Plantation Opportunities
The establishment of forest plantations and reafforestation on essentially cleared land can provide a sustainable timber resource and a diversified source of income for landholders. Plantations on farms provide an alternate or additional revenue stream to land managers through carbon projects, timber production or other uses such as bushfoods or tourism.
Plantations and reafforestation can deliver a range of environmental benefits including acting as carbon ‘sinks’ to offset greenhouse gas emissions. This also creates an additional basis for investment and trade in carbon credits.
Replanting trees on cleared land can restore some of the natural balance of landscapes, and where native species are established, can contribute to biodiversity outcomes. Tree plantings can also provide land management benefits such as windbreaks, reduce salinity and provide a timber source for on-farm infrastructure.
The Plantations and Reafforestation Act 1999 (the Act) provides a streamlined approval process for plantations whilst providing certainty for harvest on timber plantations. The Act and Plantations and Reafforestation (Code) Regulation 2001 (the Code) have environmental standards that prevent soil erosion and land degradation and protect biodiversity and cultural values. An object of the Act is to facilitate plantations development on essentially cleared land.
Regional Forestry Hubs
Regional Forestry Hubs are federally funded organisations that undertake strategic planning, technical assessments and analyses of forestry industries to support the growth of those industries within their regions.
A key focus for some hubs is providing information and tools to farmers and landholders to assist them to make informed decisions regarding diversifying into farm forestry.
- North East NSW Hub
- Central West NSW Hub
- South East NSW Hub commenced in December 2021. A website is being developed.
Funding Available for Establishing New Plantations
The Commonwealth Government has released $73.76 million in federal grants to establish new forestry plantations. The Support Plantation Establishment program will provide grant funding over four years to assist in the establishment of new plantations across Australia.
Applicants are required to provide a co-contribution of at least equal amount to funding received. Funding of $2,000 (GST exclusive) per 1 hectare of new long-rotation plantation forest established will be provided, with a minimum plantation area of 20 hectares.
Applications for Round 1 of the Support Plantation Establishment program opened on 21 June 2023 and will close on 24 January 2024.
For more information about the Support Plantation Establishment program visit GrantConnect.
