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AFS/01-10-01 www.forestrystandard.org.au
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issue 146 | 11.10.10 | Page 1
Plantation sector ripe for shake-up
End of TUMA puts treaters on full alert
It’s time to examine the full range of investment models, says economist
PLANTATION forest investment models in Australia are ripe for a shake-up as falling establishment rates and the financial crisis put the sector at the crossroads, says a leading forestry economist. “The past two years have seen considerable upheaval on the plantation investment front with the collapse of several forestry managed investment schemes,” says David Thompson, national strategy coordinator of Plantations 2020 and principal of Centre for Agricultural and Regional Economics Pty Ltd.
David Thompson .. forest plantation sector at the crossroads.
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Speaking at the Australian Forest Growers Conference at Mount Gambier, SA, this week, Mr Thompson pointed to the withdrawal of resources from forestry research and extension, more sales of government plantations, increased international investment in plantation assets, and “much back and forth over woodbased carbon and bio-energy”. Mr Thompson said the major obstacle for investment in forestry was the long-term nature of the investment. Cont Page 4
issue 146 | 11.10.10 | Page 1