Farm forestry
The Gippsland Farm Forestry program is now administered by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).
For more information on current grant applications please email: farmforestry@deeca.vic.gov.au
The program will support the establishment of plantations on farms, to expand and diversify the state’s timber resources.
The program will focus on short and long rotation plantings for both hardwood and softwood species and is expected to consist of three main planting methods:
- Woodlots – small scale plantations, generally between 5–20 hectares
- Shelterbelts – strips of trees strategically planted to shelter livestock, crops and pastures from the elements, as well as timber production
- Wide spaced plantings – trees planted several metres apart to enable effective grazing of livestock or growth of crops, as well as timber production
Farm forestry is different from large-scale commercial plantations as it incorporates the commercial growing of trees into other farming systems. It works best when it forms part of a whole farm plan, including for woodlots, timber belts, and wider spaced alley plantings.
Farm forestry facilitates:
- enhanced farm productivity
- increased range and quantity of products available to the timber industry
- diversified income streams for farmers and other private landholders, through the sale of timber and carbon
- increased economic activity in regional communities.
The benefits of farm forestry include:
- diversifying farm income
- providing shelter for stock, crops and pastures
- environmental benefits such as carbon storage, habitat creation and improved water quality
- creating jobs in the community.
