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An Evaluation of the Performance of a Community Rainforest Reforestation Program in North Queensland, Australia. Robert Harrison, Steve Harrison and John Herbohn The University of Queensland, Australia. BACKGROUND TO FARM FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT IN THE QUEENSLAND WET TROPICS.
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An Evaluation of the Performance of a Community Rainforest Reforestation Program in North Queensland, Australia Robert Harrison, Steve Harrison and John Herbohn The University of Queensland, Australia
BACKGROUND TO FARM FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT IN THE QUEENSLAND WET TROPICS • History of logging, e.g. ‘Red Gold’ • Progressively reduced cut of rainforest hardwood timber, from 350,000 m3/year to about one third of this amount. • 1998 listing of the WTWHA • 26 sawmills and plymills down to four sawmills. • Various attempts to create a replacement resource. • Consultant identified 36,780 ha of land on the Atherton Tableland as more suited to forestry or catchment protection than cropping and pastures. • Recommended planting 1000 ha/year of cabinetwoods on private land for 30 years. • Funding would be part of the regional compensation package.
THE COMMUNITY RAINFOREST REFORESTATION PROGRAM • The CRRP commenced in 1992 and ran until 2000. • The three levels of government were involved. • The scheme was administered by the state government (DPI-F then NR&M). • 14 LGAs took part. • Planting on the hot humid coastal strip from Mackay in the south to Cooktown (rainfall up to 6 m/year) and cooler tableland (1000m, occasional frost, basaultic soil, 1.5-2 m rainfall).
CRRP (contd.) • Assistance included provision of seedlings, planting and establishment labour and extension support. • Trained supervisers and Landcare and Environmental Action Program (LEAP) trainees. • Initial list of 150 mainly native rainforest species, 89 planted in first year. • Main species: Queensland Maple, Silver Quandong, Queensland Kauri, Hoop Pine, Silky Oak. and Eucalypts • Mostly planted in mixtures. • About 2000 ha was planted over 1992-98, on more than 500 farms. • Total expenditure of $15-20M. • Landholders initially only cleared and fenced sites, but later paid a levy. • No government equity in plantations.
STATED AND IMPLICIT OBJECTIVES OF THE CRRP Multiple-use forestry concept, with four equally important objectives: • develop a private plantation timber resource; • arrest land degradation following extensive inappropriate clearing; • improve water quality in rivers and streams; and • train a work force to support rainforest plantation establishment. Unstated goals: • Social healing • Biodiversity values • Research benefits • Demonstration effect and encouraging planting
RESEARCH METHOD • Personal interviews on-farm in Atherton and Eacham shires during 2000-01. • Of 146 CRRP participants in the study area, 72 were interviewed and three declined. • Others were away or lived off-farm. • Interviewers inspected the plantations.
CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPONDENTS • One third were aged 50 or above. • Most had secondary school education, and 36% had tertiary qualifications. • One third had a net annual income of over $60,000. • More than half derived less than 25% of their income from the property, while 41.7% derived more than 75% of their income from the property. • Property sizes averaged 75 ha, but half were smaller than 50 ha and one sixth smaller than 10 ha. • The median CRRP area was 3.5 ha. • 70% had undertaken further tree planting without any financial assistance (av. area less than 2 ha).
REASONS FOR PLANTING (CONTD) • 25% ranked timber production as the primary motivation, and 20% said it was important. • Creek bank stabilization – 20%. • Land ‘rehabilitation and conservation’– 10% • Aesthetics, provision of shade and shelter, and creation of windbreaks. • For non-CRRP plantings, timber production > environmental conservation > windbreaks, aesthetics, creekbank stabilization, weed control, shade and shelter, and scientific research. • On average, landholders expected to harvest about 70% of their CRRP area. • 36% did not intend to harvest any of their CRRP tree. • The preferred harvest regime was selective logging.
CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GROWING RAINFOREST TREE SPECIES • Few attempts had been made to grow north Queensland native tropical species under plantation conditions. • Little information was available about • most effective establishment methods • harvest age or MAI • interactions in species mixtures. • Still have major gaps in knowledge.
CONTRIBUTION TO IMPROVING WATER QUALITY • About 65% of CRRP plantings had a riparian component. • 37% of the planted area was riparian. • Few thought there were benefits for the riparian area, less weeds or improved water quality.
CONCLUSION • The program made a useful contribution, but for reasons other than the stated goals. • Area planted was too small to provide a timber resource, or protect much riparian land and water quality. • Some training benefits were generated. • Valuable learning experience in growing of tropical rainforest timbers on farm.
