TREE FARMING OVERVIEW

“Salinity management is one of our highest priorities and we urgently seek
viable and profitable options to slow
down it effects. The Strategic Tree Farming project is one option that we
strongly support.

Damien Hills, General Manager, South West
Catchments Council.

The STF project is funded jointly by the Commonwealth and Western Australian Governments under the $1.4 billion National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality (NAP).

STF is the single largest initiative being undertaken under the NAP, and commencing with plantings in 2005 aims to establish 18,000 hectares of new tree farms Western Australia by 2008.

With the support of four natural resource management (NRM) groups, funding of $64 million has been allocated, enabling FPC to achieve these targets by entering into tree farming agreements with rural landholders within the state.

Objectives

While its primary focus is on addressing dryland salinity, the project has a range of objectives:

  • Dryland salinity: substantial tree plantings in previously cleared areas will assist in managing the effects of salinity. Progress is monitored via bores located in planted areas and also in unplanted control areas in the same region, to produce comparative results.

  • Water levels: in areas not yet affected by salinity, the rise in the water table caused by extensive land clearing can progressively make land unusable through water-logging. Well designed plantings are aimed at reducing and managing the level of the water table.

  • Carbon sequestration: tree plantings are an effective strategy in offsetting the growing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouses gases to the atmosphere. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through the process of photosynthesis.

  • Commercial outputs: mature trees have a range of commercial uses, including timber for construction and furniture manufacturing, fibre for manufacture of wood products such as laminated veneer lumber, medium density fibreboard, and exotic uses such as the sale of sandalwood for incense and oils. The harvesting, processing and marketing of mature trees have the potential to create sustainable jobs in regional areas.

  • Farm benefits: stands of trees provide windbreaks, shelter for stock, help reduce soil erosion, and can help protect fragile natural vegetation, as well as providing biodiversity and aesthetic benefits on-farm. And, importantly, the project provides options for an income stream – often from unproductive areas - to assist in the main business activities of the farm.

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