Expenditure on forestry and forest products research in Australia 2007–2008

Abstract

Summary Total expenditure on forestry research and forest products research in 2007–2008 in Australia was $87.8 million. This comprised $61.0 million on forestry research and $26.8 million on forest products research and was estimated using the same methods as in the several previous assessments (Quick and Booth 1987; Lambert and Turner 1992; Turner and Lambert 1997,2005). When some peripheral expenditure such as support, administration and surveys were included, the total expenditure increased to about $105.8 million. The total expenditure represents an annual average increase of about 3% since 1982 but a slow decline (0.45% per annum) in adjusted terms (1982 dollars). About 50 organisations reported undertaking forestry and or forest products research, while other organisations provided funding for research. The expenditure was attributed to four broad sectors undertaking research—Commonwealth, state, university and private—and also to broad research areas (native forests, exotic species plantations, native species plantations and environment). Research on native forests and exotic species plantations generally declined, whereas that on surveys in native forests and native species in plantations increased from 2001–2002 to 2007–2008. Similarly, research capacity declined in traditionally strong research areas such as pests and diseases and fire behaviour, and increased in energy areas such as carbon and forest bio-energy. About 600 full-time-effective researchers and technicians were involved in research in 2007–2008, plus support and management staff. The staffing numbers of individual organisations ranged from single individuals to more than fifty. In 2007–2008, about 52% of the research funds were provided directly or indirectly by the Commonwealth Government, 28% by state governments and 20% by private companies. Total expenditure on forestry and forest products research ($87.8 million) averaged $5.78 ha−1 of managed forest. The forestry research expenditure according to forest type comprised $14.80 ha−1 on exotic species plantations, $36.90 ha−1 on native species plantations and $0.99 ha−1 on native forests (including ecological and environmental research, and hydrological studies and fauna-flora research). Additionally, there was expenditure of about $0.45 ha−1 on land-based surveys (mainly biodiversity), primarily in native forests. Total expenditure on forestry and forest products research equated to an average of $3.90 m−3 of harvested timber. This comprised $1.02 m 3 on timber removals from exotic species plantations, $7.38 m−3 from native species plantations and $1.90 m−3 from native forests.