R&D, Education & Training

The Plantations 2020 Vision supports a co-ordinated approach to R&D planning, prioritisation and program selection, and the sharing and dissemination of R&D results.

Research priorities for the Plantations 2020 Vision include a whole-of-supply-chain approach to identify and link land capability and suitability, species, management and timber processing options to expand wood product markets.

Also, research into the social impacts of plantation establishment, tests of new species in low rainfall areas, natural resource management outcomes from plantations, and water use by plantations are priorities.

The objectives of research into plantations are to:

• Ensure effective coordination of R&D to ensure priorities are met for improving industry efficiency;
• Communicate research priorities that can inform plantation managers and investors;
• Improve matching of plantations and land capability;
• Understand commercial and non-commercial benefits of plantations;
• Improve capacity for developing commercial plantations in lower rainfall zones or where trees are a partial solution to environmental problems; and
• Expand geographic opportunities for plantations.

For more information, go to The Joint Venture Agroforestry Program, ensis (joint venture between CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products and NZ Forest Research Institute), CSIRO Forest Biosciences, the Forest and Wood Products R&D Corporation, the University of Melbourne or the Australian National University. Alternatively, check your State Forestry organisation website for current R&D and education activities.

Forestry training sites are related to gaining specific skills in all aspects of the growing, tending, harvesting, haulage and processing of timber. For more information on training in your area, go to on of the following sites:

• WA Department of Agriculture
• Victorian Government Farm Forestry Training
• Riverina Institute Forestry Training Centre
• Rural Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton in western Victoria
• Nation-wide Master Treegrower Program
• Greening Australia
• Forest Industries Council
• The Forest and Forest Products Employment Skills Company (FAFPESC)

This list is not exhaustive – check with your State Forest management organisation for more information.

State Government Forestry Organisations