (5.1 Mb PDF)

OCTOBER 2006

Pesticides in Plantations - The use of chemical pesticides by the Australian plantation forest industry SUMMARY REPORT

The Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation have produced a report that has reviewed and assessed the:

• regulatory controls of pesticide use at Federal, State and Local Government levels;
• evolution of, and change in, chemical pesticide use by Australian agriculutre and in plantations;
• use of chemical pesticides in plantation and agricultural crops industry; and
• typical regimes in plantation forestry.

Downoad Pesticides in Plantations - Summary Report (1.7 Mb PDF)

OCTOBER 2006

Forests, Wood and Australia's Carbon Balance

The Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation and the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Accounting have produced a new information brochure, "Forests, Wood and Australia's Carbon Balance" that clarifies the extent to which commercial forests and wood products in service remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Downoad Forests, Wood and Australia's Carbon Balance. (1.1 Mb PDF)

AUGUST 2006

Central Victorian Farm Plantations & SMARTimbers Study Trip May-June 2006 Report

Andrew Lang has been travelling again - this time to the USA, Scandinavia and Ireland, investigating sustainable forest management and processing of harvest waste for bioenergy as well as attending three conferences; the Smallwood conference in Richmond, Virginia, the World Bioenergy Conference in Jonkoping, Sweden and the IUFRO 3.08 group annual conference in Galway, Ireland - with the topic 'Small-scale forestry and rural development'. In his trip report Andrew applies his trip learnings to the potential development of private forestry in Victoria.

Download Ways to develop Victorian private forestry: Report from a study trip over May & June 2006. (165 Kb PDF)

jUNE 2006

Plantations and Water

Dr Ian Prosser and Dr Phil Polglase, researchers with CSIRO Land & Water and 'ensis' respectively, have prepared a brief summary of current scientific knowledge in relation to the impacts of plantations and forests on water quality and quantity.

Download Summary of Knowledge On Forests and Water (34 Kb PDF)

jUNE 2006

The Possibility of Plantations: Integrating Ecological Forestry into Plantation Systems

A recent report by the National Wildlife Federation (USA) seeks to show the innovation underway in many parts of the world to better integrate wildlife and biodiversity needs within plantation forest systems. The authors positively answer the question 'Can forest and plantation managers do a better job of integrating biodiversity and non-timber values into plantation forest systems?' The publication is also complementary to the 2 recent publications from Australia accessible below.

Download the report The Possibiity of Plantations: Integrating Ecological Forestry into Plantation Systems (1.96 Mb PDF)

MAY 2006

Productive Trees, Healthy Landscapes

Central Victorian Farm Plantations has recently launched this guide to improving biodiversity in private forestry within their region. The booklet has been produced to assist landholders, plantation owners and the general community to better understand how commercial trees can contribute to enhanced biodiversity in rural landscapes. The booklet was prepared with support from the Corangamite CMA and the National Action Plan for Salinity & Water Quality.

Download the booklet Productive Trees, Healthy Landscapes: (2.11Mb PDF)

may 2006

Protecting and Enhancing Biodiversity in a Plantation Landscape

In collaboration with Greening Australia Victoria, the Green Triangle Regional Plantation Committee , has launched a brochure of plantation biodiversity case studies to highlight the importance of maintaining and enhancing biodiversity within the total environment as part of plantation management. .

Download the brochure Protecting and enhancing biodiversity in a plantation landscape: (1.24 Mb PDF)

APRIL 2006

New Forests - Wood Production and Environmental Services

There is no question that the timber industry needs to adopt sustainable practices that ensure a future for the industry. This new book goes well beyond simply growing commercial tree plantations for wood production. It explores new forests that can supply environmental services such as salinity mitigation and carbon sequestration together with commercial wood production in an environment beyond the boundaries of traditional forestry.

New Forests targets agricultural landscapes affected by salinity and which have rainfall less than 650 mm per year. The book addresses vital issues such as where tree planting might best be pursued, what species and technologies should be used for establishment and later management, how productivity can be improved, what mix of environmental services and commercial goods is optimum, and whether the likely net benefits justify the change in land use and requisite investment.

Purchase the book : New Forests

MARCH 2006

Forests and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation (FWPRDC) - Latest information

Remember - latest information for FWPRDC projects is available in the 'Whats New' section of their website.

Link to FWPRDC website : www.fwprdc.org.au

FEBRUARY 2006

Responsibility of scientists for balanced communication - Forests in the landscape for wood production and environmental care

Dr Sadanandan Nambiar, Honorary Fellow with CSIRO/ensis discusses the responsibility of scientists in communicating science to the world at large, with particular reference to the role and value of planted forests.

Download a copy of the paper: Forests in the landscape for wood production and environmental care (33.4kb PDF)

JANUARY 2006

Access the Australian Pine Log Price Index On-line

The APLPI is now available on the KPMG website.
The direct link to the web page is:
http://www.kpmg.com.au/Default.aspx?TabID=735&KPMGArticleItemID=1346

JANUARY 2006

Non Industrial Private Forestry –Tour 2005 – Report by Andrew Lang

Andrew Lang has been roaming the planet again, on a study trip part funded by the Corangamite CMA Susan Hickey Memorial fund. The report describes his investigations in the following areas: Sweden - Overview of Swedish forestry; SodraSkog: A NIPF owners association in full swing; Knared - Insight into a family-owned mill operation; Lithuania. The IUFRO conference, and ideas from Ireland;  Denmark. SDS, the state-supported, self-funded extension service; USA - Timbergreen Farm: a good living from 'one tree an acre per year’; Kickapoo Woods Cooperative: externally funded extension; Wisconsin state DNR services to NIPF; Wisconsin renewable energy and bio-fuel; North American Farm Forestry conference, impressions of USA; Snowy Peaks Reforestation - 25 years of value-adding; Headwaters Co-op - lateral approaches to value-adding; and Canada - Ecolumber Co-operative: realising commercial profits through forest certification, and targeted marketing.

Download a copy of the report: NIPF_Andrew Lang 2005 (118kb PDF)

November 2006

Socioeconomic impacts of plantation forestry in the Great Southern region (WA)

This report shows the key findings of a recent study conducted by the Bureau of Rural Sciences, examining socioeconomic impacts of plantation expansion in the Great Southern region of Western Australia between 1991 and 2004. The study was funded by the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation.

Socioeconomic impacts of plantation forestry in the South West Slopes region (NSW)

This publication reports on the key findings of a recent study conducted by the Bureau of Rural Sciences, examining socioeconomic impacts of plantation expansion in the South West Slopes of New South Wales between 1991 and 2004. The study was funded by the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation.
Copies of the full and summary reports can be obtained at:

http://www.affashop.gov.au/product.asp?prodid=13286  

August 2005

A Web of Trees—Reconnecting the landscape and the community

This booklet describes significant landscape change in the Yan Yan Gurt creek catchment in the foothills of the Otway Ranges in south western Victoria between 1990 and 2002, where forest cover increased from 6% to 21%. 

This increase in forest cover was achieved by the local land managers, with the assistance of the Otway Agroforestry Network (OAN).  A community based agroforestry network, OAN was set up by with government support in 1993, to assist land managers to design and manage multi purpose forests that best match their own social, environmental and economic interests.

The booklet also provides an excellent example of how a community can effectively measure the ‘footprint’ of its activity.

Download a copy of the booklet: Web of trees-72 (496kb PDF)

August 2005

Forestry in the Agricultural Landscape – A Review of the Science of Plantation Forestry in Victoria

The Private Forestry Council of Victoria commissioned a review to provide the latest scientific information for councils when making decisions about uptake of tree-growing enterprises through their policies.

The review evaluates scientific evidence on soil disturbance, erosion, soil acidity, nutrient depletion, and the use of chemicals including fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides.

It also examines the socioeconomic implications of plantation development.

This report and a summary can be viewed on the Department of Primary Industries website, www.dpi.vic.gov.au/privateforestry.

June 2005

Timber industry’s future depends on ordinary investors’ continued backing of Managed Investment Scheme Sector

This article supplied courtesy of the Australian Forest Grower Autumn 2005, and written by Alan Cummine, Executive Director-Treefarm Investment Managers Australia (TIMA), explores the current status of the plantation managed investment scheme sector.

Download a copy of the article: AFG Autumn 2005 - MIS Article.pdf

June 2005

Forestry Integrated into Agriculture: A landholders' guide to plantation and farming economics in Corangamite.

This publication explores the economics of case study farms with and without farm forestry activities integrated into their existing agricultural enterprises, in the Corangamite region of Victoria.

Download a copy of the brochure: For_Ag_Corangamite_brochure.pdf

June 2005

Forestry Integrated into Agriculture: A landholders' guide to plantation and farming economics in North West Victoria

This publication explores a number of case studies that compare the individual property economics of scenarios with and without farm forestry activities integrated into existing agricultural enterprises.

Download a copy of the brochure: For_Ag_NWVic_brochure.pdf

June 2005

Forestry as Agriculture: a landholders' guide to plantation and farming economics in Gippsland.

This booklet provides information and case studies that are specific to cleared agricultural land in the Gippsland region.

It provides a factual and financial guide for landowners to use in assessing whether plantation forestry is a suitable and feasible enterprise for their farming property.

Download a copy of the brochure: Plantations & Farming_Gippsland.pdf

June 2005

‘Private Forestry timber marketing, value adding, and sustainable management certification in North America, Europe, Scandinavia and Japan.’ Report on a Churchill Fellowship Study Tour 2003 Andrew Lang SMARTimbers Marketing Cooperative, Victoria

Andrew’s study tour aimed to resolve how a timber marketing cooperative could become viable in a country where there was no real culture of private forestry marketing and value adding, and where there was limited resource and undeveloped markets for the envisioned products.

To consider solutions to the above conundrums he needed to look further than at the marketing associations he visited in various countries, and wound up looking at the culture, history and politics of each country.

Download a copy of the report: Revised Churchill report.pdf

June 2005

Australian Forestry Plantations – Planting for the future

In partnership with Invest Australia, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry have prepared a brochure outlining Australia as a strategic destination for international forestry plantation investment.

The brochure is currently available in English and Chinese and will soon be available in Korean.

Download Chinese brochure: Plantations_SChinese_FINAL.pdf

Download English brochure: ia0500139 Plantations Snapshot, English FINAL.pdf

May 2005

Updated Australian Pine Log Price Index

This is the December 2004 update of the Australian Pine Log Price Index (APLPI), thanks to Hancock Victorian Plantations, ACT Forests, Forests NSW, Queensland DPI Forestry and Forestry SA. The APLPI tracks softwood log price movements for a range of products over time, and is a useful resource for softwood growers seeking a reliable source of published market information. (Please note - the June 2004 version is still available on this site)

Download a copy of the Australian Pine Log Price Index (24 pages | 284kb)

May 2005

Timber Plantations and Managed Investment Schemes - Essential Tax Basics

Timber plantations are sometimes incorrectly perceived to be the beneficiaries of ‘incentives’ or ‘subsidies’ through the Australian taxation system. Consequently, the tax treatment of plantation forestry is also sometimes incorrectly targeted as the direct cause of land use change associated with plantation establishment on cleared agricultural land.

Australian Forest Growers (AFG) and its special interest branch, Treefarm Investment Managers Australia (TIMA), have prepared an information sheet explaining the tax treatment of plantation forestry and the managed investment scheme (MIS) structure through which much plantation forestry is financed.

Download a copy of the Information Sheet (2 pages | 136kb)

May 2005

National Plantation Inventory 2005 Update

The National Plantation Inventory 2005 Update was launched by Australian Forestry and Conservation Minister, Senator Ian Macdonald at the final in a series of forestry investment workshops in Hobart on 29 April 2005.

The update highlights that the:

• National plantation area has increased from 1,665,693 hectares to 1,716, 172 hectares in the preceding 12 months.
• Rate of new planting has increased for the first time since 2000.
• Area of softwood plantations recorded is now more than one million hectares.
• Private investment through managed investment schemes is the major source of new plantations.

For a copy of the update go to the BRS (online) Shop: affashop.gov.au/product.asp?prodid=13126
or Phone 1800 020 157 or email salesbrs@brs.gov.au

May 2005

New Publications from the Joint Venture Agroforestry Program

The Joint Venture Agroforestry Program (JVAP) has recently released a suite of new publications covering a broad range of farm forestry and agroforestry related topics. The new publications complement the already extensive list of JVAP publications.

To view the catalogue of all Rural Industry Research and Development Corporation publications - including the new & existing JVAP publications - go to:

www.rirdc.gov.au/2005PubCatweb.pdf

Orders can be placed by:
Phone: (02) 62724819
Fax: (02)6272 5877
On-line: www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop
Or: Many reports can also be downloaded free of charge from the website: www.rirdc.gov.au

April 2005

2020 Vision Progress Report

Plantations for Australia: The 2020 Vision ‘A Progress Report by the 2020 Vision Partners’ was released in April 2005. Prepared one third of the way into the strategy time horizon, the report  provides a detailed discussion of progress against each of the 16 ‘Actions’ detailed in Plantations for Australia: the 2020 Vision.

The report identifies opportunities and challenges requiring attention by the 2020 Vision partners into the future.

Download the Progress Report (53 pages | 1.1 mb PDF).

April 2005

Eucalypt plantations as habitat for wildlife

A team of biologists from the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (Department of Sustainability & Environment, Victoria) are collaborating with Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and the Natural Heritage Trust to improve understanding of the benefits that plantations may provide for native wildlife. Here is a brief report describing their early observations.

Download the Report (2 pages | 56kb PDF).

January 2005

Latest edition of the Australian Pine Log Price Index (APLPI)

This is the June 2004 edition of the Australian Pine Log Price Index (APLPI), thanks to Hancock Victorian Plantations, ACT Forests, State Forests of NSW, Queensland DPI Forestry and Forestry SA.

The APLPI tracks softwood log price movements for a range of products over time, and is a useful resource for softwood growers seeking a reliable source of published market information. 

Download a copy of the Australian Pine Log Price Index (20 pages | 143 kb PDF).

November 2004

Plantations for Australia: The 2020 Vision report “Establishing Plantations in Australia: A Review of Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks

The Plantations for Australia: The 2020 Vision report “Establishing Plantations in Australia: A Review of Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks” is current at November 2004. The review idenitfies a range of legislative instruments and regulatory processes associated with plantation development at the Australia Government level and across all States and Territories of Australia.

The review provides comment in the context of managing the risks associated with these issues for current and prospective future investors in plantation forestry.

Download the report (42 pages | 412 kb PDF).