Is the Blue Gum plantation industry considered farm forestry?
The early efforts to establish a Blue Gum plantation industry targeted the farm forestry movement. It was recognised the greatest benefits would accumulate when trees were grown in conjunction with continuing farming operations. As a result many of the early plantations were sharefarms with CALM and other companies. Today, most of the Blue Gum companies are happy to explore growing Blue Gums on an integrated farm forestry design. The plantation companies have criteria of minimum areas and soil quality which must be met. However, if these criteria are satisfied they will lease portions of farms to meet the landowners farming requirements.
