WA pine plantations at forefront of world research

16/7/02
The long-term success of Western Australia's plantation industry is on a sound footing as a result of a million-dollar research program undertaken by the Forest Products Commission.
Forestry Minister Kim Chance said Western Australia had created and established the largest genetic resource in Australia for the three main pine species for medium to low rainfall areas.
Mr Chance was in Dandaragan and Moora today to inspect one of the Forest Products Commission's research trial sites and this year's plantings of maritime pine.
"We have a broad genetic resource base of pines over several sites from Moora to Esperance which will allow us to improve our development of vigorous drought-tolerant and disease-resistant commercial trees and deal with any new developments or diseases," he said.
The FPC has developed an international reputation for its work with pines and is currently in collaboration with South Africa, France, Spain and Morocco to improve the commercial value of these species. It also works closely with industry, Government and universities such as Murdoch and Edith Cowan.
"This latest research trial into improvement of drought tolerance of commercial tree crop species and partly funded by the Natural Heritage Trust has been highly successful with more than 95 per cent survival rate across all sites," Mr Chance said.
"Support for this research and a strong breeding program are vital to the long-term success of the plantations industry.
"The Government is committed to the expanded role plantations will play in the restructure of a new value added timber industry and in our environmental strategies of greenhouse and salinity."
The Government recently announced a $5.5million re-forestation program for this year. The plantings of maritime pine form a large part of this program with about 16,000ha established in partnership with more than 300 landowners.
This planting season is well on its way to establishing another 800ha of maritime pine and 50ha of trials north and east of Perth.
Maritime pine on these farms will replace the eventual loss of plantations on the Gnangara water mound and is a superior species for the manufacture of products like laminated veneer lumber.
Minister's office: 9213 6700