Financial and economic performance of long-rotation hardwood plantation investments in Queensland, Australia

摘要: In Queensland, Australia, there is presently a high level of interest in long-rotation hardwood plantation investments for sawlog production, despite the consensus Australian literature that such are not financially viable. Continuing genetics, silviculture and processing research, increasing awareness about ecosystem services generated by plantations, anticipated to make future plantings profitable socio-economically desirable many parts Queensland. Financial economic models plantations Queensland developed test this hypothesis. The model accounts carbon sequestration, salinity amelioration other service values plantations. A estimates value sequestered, while estimated benefit transfer method. Where growth rates (20-25 m(3) ha(-1) year(-1)) achievable, Hardwood Regions 1, 3 7 when rural land less than $2300/ha. Under optimistic assumptions, growing at rate 15 ha-1 year 1 viable 2, 4 8, provided $1600/ha. major implication analysis forestry justified most Regions, even though financial returns from timber production may be negative. (c) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.