Plantation Sustainability
Plantations have the potential to be of significant benefit to the natural environment, and a sustainable and viable land use in regional Australia.
This section considers environmental, social and economic aspects – the triple bottom line – of plantation sustainability.
These provide a framework for environmental, socio-economic and cultural issues to be addressed in the context of plantation establishment and management.
Case Study
Plantation Industry commits to Sustainability
A3P – the Australian Plantation, Products and Paper Industry Council launched its Sustainability Action Plan Performance, people and prosperity (pdf) in May 2006.
The plan commits A3P’s member organisations to improving their performance in 21 key areas of sustainability including sustainable forest management certification, reduction of greenhouse emissions, prevention of imports of illegally logged forest products, increased water use efficiency and continuously improving plantation management.
A3P Website
Case Study
New Forests – Wood Production and Environmental Services
Editors: Sadanandan Nambiar and Ian Ferguson, CSIRO Publishing
There is no question that the timber industry needs to adopt sustainable practices that ensure a future for the industry. This new book goes well beyond simply growing commercial tree plantations for wood production.
It explores new forests that can supply environmental services such as salinity mitigation and carbon sequestration together with commercial wood production in an environment beyond the boundaries of traditional forestry. New Forests targets agricultural landscapes affected by salinity and which have rainfall less than 650 mm per year.
The book addresses vital issues such as where tree planting might best be pursued, what species and technologies should be used for establishment and later management, how productivity can be improved, what mix of environmental services and commercial goods is optimum, and whether the likely net benefits justify the change in land use and requisite investment.
Purchase the book
New Forests http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/5031.htm
