Subtropical eucalypt plantations in eastern Australia

Abstract

The subtropical eucalypt plantation estate in eastern Australia has developed over several major periods of expansion and has now reached over 115 000 ha. Before 1994 state agencies, particularly Forests NSW, had established about 20000 ha of mainly 'Eucalyptus pilularis' and 'E. grandis' on land previously under native forest in coastal areas with precipitation of more than 1000 mm y⁻¹. Much of this area is now going into second-rotation plantations, mainly of 'E. pilularis'. Since 1996, state government agencies have established large areas primarily for solid-wood products, and more recently private companies have established large areas for pulpwood as well as for solid wood. In any estate, several eucalypt species are usually required to fully use the available land due to the limitations imposed on individual species by frost, differing moisture regimes and complex soil landscapes. Species-site matching is further complicated by pest and disease problems in the major species that often are first evident where species are not ideally located. Several pest and disease problems have become evident only since the widespread planting of major species in plantations and were apparently present only at low levels in the native populations of these endemic species. Some subtropical species can produce trees having excellent wood properties, but the quality of timber from native forest trees and plantation-grown trees differs and much work remains to be done to define optimum rotation lengths and management regimes. Silvicultural and breeding strategies have been developed to improve performance in all the above respects.