Background | Why expand plantations in Australia? | Commitment to sustainability

Stakeholders in the 2020 Vision

Industry

The plantation timber industry is a critical stakeholder in the Plantations 2020 Vision, as mainly private capital will contribute to the expansion of the plantation estate.

While not publicly prominent, timber processing is Australia's second largest manufacturing industry, with an annual output in excess of $15 billion. The industry is a significant employer, bringing capital and skill investment to regional Australia.

The processing sector of the plantation timber industry provides a fundamental driver for plantation establishment, as the first market outlet for many products grown in plantations.

Australian Government

Within the Plantations 2020 Vision, the Australian Government has responsibility for providing leadership, and for providing clear and consistent policies that support plantation development.

Major policy areas within the Australian Government's control include export control, industry development, competition, tax, investment regulation, infrastructure and environment policies.

Australian Government departments with reference to Plantations 2020 include

State Governments

State Governments carry much of the responsibility for implementation of the Plantations 2020 Vision, working with stakeholders in plantation growing and processing regions around Australia.

Each State will determine the most appropriate structures for implementing the actions at the State level, including development of land use and land management policies that support plantation development.

In addition, many State Governments play a critical role as a large plantation grower and manager:

Australian Capital Territory	ACT Forests
New South Wales	Forests NSW and the Office of Private Forestry
Northern Territory	Department of Business, Industry & Resource Development
Queensland	DPI Forestry
South Australia	ForestrySA
Tasmania	Forestry Tasmania and Private Forests Tasmania
Victoria	Department of Primary Industries and Department of Sustainability and Environment
Western Australia	Forest Products Commission

Local Government

Local Governments are an important part of the Plantations 2020 Vision.

The Plantations 2020 Vision program aims to provide information to inform Local Governments about specific issues such as local planning controls and infrastructure, to assist with managing community expectations related to the plantation industry.

The 2020 Vision Project has recently constructed a website for local government that brings together a comprehensive array of scientific information about all aspects of plantations to assist local government in making sound planning decisions about plantations.

Access the Planning Plantations Website.

Farmers and landholders

Farmers and landholders control access to the fundamental resource for growing any crop: land.

To date, of the total plantation resource of around 1.6 million hectares, around 5% is contributed directly by farm foresters, with a further 20% contributed by farm foresters participating with large-scale growers through leasehold and joint venture arrangements.

Continuing involvement of farmers and landholders is important in contributing to the success of the Plantations 2020 Vision.

Community

The role of the wider community in the Plantations 2020 Vision is also important.

The Plantations 2020 Vision recognises the role that plantations play in the community, and encourages Vision partners to address issues relating to the social and environmental changes being experienced by communities in areas where plantations have developed rapidly. This includes providing a role for community participation in the on-going development of the plantation resource.