DPI&F JOINS NATIONAL FORESTRY RESEARCH CENTRE

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries today reinforced a commitment to ongoing forestry research by announcing a partnership with a national forestry research centre.

Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin confirmed today that DPI&F would become a core partner in the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Forestry, representing a $750 000 research and development investment in hardwood projects until 2011–12.

“The partnership will establish a centre of excellence in plantation hardwood research and development that will provide support to expand the plantation hardwood estate in Queensland,’’ Mr Mulherin said.

“It also will leverage additional funding from private plantation companies for hardwood research projects.’’

The announcement was made today by Primary Industries and Fisheries Parliamentary Secretary Jan Jarratt, who was in Gympie for the launch of new hybrids of the native spotted gum, developed by DPI&F specifically for hardwood plantations.

“Two-thirds of the funding will come from the Department of State Development, with the remainder being met by DPI&F,” Ms Jarratt said.

“The South East Queensland Forests Agreement, which the Premier signed in 1999, outlines a vision for the use and conservation of south-east Queensland’s native forests, with the end goal of having all our ever growing timber needs supplied from plantations.

“The focus of the Forestry CRC research will be on specific needs for plantation expansion in subtropical Queensland, with two major projects planned.

“The first will look at adapting and trialling existing plantation management software developed by Ensis to suit Queensland growing conditions and species.

“At the moment, it is configured for some southern species but the project will involve working with Ensis to adapt the system for key subtropical species including spotted gum and our new hybrids.

“The second project is looking at identifying the most appropriate methods of managing the establishment, growth, composition, health and quality of plantations to produce suitable high value wood products.

“The focus is on finding the balance between producing the most wood per hectare and being able to get the best quality timber, and therefore the best financial return.”

Mr Mulherin said the investment in research was essential to secure investment in Queensland’s forestry industry.

“We are doing all we can to make sure that companies can invest in our forestry industry with confidence. Plantations managed with practices that have been thoroughly and scientifically assessed help to reduce investment risks,” he said.

Media:Verena Mette 0404 847 005