Farm Forestry Assist program applications open for softwood plantation expansion

Applications are now open for farmers and land owners to plant pine trees on their property as a part of the State Government’s expanding softwood planation estates. Successful applicants for the Farm Forestry Assist program will receive free radiata pine seedlings to plant between 20 and 50ha of pine. The seedlings will come from the West Manjimup Forest Products Commission nursery. The criteria to judge a successful application will examine the property’s location, scale of the plantation, soil quality and access and ability to manage the plantations. FPC can provide any technical assistance in establishing and maintaining pine plantations of farmers properties. Forestry Minister Dave Kelly said the program would not only boost WA’s softwood output but the industry would also benefit the environment as well. “The Farm Forestry Assist program is another way the McGowan Government is increasing Western Australia’s softwood resource by establishing pine plantations on the properties of successful recipients,” he said. “Farm forestry has other benefits such as carbon sequestration, water quality improvement, salinity mitigation, biodiversity improvement and achieving other landscape and aesthetic values.” The program has been designed to help the recent announcement of a $350 million investment into WA’s softwood plantations. The $350 million investment, along with the assist program, could provide up to 33,000ha of softwood timber for the State’s construction industry. Originally started in 2018, the program has led to more than 621,000 pine seedlings being planted across the State, producing 463ha of softwood.