Plantation Sustainability
Environment
Introduction
Timber plantations can deliver significant environmental benefits, particularly when established on land that has been previously grazed or cropped.
Timber plantations can benefit the environment by:
- restoring environmental values to cleared land, reducing the use of fertilizer and agricultural chemicals, and improving soil properties;
- improving water quality;
- preventing soil erosion;
- fighting salinity;
- providing habitat for native birds and other wildlife, and enhancing biodiversity well above the level of cleared farmland;
- providing a resource (link to Economics section) to complement native forest timber supplies; and
- absorbing carbon and other greenhouse gases.
The establishment of a timber plantation helps to restore the hydrological balance (PDF) that existed prior to tree clearing.
Timber plantations can be used as a tool to assist in the management of water, particularly by the planting of recharge areas to lower ground water (PDF | 8.7MB) and thereby reduce soil salinity.
When located appropriately, tree plantations can also provide protection from wind for soils, crops and livestock, increasing productivity of adjoining land.
