Economics

Support for Tasmanian Wood Supply

A new $300,000 program has been launched that will invest in pilot projects seeking to address Tasmania’s wood supply shortage. The Wood Supply Co-investment Program will include six projects that will be supported by Private Forests Tasmania to help address Tasmania’s short, medium and long-term wood supply shortfalls.

Wood Supply Co-Investment Program launched

A new $300,000 program has been launched that will invest in pilot projects seeking to address Tasmania’s wood supply shortage.

Media Release: ActivAcre program heralds a new era in Tasmanian agroforestry

A first-of-its-kind Tasmanian program incentivising northern farmers to grow trees on their farms launches today. The ActivAcre Program sees farmers lease part of their less productive land in return for a reliable, annual income. In addition to increasing the productivity of existing farm activities, the program aims to enhance environmental outcomes such as climate change mitigation and improving biodiversity, soil...

Call out to Farmers to assist in Forestry research

In May 2021, Pollinate, conducted research into the different ways farmers were diversifying their income in Tasmania using on-farm forestry. The feedback from farmers has been positive and the idea has progressed and is now known as ActivAcre. ActivAcre is gearing up to start work and now wants to work with local farmers again to make sure it delivers to...

Call for Expression of Interest - Member, Private Forests Tasmania Board

The Minister for Resources seeks expression of interest from persons suitably qualified for appointment to the PFT Board as a member with practical knowledge of, and experience in, industry, commerce or economic development.

Feedback for farm forestry strategy extended

If you are a farmer, forest grower, timber processor, investor, member of the forest industry, or belong to a natural resource management body, take the time to have your say.

$63m investment brought forward for Bell Bay

The investment will allow Timberlink to increase supply of structural timber for use in the construction of homes in Australia.

Sarah and Tom Clark are planting trees and improving their farmland to benefit future generations

Sarah and Tom Clark own and operate two farms, one in Ellendale and their larger farm, The Back Run, in Westerway. Living in Westerway with their young family, the Clarkes farms are home to sheep, cattle and brassica seed crops. Having already seen the benefits of planting trees at Westerway, Tom and Sarah are excited by the opportunity to plant...

The economic return on strategically planting trees on farms is obvious to this nationally recognised property

Greenhythe, part of the Angus Stud, Landfall, started to invest in trees in a commercial capacity in the late 1990s.

Farm & Forestry Planner - TreeMapper App

The processes involved in running small to medium farming and forestry enterprises can be very complex.

This is why Private Forests Tasmania and the Forest Practices Authority have invested in the development of a farm and forestry property planning app (TreeMapper).

Lambs, generations to benefit from trees

Trees have been integrated into this Evandale farm for the past 70 years, and the impacts shelterbelts are having on lamb survivability is noticeable.

Tasmanian Forest Safety Code Review

The Forest Safety Code (Tasmania) (the Code) provides practical guidance on how to manage risks in the Tasmanian forest industry. The code has been preserved as an approved code of practice under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012. Last reviewed and published in October 2007, the Code is in need of revision to remove outdated references and include contemporary...

Earn biodiversity cash payments and carbon credits from new biodiverse native plantings

Farmers in Tasmania’s northern NRM region have a new opportunity to earn biodiversity cash payments and carbon credits from new biodiverse native plantings under the first pilot of the Australian Government’s Ag Stewardship Program. This could be in addition to stock and crop shelter benefits or streambank stabilisation.

SUBMISSION: Farm Management Deposits Scheme (FMDS)

The IFA/AFG’s submission to the Farm Management Deposits Scheme (FMDS) review addresses the elements of the FMDS that are most relevant to private forest growers. Conceptually, the FMDS is a sensible policy designed to assist primary producers manage the risks and variability inherent in primary production. However the IFA/AFG submission highlights that the FMDS does not currently embrace forestry as...

Australian Pine Log Price Index Report released

The latest Australian Pine Log Price Index for the January to June 2019 period has just been released. The Australian Pine Log Price Index is compiled by KPMG using data provided by Australian softwood growers. The Index documents changes in pine log prices achieved by large-scale commercial plantation owners selling common grades of plantation softwood logs to domestic processors.

2020 Tasmanian Private Forests Resource Review

A regional review of privately managed native and planted forest resource in Tasmania

Under section 6 of the Private Forests Act 1994, a function of Private Forests Tasmania (PFT) is to prepare a five-yearly review of the private forest estate in Tasmania.

Forest Safety Code (Tasmania) Exposure Draft

After nearly five years, an Exposure Draft of the Forest Safety Code Tasmania will be presented to the Minister for Justice, the Honourable Elise Archer with a recommendation that it should be adopted as an amended version of the document that is prescribed in regulation 60 of the Work Health and Safety (Transitional) Regulations 2012 by the Private Forests Tasmania...

Celebrating Women in Forestry: Tree Alliance celebrates by recognising two of their own leaders

As part of International Day of Women and Girls in Science (Thursday, February 11) Tree Alliance is proud to celebrate the work of its female employees, Private Forests Tasmania, CEO Penny Wells and Agriforester, Molly Daskey-Willis.

By using their scientific expertise of Tasmania’s forests, Wells and Daskey-Willis are providing innovative and creative solutions for Tasmania’s farmers and landowners.

Benefits of trees for farm productivity

Project Platypus

China extends its Log export suspension to Tasmania

Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) is aware that Chinese customs have notified the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) that its suspension of the import of logs from Victoria and Queensland has been extended to Tasmania and South Australia.

Bringing more value to everything Tasmanian through renewability

In 2022, Tasmania will be one of the only places in the world that has 100% renewable energy. According to Todd Babiak, CEO of Brand Tasmania, being 100% renewable is a huge opportunity for Tasmania for almost all of our products. What if, in addition to 100% renewable energy, we could also have zero-net emissions on farms through...

Basalt to Bay - The economic benefits of native shelter belts report - Issue 3/2015

Balsalt to Bay Landcare Network, 2015 - Lisette Mill

The protection of existing native vegetation and the planting of shelter belts may provide a multitude of productivity and biodiversity benefits for farming industries. The value of shelterbelts in raising agricultural productivity has been demonstrated in many countries suggesting potential improvements in crop yields (25%), pasture yields (20-30%), and dairy milk production...

Participate in the Perennial Prosperity Project

You are invited to participate in the 'Perennial Prosperity' project to contribute your perceptions about how trees on farms can be increased and managed. The Project aims to improve the adoption of trees on farms by quantifying the cost and benefits of trees integrated into agricultural enterprises, derive financial and natural capital balance sheets for agroforestry systems that demonstrate the...

Greenhythe: This Tamar Valley farm is a perfect example of the multiple benefits of trees.

Ed Archer is a fifth-generation Tasmanian farmer. Owner and operator of his 1,400-hectare Tamar Valley farm, Greenhythe, Ed’s predominate enterprise is grazing livestock and seedstock. Ed’s father began diversifying the family farm with plantations over 20 years ago and has since continued the practice. Offering a range of benefits to the farm including providing shelter for livestock, a reduction in...

Stephen Clarke can help you capitalise on the extensive benefits of trees

Senior Private Forester Stephen Clarke is a professional Forester (BScFor (Stell) MBA MIFA RPF) with extensive experience. Zimbabwean born, Stephen studied forestry at the University of Stellenbosch, before working in New Zealand and now Tasmania. During his career, Stephen has gained considerable experience and expertise in integrated management systems and certification, tactical and operational planning, logistics, industrial engineering,...

Matching corporate investment with potential growers, Tasmania's customised approach to help grow the future

Private forests are the dominant source of forest products, providing more than half of Tasmania’s annual wood harvest. The bulk of that supply comes from private plantations, managed largely for wood fibre production and export. The future growth potential for wood resource in Tasmania is likely limited to rural private properties but is nevertheless significant.With the global demand...

Socio-economic impacts of forestry - Tasmania, May 2018

University Canberra, EconSearch, Forest & Wood Products Australia , May 2018 - Jacki Schirmer, Mel Mylek, Anders Magnusson, Brigitta Yabsley, Julian Morison

The forest industry in Australia contributes to jobs and economic activity in many communities. During the last decade, there has been little information on how the industry is changing in different regions, including change in the number of jobs...

Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences - Australia's forests and forestry glossary

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has released 'Australia's forests and forestry glossary', a stand-alone publication, developed from the glossary published in Australia's State of the Forests Report 2018.

Industry associations and regional organisations to drive export success

14 August 2020 - Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Trade

Tasmanian industry associations and regional organisations will have the opportunity to support Tasmanian businesses to team up to find, build and grow export markets through the new Tasmanian Trade Alliance Program.

Modelling Financially Optimal Afforestation and Forest Management Scenarios Using a Bio-Economic Model

Scientific Research Publishing, January 2016 - Mary Ryan, Cathal O'Donoghue, Henry Phillips

The expansion of non-industrial private forests (NIPF) in Ireland is unique in the European context in which the almost doubling of forest cover within the last thirty years has taken place largely on farmland.

This is not surprising as Ireland has some of the highest growth rates for conifers in...

Socio-economic impacts of the forest industry

University of Canberra - EconSearch ,May 2018 - Jacki Schirmer, Mel Mylek, Anders Magnusson, Brigitta Yabsley, Julian Morison

The forest industry in Australia contributes to jobs and economic activity in many communities.

During the last decade, there has been little information on how the industry is changing in different regions, including change in the number of jobs generated, dependence of different communities...

Plantations and sustainable rural communities

ANU Forestry, University Western Australia, January 2003 - Jacki Schirmer, Mathew Tonts

Tree plantations are often hailed as providing a wide range of economic, social and environmental benefits to rural regions.

Yet in many of the regions where plantations have been established, members of rural communities and environmental groups have expressed various concerns about the effects of large-scale tree plantings. If plantations...

Climate futures for Tasmania

Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems CRC, December 2010 - Corney SP, Katzfey JJ, McGregor JL, Grose MR, Bennett JC, White CJ, Holz GK, Gaynor SM, Bindoff NL

The Climate Futures for Tasmania research project is Tasmania’s most important source of climate change information tailored specifically for the local climate and conditions of Tasmania. In a first for Australia, and possibly the southern...

Plantations and social conflict: exploring the differences between small-scale and large-scale plantation forestry

February 2007 - Jacki Schirmer

Commercial afforestation of agricultural land is often associated with social conflict over the perceived environmental, economic and social impacts of the plantations being established. One of the most common solutions suggested to this conflict is a shift from large-scale afforestation by companies and government agencies to small-scale afforestation by individual landholders.

Small-scale afforestation by farmers is argued...

Modelling the costs and benefits of Agroforestry systems

CSIRO, November 2018 - Daniel Mendham

Integrating trees into agricultural production systems can provide a range of benefits that may add substantial value to farm enterprises. Here, the Imagine bioeconomic model was applied to agroforestry systems at four sites in Tasmania.

The aim was to understand the costs and benefits of a range of P. radiate agroforestry system configurations(2 row belt, 5...

Project update for the Forest Safety Code review conducted by PF Olsen Australia

Since the end of August, the project manager PF Olsen Australia, has reviewed the responses received to the Preliminary Draft of the revised Forest Safety Code (Tasmania).

Fifteen years of the joint venture Agroforestry Program

Australian Government Initiative, June 2009 - John Powell

The aim of this report is to increase public awareness of the role, value and potential of farm forestry and agroforestry and to highlight the importance of focussed national research and development.

It highlights the broad scope of JVAP and its main achievements, and comments on how significant the knowledge being generated by JVAP...

Promises and perils of plantation forestry

Forests, Business and Sustainability - Jacki Schirmer, Roamain Pirard, Peter Kanowski

Plantation forestry is an increasingly important part of the global forestry industry. In the decade to 2010, global expansion of planted forests averaged five million hectares (ha) annually, mostly through afforestation of land that had not been recently forested (FAO 2010).

This rate of expansion is substantially higher than in previous...

Trees on farms to support natural capital: An evidence-based review for grazed dairy systems

ELSEVIER, November 2019- Jacqueline R England, Anthony P O'Grady, Aysha Fleming, Zara Marais, Daniel Mendham

Intensification of the dairy industry globally, combined with a changing climate, has placed increased pressure on natural capital assets (and the flow of ecosystem services) on farms.

Agroforestry is widely promoted as an intervention to address these issues. While some benefits of integrating trees on farms, such...

Red Hot tips for practical busfire management

Update from State Fire Management Council.

Minister Shelton, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, has announced the enhanced Red Hot Tips Program.

Tasmanian Forest Industry launches COVID-19 Mental Health and Wellbeing video series

The Tasmanian Forest Industry has released a four-part video series to support mental health and wellbeing within the industry through COVID-19.

The videos were created as a collaboration between eight industry organisations and supported by the Tasmanian Government.

Click here to view videos.

Understanding the values behind farmer perceptions of trees on farms to increase adoption of agroforestry in Australia

Agronomy for Sustainable Development, January 2019 - Aysha Fleming, Anthony P O'Grady, Daniel Menham, Jacqueline England, Patrick Mitchell, Martin Moroni, Arthur Lyons

Agriculture faces increasing sustainability pressures. Land intensification and degradation, energy use and inputs, complex environmental management, social issues facing farming communities and climate change are just some of the headline sustain-ability concerns threatening the viability of farming. Simultaneously, there...

Economic Impact of Forestry in New Zealand - Te uru Rakau May 2020

PWC, May 2020 - Te Uru Rakau

New Zealand is currently experiencing an increase in forestry as a land-use. This follows a period of rapid planting in the 1990s and early 2000s and a decade of low planting and deforestation since the mid-2000s. The current resurgence in planting has raised concerns by sheep and beef farmers that afforestation will reduce employment...

How Stephen Clarke can help you capitalise on the extensive benefits of trees

Senior Private Forester Stephen Clarke is a professional Forester (BScFor (Stell) MBA MIFA RPF) with extensive experience. Zimbabwean born, Stephen studied forestry at the University of Stellenbosch, before working in New Zealand and now Tasmania.

Forest Safety Code Review - Have your say on how to keep it relevant to the Tasmanian forest industry

In order to ensure the revised Tasmanian Forest Safety Code continues to be relevant to the Tasmanian Forest Industry PF Olsen Australia is seeking your input. Over the next six months sections of the 2007 Code will be progressively reviewed and updated.

Assessing the likelihood of widespread landholder adoption of afforestation and reforestation projects

Global Environmental Change 24, 2014 - Jacki Schirimer, Lyndall Bull

Tree planting for carbon sequestration is a commonly proposed climate change mitigation strategy, with afforestation projects forming part of voluntary and mandatory carbon offset trading schemes.

Afforestation is often promoted as a new economic opportunity for private landholders. While multiple studies have identified physical and economic opportunities for afforestation, few have examined...

How Private Forest Tasmania is supporting our farmers grow the future

Private Forests Tasmania is leading a project that will provide funding to Tasmanian farmers for the planting of trees on Tasmania farms. Co-funded by Private Forests Tasmania, the federal government (through the Smart Farming Grant) and primary producers, the project seeks to develop a landscape-scale best practice integration of shelterbelts and woodlots into the Tasmanian agricultural landscape.

Forests for life - Farm Forestry and Landcare Program

Western Australian Government NRM Program , June 2018 - Daniel Mackey, John Gregg

This report investigates the proposed program of a large agroforestry project in the South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia, Forests for Life Farm Forestry and Landcare Program.

The report considers the project viability concerning environmental, financial and social costs and benefits and the program sponsor, Forests...

Tree Planting Guide

Waitaki Irrigators Collective

The guide is intended to provide some basic information about the planting of trees and other non-prodcutive plants on irrigated farms.

Full advice and information onn species and planning should be obtained from the sources listed at the end of this booklet, and local nurseries.

Learn more.

Private Forests Tasmania's Rob Smith offers his expertise to advance Tasmania and help the planet

Rob offers his expertise to advance Tasmania and help the planet at the same time

Originally from Wales, UK Rob has been a Private Forester with PFT for the last 15 years.

Bringing his passion for forests and the outdoors to PFT, Rob was in similar roles in South Queensland, Northern New South Wales and before...

Tasmanian Forest Industry launches COVID-19 Recommended Practices

The Tasmanian Forest Industry has today released a document of recommended practices to help the industry to continue to operate safely as COVID-19 restrictions ease.

The 45-page document “COVID-19 Recommended Practices for Tasmanian Forest Industry Operations” was created as a collaboration between industry stakeholders in Tasmania, on the Mainland and abroad.

Tasmanian Government releases COVID Safe Workplace Guidelines

The Tasmanian Government has released the COVID Safe Workplace Guidelines for the Forestry Industry (the Guidelines).

The Guidelines set out what employers should do as they continue, or seek to resume, business operations. By following these Guidelines, workplaces will be able to show their compliance with minimum standards determined by Public Health, and with the requirements of the Work Health and...