TABLE 1. Consideration of plantation benefits Land Type Contribution to Biodiversity Species Selection Reduce pressures on native Social and Economic benefits forests or issues Complements native forest management Provide shelter and limited food Economic and social High volume production of Economic and social stability supply for native bird and wood fibre reduces pressure through: Softwood stability in P radiata through: animal species in excess of that on supply need from native Multiple process uses Diverse distribution across Plantation supplied by cleared farmland forests around the world the State radiata) High volume production particularly at the plantation Production more cost efficient – High volume to meet Low disease, insect losses native vegetation interface out-competes native forest community demand and 2nd and 3rd rotation Native vegetation remnants production. industry expectation (~138,000 ha) productivity and within the context of a 70% of Australia’s sawn output Viable economic return sustainability knowledge surrounding pine plantation comes from plantations which Social benefits regional Benefits highly developed tree – exhibit significantly greater comprise only 1% of the employment, catchment improvement programs(50 forest area biodiversity than as woodland benefits, public use yrs) islands in a grassland context Chemical and fertiliser use highly developed R & D is less than alternative base agricultural land uses Excellent sawlog Plantations and processing characteristics industries not seasonally Fibre characteristics diminished by drought support uses not suited to Enables management of indigenous spp (cardboard custodial lands (native and tissue) forest) for conservation purposes Low contribution to Wildings of exotic spp Financially viable, high volume biodiversity relative to production requires: Low species diversity natural vegetation Use of chemicals Monoculture at risk to Issues Uniform even aged disease and insects Use of synthetic fertiliser management at coupe level requires monitoring Uniform even aged Risk of loss due to fire management
TABLE 1. Consideration of plantation benefits Land Type Contribution to Biodiversity Species Selection Reduce pressures on native forests Complements native forest management Social and Economic benefits or issues Softwood Plantation radiata) (~138,000 ha) Benefits Issues Provide shelter and limited food supply for native bird and animal species in excess of that supplied by cleared farmland particularly at the plantation – native vegetation interface Native vegetation remnants within the context of a surrounding pine plantation exhibit significantly greater biodiversity than as woodland islands in a grassland context Economic and social stability in P radiata through: Multiple process uses High volume production Low disease, insect losses 2nd and 3rd rotation productivity and sustainability knowledge highly developed tree improvement programs(50 yrs) highly developed R & D base Excellent sawlog characteristics Fibre characteristics support uses not suited to indigenous spp (cardboard and tissue) High volume production of wood fibre reduces pressure on supply need from native forests around the world Production more cost efficient out-competes native forest production. 70% of Australia’s sawn output comes from plantations which comprise only 1% of the forest area Economic and social stability through: Diverse distribution across the State High volume to meet community demand and industry expectation Viable economic return Social benefits – regional employment, catchment benefits, public use Chemical and fertiliser use is less than alternative agricultural land uses Plantations and processing industries not seasonally diminished by drought Enables management of custodial lands (native forest) for conservation purposes Low contribution to biodiversity relative to natural vegetation Uniform even aged management at coupe level Wildings of exotic spp Low species diversity Monoculture at risk to disease and insects requires monitoring Risk of loss due to fire Financially viable, high volume production requires: Use of chemicals Use of synthetic fertiliser Uniform even aged management