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Gippsland has a well-established forest industry based on native forests and
plantations. In 2003/04 Gippsland forests and plantations produced 2.9 million
cubic metres of logs. About three quarters of this volume was processed in
Gippsland. 55% of this annual log volume was produced from softwood and hardwood
plantations in Gippsland.
The
remaining 45% was produced from native forests in the region. Nearly all of the
native forest supply comes from publicly owned State forests, since the volume
produced from private native forests is negligible, despite there being over
350,000 ha of private native forest in Gippsland.
The
region has over 90,000 ha of plantations, with two thirds being softwood (mostly
Radiata pine) and one third being hardwood (Blue gum, Shining gum, and Mountain
ash). Plantations occupy about 2% of the total area of Gippsland. Most of these
plantation resources are managed by large scale industrial or institutional
growers, although there are also about 300 private growers with farm woodlots
totalling some 6,000 ha in the region.
Gippsland provides excellent commercial tree growing opportunities. The region
has substantial areas of good rainfall, soils and topography capable of growing
quality softwood and hardwood plantations. There is scope for continued supply
from owners of private native forests. In addition, Gippsland forest growers
have good access to a range of forest products markets.
The
Gippsland region extends from the outer fringes of Melbourne in the west to the
New South Wales Border in the east and from Wilsons Promontory in the south to
the Great Dividing Range in the north. The Gippsland region incorporates ten
shires.
Suitability of Gippsland to
Commercial Tree Growing
Gippsland offers excellent commercial
tree growing opportunities. The region has substantial areas that have:
• Adequate rainfall,
• Suitable
soils and topography,
• Established
markets. Expanding the area of private forestry will have environmental, social and
economic benefits to individual private growers, communities and the region.
The plantation industry is a significant
employer in the region. Increased activity in private plantations can increase
the volume of timber for further value adding, regional industry development and
employment in the region.
Gippsland Catchment Management Strategies
identify the opportunities for commercial tree growing on private land to
contribute to revegetation and environmental objectives including:
• Salinity and erosion reduction,
• Waste water disposal,
• Water catchment
protection,
• Scenic improvement,
• Habitat enhancement,
and
• Greenhouse gas
absorption. |
