The Client
Tasmanian Forestry Hub
Challenge
Australia faces an ongoing shortage of structural grade timber for use in the construction of houses to meet the requirements of a population which will grow to 40 million by 2050. Longer term policy settings are in place to encourage the establishment of new plantations with the aim of growing more timber to meet those requirements. However, it will be at least thirty years before additional wood is available from new plantations.
Solution
This paper provides a national perspective on the challenge of construction timber availability, the broad economic implications of that and potential solutions that the forest and wood products sector could implement, with support from governments. It includes detailed background analysis, description and quantification of potential solutions and cost benefit analysis to support policy and budget interventions. It is supported by a detailed case study for Tasmania.
Outcomes
The analysis undertaken for this report has demonstrated that there are opportunities for Government funded incentives to support short to medium actions which can deliver additional sawlog production by the mid-2030s, which otherwise would not be commercially viable. Importantly, the proposed actions identified in this report will deliver important and tangible environmental benefits for the whole community, including increased accumulation and storage of carbon, improved forest health and improved ecosystem function.
Further information
Information on project can be found here.