Background

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Commercial scale forest activity in South Australia is mainly confined to three main regions, (i) the South East, (ii) the Mount Lofty Ranges/Mid North and (iii) Kangaroo Island.  Annual rainfall in these and nearby farming areas is in the range of 450-850 mm. Soil types vary significantly across these regions. 

The main forestry species grown are the softwood, radiata pine (Pinus radiata) and the hardwood, blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) with the radiata pine industry being established for much longer.  A total of about 123,000 ha of softwood  and 58,000 ha of hardwood have been established in South Australia up until 2008.  Farm forestry plantings in South Australia, using a broader range of species, totals about 7300 ha with roughly 86%, 11% and 3% of this total in each of the above regions respectively. 

Generally the aim of establishing forestry on farms is to address commercial and/or land management issues such as:

  • income diversity through timber products
  • soil conservation,
  • shade and shelter
  • habitat and aesthetics, and
  • salinity control

Landowners have many species and product options to choose from that will meet the objectives of their whole farm management plan.  It is important when selecting species for planting that they (i) have features which suit the products or services being targeted and (ii) have an ability to grow to maturity in the environment of the proposed site (rainfall, soil, and climate) in a reasonable period of  time.  Various resources are available online that can provide information on species and their characteristics.  PIRSA Forestry has Fact sheets that cover planting in the Upper South East, the Lower South East and on Kangaroo Island.

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