Plantation Sustainability – Environment
Biodiversity
Timber plantations primarily grown for producing timber plantations are often relatively tall and dense and remain undisturbed for medium to long periods. Compared with a cleared agricultural landscape plantations can provide homes and refuges for some native species of fauna and, with well considered design, can protect and enhance local native vegetation.
In many plantations, significant areas of native vegetation are retained beside streams and in wet, steep and rocky areas unsuitable for commercial tree growing. Areas of retained and established native vegetation are actively managed by plantation growers, and provide significant habitat for native fauna. Plantation managers often establish wildlife corridors in their plantation design to link with native vegetation corridors on neighboring properties.
Some information on biodiversity benefits of forest plantations and practical examples of incorporating potential biodiversity benefits into plantation design are discussed in the following references:
Eucalypt plantations as habitat for wildlife
In research being conducted by the Victorian Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research birds and mammals are being studied in eucalypt plantations (59 sites so far) and nearby farmland and forest, to develop ways of enhancing plantations as habitat for wildlife. To date the study shows that plantations can make a positive contribution to conserving biodiversity in the landscape – higher than open farmland but lower than remnant forest.
Read more: Eucalypt plantations as habitat for wildlife (PDF)
Plantation Biodiversity Score
As part of the Commercial Environmental Forestry (CEF) research project recently conducted in NE Victoria, scientist with CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems have developed a framework for quantifying the biodiversity benefits that can be provided by commercial forestry plantations.
Access the report: Biodiversity Benefits of Commercial Environmental Forestry – The Plantation Biodiversity Score (PDF)
Protecting and enhancing biodiversity in a plantation landscape
In collaboration with Greening Australia Victoria, the Green Triangle Regional Plantation Committee, has launched a brochure of plantation biodiversity case studies to highlight the importance of maintaining and enhancing biodiversity within the total environment as part of plantation management.
Access the brochure: Protecting and enhancing biodiversity in a plantation landscape (PDF)
Productive Trees, Healthy Landscapes
Central Victorian Farm Plantations has developed a guide to improving biodiversity in private forestry within their region. The booklet has been produced to assist landholders, plantation owners and the general community to better understand how commercial trees can contribute to enhanced biodiversity in rural landscapes. The booklet was prepared with support from the Corangamite CMA and the National Action Plan for Salinity & Water Quality.
Access the guide: Productive trees, healthy landscapes (PDF)
The Possibility of Plantations: Integrating Ecological Forestry into Plantation Systems
A recent report by the National Wildlife Federation (USA) seeks to show the innovation underway in many parts of the world to better integrate wildlife and biodiversity needs within plantation forest systems. The authors positively answer the question 'Can forest and plantation managers do a better job of integrating biodiversity and non-timber values into plantation forest systems?'
Access the report: The Possibility of Plantations: Integrating Ecological Forestry into Plantation Systems (PDF)
Trees and Biodiversity – A guide for Australian Farm Forestry
By David Salt, David Lindenmayer and Richard Hobbs
This book shows how farm forestry can help to conserve biodiversity in agricultural landscapes. Provides up-to-date information on biodiversity in plantations and farm forests, a basic framework for improving different types of plantings, and considers the possible trade-offs involved. Considers a range of hypothetical farm forestry and plantation situations, with practical guidelines for improving their biodiversity.
Access the book online or purchase hardcopy .
Plantation Design and Biodiversity Conservation
By David B. Lindenmayer (RIRDC Pub No 02/019)
This book reports on a study focused in exotic softwood Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata) plantations in the Tumut region of southern New South Wales in south-eastern Australia. It summarises some to the principles that can be embraced to increase the conservation value of both existing plantation landscapes and new areas targeted for future plantation expansion.
