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Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015

Research by the Australian Bureau of Agriculturaland Resource Economics and Sciences

About my region 15.50April 2015

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015 ABARES

© Commonwealth of Australia 2015

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ABARES 2015, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania, 2015, About my region 15.50, Canberra, April. CC BY 3.0.

ISBN TBAABARES project 43009

Internet

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Tasmania 20145is available at agriculture.gov.au/abares.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)

Postal address GPO Box 858 Canberra ACT 2601Switchboard +61 2 6272 3933Facsimile +61 2 6272 2001Email [email protected] agriculture.gov.au/abares

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The Australian Government acting through the Department of Agriculture, represented by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, has exercised due care and skill in preparing and compiling the information and data in this publication. Notwithstanding, the Department of Agriculture, ABARES, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including for negligence and for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying upon information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Acknowledgements

ABARES relies on the voluntary cooperation of farmers participating in the annual Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey, Australian Dairy Industry Survey, and Australian Vegetable Growing Farms Survey to provide data used in the preparation of this report. Without their help, these surveys would not be possible. ABARES farm survey staff collected most of the information presented in this report through on-farm interviews with farmers.

This regional profile was updated by Therese Thompson, Peter Martin, Haydn Valle, Timothy Connolly, Lucy Randall, Kasia Mazur and Sharan Singh.

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Contents1 Regional overview.................................................................................................................................. 1

Employment.............................................................................................................................................. 22 Agriculture sector................................................................................................................................... 4

Value of agricultural production......................................................................................................4Number and type of farms.................................................................................................................. 4Farm financial performance—Tasmania......................................................................................6

3 Fisheries sector..................................................................................................................................... 12

4 Forestry sector.......................................................................................................................................14

References........................................................................................................................................................... 15

TablesTable 1 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2012–13......................................................5

Table 2 Financial performance, Tasmania broadacre industries, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm..................................................................................................................................... 7

Table 3 Financial performance, Tasmania dairy industry, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm.................................................................................................................................................... 10

Table 4 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses, Tasmania, 2012–13 and 2013–14.................................................................................................11

FiguresFigure 1 Employment profile, Tasmania, November 2014..............................................................3

Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Tasmania, 2012–13....................................................4

Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Tasmania, 2012–13...................................................................................................................................................... 5

Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm................................7

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, sheep industry, average per farm............................................8

Figure 6 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm................................................9

Figure 7 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm...........................................10

Figure 8 Real farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses, Tasmania, 2005–06 to 2013–14........................................................................................................................................ 11

Figure 9 Area of native forest, by tenure...............................................................................................14

MapsMap 1 Broad land use of Tasmania.............................................................................................................1

Map 2 Agricultural industries of Tasmania.............................................................................................2

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1 Regional overviewTasmania covers a total area of around 68 401 square kilometres and is home to approximately 495 354 people (ABS 2011). Agricultural land in Tasmania occupies 17 921 square kilometres, or around 27 per cent of the state. Areas classified as conservation and natural environments (nature conservation, protected areas and minimal use) occupy 32 303 square kilometres, or 48 per cent of the state. The most common land use by area is nature conservation, which occupies 18 122 square kilometres or 27 per cent of the state.

Map 1 Broad land use of Tasmania

Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014 (ABARES, 2014)

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Map 2 Agricultural industries of Tasmania

Source: Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014 (ABARES, 2014)

EmploymentAustralian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data from the 2014 Labour Force Survey indicate that around 237 200 people were employed in Tasmania. Tasmania accounts for 2 per cent of total employment in Australia and 4 per cent of all people employed in the Australian agriculture, forestry and fishing sector.

Health care and social assistance was the largest employment sector with 31 100 people followed by retail trade with 27 500 people (Figure 1). Other important employment sectors in the region were education and training (20 800 people), accommodation and food services (19 500 people) and manufacturing (19 100 people). The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector employed 13 500 people, representing 6 per cent of the state’s workforce.

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Figure 1 Employment profile, Tasmania, November 2014

- 10 20 30 40

Arts and Recreation ServicesRental, Hiring and Real Estate Services

MiningInformation Media and Telecommunications

Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste ServicesFinancial and Insurance Services

Wholesale TradeAdministrative and Support Services

Other ServicesProfessional, Scientific and Technical Services

Transport, Postal and WarehousingAgriculture, Forestry and FishingPublic Administration and Safety

ConstructionManufacturing

Accommodation and Food ServicesEducation and Training

Retail TradeHealth Care and Social Assistance

Employed total ('000 )

Note: Annual average of the preceding 4 quarters.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 6291.0, Labour Force, Australia

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2 Agriculture sectorValue of agricultural productionIn 2012–13, the gross value of agricultural production (GVAP) in Tasmania was $1.2 billion, which was 2 per cent of the total gross value of agricultural production in Australia ($48 billion).

The most important commodity in Tasmania based on the gross value of agricultural production was milk (Figure 2). In 2012–13, milk contributed 26 per cent ($305 million) to the value of agricultural production in the state. Vegetables accounted for 20 per cent ($237 million) with the major vegetable crops being potatoes ($120 million), carrots ($29 million) and onions ($27 million). Cattle and calves accounted for 15 per cent ($183 million), fruit and nuts 9 per cent ($113 million) and wool 7 per cent ($82 million).

Figure 2 Value of agricultural production, Tasmania, 2012–13

$m 100 200 300 400

Other

Wheat

Eggs

Wine grapes

Nurseries, cut flowers and turf

Hay

Sheep and lambs

Wool

Fruit and nuts (excluding grapes)

Cattle and calves

Vegetables

Milk

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, cat. no. 7503.0, Value of agricultural commodities produced, Australia

Number and type of farmsABS data indicate that in 2012–13 there were 3935 farms in Tasmania with an estimated value of agricultural operations of more than $5000 (Table 1). The state accounts for 3 per cent of all farm businesses in Australia.

Farms are classified in Table 1 according to the activities that generate most of their value of production. Beef cattle farms (1090 farms) were the most common, accounting for 28 per cent of all farms in the Tasmania, and 3 per cent of all beef cattle farms in Australia.

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Table 1 Number of farms, by industry classification, 2012–13Industry Classification Tasmania Australia

no. % no. %

Beef Cattle 1 090 28 39 380 31

Sheep 555 14 11 938 9

Dairy 453 12 7 612 6

Vegetable 317 8 3 980 3

Mixed livestock 287 7 6 434 5

Fruit and nuts 268 7 10 136 8

Other Crop growing 145 4 1 519 1

Other livestock 74 2 4 123 3

Nurseries, Cut Flowers and Turf 45 1 1 558 1

Grain growing 36 1 11 595 9

Poultry 33 1 1 031 1

Mixed grains and livestock 25 1 11 558 9

Other 606 15 17 817 14

Total Agriculture 3 935 100 128 682 100

Note: Where the estimated value of agricultural operations is more than $5000.Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

There is a large percentage of small farms in the region in terms of their value of agricultural output. Estimated value of agricultural operations (EVAO) is a measure of the value of production from farms and a measure of the business size. Around 45 per cent of farms in Tasmania had an EVAO of less than $50 000 (Figure 3). These farms accounted for only 3 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in 2012–13. In comparison, 23 per cent of farms in the region had an EVAO of more than $350 000 and accounted for an estimated 80 per cent of the total value of agricultural operations in the region.

Figure 3 Distribution of farms by estimated value of agricultural operations, Tasmania, 2012–13

%

10

20

30

40

50

< $50k $50k to $150k $150k to $350k $350k to $500k $500k to $1 m > $1 m

Share of farms Share of value of agricultural operations

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

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Farm financial performance—TasmaniaEach year, ABARES interviews Australian broadacre, dairy and vegetable producers as part of its annual survey program. Broadacre industries covered in this survey include the grains, grains–livestock, sheep, beef and sheep–beef industries. The information collected is a basis for analysing the current financial position of farms in these industries and expected changes in the short term. This paper uses data from the ABARES Australian agriculture and grazing industries survey (AAGIS), Australian dairy industry survey (ADIS), and Australian vegetable growing industry survey to report estimates of financial performance indicators (Box 1) for broadacre, dairy and vegetable farms in Tasmania.

Box 1 DefinitionsMajor financial performance indicators Total cash receipts: total revenues received by the business during the financial year. Total cash costs: payments made by the business for materials and services and for permanent and casual hired

labour (excluding owner manager, partner and family labour). Farm cash income: total cash receipts – total cash costs Farm business profit: farm cash income + changes in trading stocks – depreciation – imputed labour costs Profit at full equity: return produced by all the resources used in the business, farm business profit + rent +

interest + finance lease payments – depreciation on leased items Rate of return: return to all capital used, profit at full equity * 100 / total opening capital Equity ratio: Farm capital minus farm debt expressed as a percentage of farm capitalIndustry types Grains: farms mainly engaged in producing broadacre crops such as wheat, coarse grains, oilseeds and pulses, and

including farms running sheep and/or beef cattle in conjunction with substantial broadacre crop activity. Sheep: farms mainly engaged in running sheep. Beef: farms mainly engaged in running beef cattle. Dairy: farms mainly engaged in milk production. Vegetable: farms mainly engaged in growing vegetables.

Performance of broadacre farms—TasmaniaTasmanian broadacre farm cash incomes are projected to increase to average $104 000 a farm in 2014–15 (Figure 4 and Table 2), as a result of higher beef cattle, lamb, wool and crop receipts. Receipts from crops are projected to increase by around 5 per cent, with the largest increase in receipts from oilseed poppies, vegetables and a range of other horticultural and vegetable crops. While receipts are expected to increase, average total cash costs are expected to decline resulting from reduced expenditure on fuel, interest payments and livestock purchases and despite increased expenditure on contracts and hired labour.

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Figure 4 Real farm cash income, broadacre industries, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Australia Tasmania

p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Table 2 Financial performance, Tasmania broadacre industries, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm

Performance indicator units 2012–13 2013–14p RSE 2014–15yTotal cash receipts $ 299 490 321 300 (7) 334 000Total cash costs $ 229 720 249 900 (8) 230 000Farm cash income $ 69 770 71 400 (17) 104 000Farms with negative farm cash income % 11 20 (39) 6Farm business profit $ 670 10 400 (100) 31 000Profit at full equity excluding capital appreciation $ 29 040 40 500 (27) 57 000Farm capital at 30 June a $ 3 889 340 3 762 500 (35) naFarm debt at 30 June b $ 363 950 425 500 (13) 386 000Equity ratio bd % 91 89 (1) naRate of return excluding capital appreciation e % 0.8 1.1 (26) 1.6Off-farm income of owner manager and spouse b $ 42 160 32 700 (15) na

a Excludes leased plant and equipment. b Average per responding farm. c Farm capital minus farm debt. d Equity expressed as a percentage of farm capital. e Rate of return to farm capital at 1 July. p Preliminary estimates. y Provisional estimates. na Not Available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors expressed as a percentage of the estimate providedSource: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Performance of sheep industry farms—TasmaniaIn 2013–14 an increase in average prices received for adult sheep, lambs, and wool outweighed lower sheep and lamb turn-off and resulted in an increase in average farm receipts for sheep industry farms is Tasmania. Despite reduced expenditure on livestock purchases, average farm cash costs increased due to higher expenditure on fertiliser, fuel, fodder, crop and pasture chemicals, and interest payments. Increased costs more than offset higher receipts and led to a decline in farm cash income for Tasmanian sheep industry farms to an average of $75 600 a farm (Figure 5).

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In 2014–15, farm cash income for Tasmanian sheep industry farms is projected to increase to average $111 000 a farm, around 24 per cent above the 10-year average to 2013–14.

Sheep, lamb and wool receipts are projected to increase due to an increase in sheep and lamb prices combined with slightly higher turn-off and an increase in the quantity of wool sold. Average total cash costs are projected to decline as a result of reduced expenditure on livestock purchases, interest payments and fuel.

Figure 5 Real farm cash income, sheep industry, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

200

Australia Tasmania

p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Performance of beef industry farms—TasmaniaIn 2013–14, lower turn-off more than offset a small increase in beef cattle prices resulting in average beef cattle receipts declining. Despite the decrease in beef cattle receipts, total cash receipts on Tasmanian beef industry farms increased slightly mainly as a result of higher crop receipts. The increase in farm receipts was combined with slightly lower cash costs in 2013–14, due to a decrease in expenditure on livestock purchases, repairs and maintenance, and fertiliser. Overall, average farm cash income for Tasmanian beef industry farms increased slightly to average of $55 800 a farm in 2013–14 (Figure 6).

In 2014–15, higher beef cattle turn-off in combination with an increase in average sale prices received, are projected to result in beef cattle receipts increasing on Tasmanian beef industry farms. In addition, reduction in expenditure on purchases of beef cattle together with lower interest expenditure is projected to lead to a reduction in farm cash costs. Average farm cash income for beef industry farms are projected to increase to average $81 000 a farm in 2014–15, around 40 per cent above the 10-year average to 2013–14.

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Figure 6 Real farm cash income, beef industry, average per farm

–50

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

Australia Tasmania

p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. Source: ABARES Australian Agricultural and Grazing Industries Survey

Performance of dairy industry farms— TasmaniaAverage farm cash income was low for Tasmanian farms in 2012–13. In 2013–14, an increase in milk prices resulted in average farm cash incomes rebounded strongly in Tasmania. Average farm cash income increased from $44 100 in 2012–13 to $238 100 in 2013–14 (Figure 7 and Table 3). Nationally, average farm cash income increased from $44 130 in 2012–13 to $163 900 in 2013–14.

In 2014–15 average farm cash incomes are projected to decline in most states including Tasmania as a result of lower milk prices and higher cash costs, particularly fodder costs. However, the reduction in farm cash income is expected to be much smaller in Tasmania, compared with other states, due to a much larger increase in milk production in Tasmania compared to the other states. Farm cash income in Tasmania is projected to average $202 000 a farm in 2014–15, around 60 per cent above the 10-year average to 2013–14.

When variations to projected farm cash incomes of dairy farms across Australia are taken into account, the overall average farm cash income of Australian dairy farms is projected to decline to average $97 000 a farm in 2014–15, around 14 per cent below the 10-year average to 2013–14.

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Figure 7 Real farm cash income, dairy industry, average per farm

2014–15 $’000

50

100

150

200

250

300

Australia Tasmania

p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. Source: ABARES Australian Dairy Industry Survey

Table 3 Financial performance, Tasmania dairy industry, 2012–13 to 2014–15, average per farm

Performance indicator units 2012–13 2013–14p RSE 2014–15yFarm cash income $ 44 100 238 100 (10) 202 000Farm business profit a $ –66 840 123 100 (18) 79 000Rate of return excluding capital appreciation b % 1.4 4.7 (10) 3.9

a Defined as farm cash income plus buildup in trading stocks, less depreciation and the imputed value of operator partner and family labour. b Defined as profit at full equity, excluding capital appreciation, as a percentage of total opening capital. Profit at full equity is defined as farm business profit plus rent, interest and lease payments less depreciation on leased items. p Preliminary estimates. y Provisional estimates. na Not available. Figures in parentheses are standard errors expressed as a percentage of the estimate provided.Source: ABARES Australian Dairy Industry Survey

Performance of vegetable industry farms—TasmaniaNationally in 2013–14, average farm cash income is estimated to have declined to $156 000, 4 per cent lower than in 2012–13. Average to above average seasonal conditions helped growers to maintain the high yields of 2012–13. Overall vegetable production was also higher because the average area planted to vegetable crops increased. However, the resulting increase in vegetable cash receipts was partially offset by lower vegetable prices.

Vegetable production as a proportion of total state gross value of agricultural production is higher in Tasmania than any other state, accounting for 20 per cent. Vegetable growing farm businesses in the state are also the most diverse, with only 51 per cent of total farm receipts attributable to vegetables.

Despite vegetable cash receipts declining, estimated average farm cash income increased marginally in 2012–13 to $135 400 (Table 4), 30 per cent higher than the eight-year average (in real terms) to 2012–13 (Figure 8). Yields were variable across vegetable commodities, decreasing for potatoes, but increasing for carrots and onions. The average area planted

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decreased for all vegetable commodities, decreasing most strongly for the main vegetable commodities. The effect on receipts of lower vegetable production was offset by an increase in vegetable prices.

Average farm cash income is estimated to have decreased in 2013–14 to $107 000 (Table 4), although this was 14 per cent higher than the nine-year average (in real terms) to 2013–14 (Figure 8). The average area planted was down across all vegetable commodities, although yields were marginally higher for potatoes, reflecting the better than average seasonal conditions for most farms.

Table 4 Physical and financial performance, vegetable growing farm businesses,Tasmania, 2012–13 and 2013–14

average per farmSelected estimates units 2012–13 p RSE % Change

from 2011–122013–14 y RSE % Change

from 2012–13Vegetable cash receipts $ 321 700 (16) –1 310 000 (27) –4Area sown to vegetables ha 26.7 (15) –10 22.6 (30) –15Quantity of vegetables produced t 1 131 (12) –12 927 (24) –18Farm cash income $ 135 400 (20) 5 107 000 (36) –8

Note: p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate. RSE Relative standard errors, expressed as a percentage of the estimate. Updated data for vegetable farm businesses will be available November 2015.Source: ABARES Australian vegetable growing farms survey

Figure 8 Real farm cash income, vegetable growing farm businesses,Tasmania, 2005–06 to 2013–14

average per farm

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

2005

–06

2006

–07

2007

–08

2008

–09

2009

–10

2010

–11

2011

–12

2012

–13

p

2013

–14

y

$'0002013–14

Note: p Preliminary estimate. y Provisional estimate.Source: ABARES Australian vegetable growing farms survey

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3 Fisheries sectorThe various Tasmanian regions produce a combination of wild-catch finfish, crustacean, mollusc and aquaculture fisheries production. Hobart is the main fishing port in Tasmania servicing fishers across a range of commercial fishing activities. The Greater Hobart region is also renowned for its significant Atlantic salmon aquaculture sector. In the region, the Derwent River, Frederick Henry Bay and Norfolk Bay estuaries are popular sites for both recreational and commercial fishing. The rest of Tasmania is predominantly a wild-catch production area for shellfish, in particular Southern rocklobster, abalone and scallop, and finfish occurring mostly along the south west coast of Tasmania and at King Island. The Tasmanian greenlip abalone population is abundant along the north coast and around the Bass Strait islands. King Island is a large centre for giant crab production. Georges Bay and Ansons Bay are key shellfish producing areas, including cockles, clams and some aquaculture oysters. The ports of Bridport and St. Helens are important landing sites for scallop fishers operating in both Commonwealth and Tasmanian fisheries. Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout aquaculture also occurs in Macquarie harbour.

In 2012–13 the gross value of Tasmanian fisheries production is estimated to be around $695.9 million, an increase of 0.4 per cent ($3 million) from 2012–13. Tasmania contributed 29 per cent of the total value of Australian fisheries production in 2012–13. In value terms, the wild-catch sector accounted for 25 per cent ($175.9 million) of the state’s total production and the aquaculture sector accounted for the remaining 75 per cent ($520 million).

Tasmania’s wild-catch fisheries sector is dominated by two main products—abalone and southern rocklobster—which account for 56 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively, of the total value of wild-caught production in 2012–13. Over the last decade the real value of Tasmania’s wild-caught fisheries products has reduced by 16 per cent to $175.9 million 2012–13. The decline in value was driven by 40 per cent decline in the average unit price of several major wild-catch species and despite a 40 per cent increase in the total volume of wild-catch fisheries products.

The product for which the real value of production declined most over the past decade is abalone (both wild-caught and aquaculture), falling by 24 per cent to $97 million in 2012–13. This was the result of a 26 per cent reduction in the real unit price, despite s 2 per cent increase in volume. A large proportion of abalone is exported, mostly to Hong Kong, China and Japan. Exchange rate movements have a significant effect on the value of abalone exports and, in turn, production.

Southern rocklobster accounts for a significant proportion of Tasmanian wild-catch production, accounting for 17 per cent and 37 per cent of the total volume and value, respectively, of wild-catch production in 2012–13. However, the value of Southern rocklobster exports declined by 30 per cent in 2012–13, primarily reflecting a 23 per cent (75 tonnes) reduction in the volume exported from Tasmania and falling export unit prices.

Commonwealth fisheries active in the Tasmania region include the Commonwealth Trawl Sector (main source of domestic fresh fish for Sydney and Melbourne markets) and the Shark Gillnet, Hook and Trap Sector (supplies gummy shark or ‘flake’ to Melbourne) of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery. The Bass Strait Central Zone Scallop Fishery and Small Pelagic Fishery (mostly fishmeal for aquaculture and agriculture) also operate in the waters off Tasmania.

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The importance of aquaculture in Tasmanian fisheries production increased over the past decade. Over the past decade the real value of aquaculture production tripled reaching $520 million in 2012-13, representing around 75 per cent of the state’s fisheries production. Most of the growth in aquaculture production is attributed to increases in the output of farmed salmonid species, in particular Atlantic salmon.

In 2012–13 the volume of Tasmania’s aquaculture production is estimated to have declined by 4 per cent (2088 tonnes) to 46 375 tonnes. Salmonids accounted for 90 per cent of this volume and 94 per cent of the total value of Tasmanian aquaculture in 2012–13. Most Tasmanian salmonid production supplies the domestic market. A key factor contributing to the rapid growth in recent years was a strong focus on marketing salmon to Australian consumers. In 2012–13 an estimated 41 762 tonnes of salmonids valued at $489 million were produced.

In 2012–13, Tasmania’s fisheries product exports were valued at $131.9 million, lower by 20 per cent decline compared with 2011-12. The main export products include abalone, salmon and Southern rocklobster, which collectively accounted for around 93 per cent of the total value of Tasmania’s fisheries exports in 2012–13.

Hong Kong, Vietnam and China are the major destinations for Tasmanian fisheries exports, accounting for 35 per cent, 21 per cent and 19 per cent of the total value of exports in 2012–13, respectively. Other major export destinations include Japan (8 per cent), Singapore (6 per cent) and Taiwan (2 per cent).

Recreational fishing is popular in Tasmania with Tasmanians spending over $50 million on recreational fishing and one in every three Tasmanians reported to go fishing. This includes gamefishing for species including southern bluefin tuna and, with the seasonal extension of the East Australian Current, tropical species, such as yellowfin tuna and striped marlin. Recreational fishing also includes Southern rocklobster, abalone and a range of finfish species, such as flathead, Australian salmon, flounder and bream. The South East region has the highest participation in recreational fishing in Tasmania, with 33 per cent of the resident population aged five years or older fishing at least once in the 12 months prior to November 2007 (Lyle et al. 2009). Recreational fishing is also a very popular pursuit with residents in the Greater Hobart region where an estimated twenty seven per cent of residents aged five years or older went fishing at least once in the 12 months prior to November 2007 (Lyle et. al. 2009).

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4 Forestry sectorIn 2012–13, the total plantation area in Tasmania was approximately 311 000 hectares, comprised of approximately 236 300 hectares of hardwood plantations and 75 100 hectares of softwood plantations. The main hardwood species planted are blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and shining gum (E. nitens), and the main softwood species planted is radiata pine (Pinus radiata).

In 2011, there were approximately 3.4 million hectares of native forests in Tasmania, comprised mainly of Eucalypt medium woodland (approximately 1.0 million hectares), Eucalypt tall open (829 000 hectares), rainforest (708 400 hectares) and Eucalypt tall woodland (261 600 hectares) forest types. The majority of the native forests in nature conservation reserves (approximately 1.2 million hectares), 875 300 hectares are privately managed and 923 200 hectares are multiple-use public forest available for timber production (Figure 9). Major timber processing industries are located in Bell Bay, Boyer, Burnie, Forcett, Geeveston, Hampshire, Launceston, Smithton and Southwood.

Figure 9 Area of native forest, by tenure

Source: ABARES Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2013

Sales and service income in the Tasmanian forest and wood product industry was estimated at approximately $593 million in 2012–13, of which $257 million was from wood product sales. The remaining $336 million was generated from the sale of paper and paper products. Exports of woodchips from Tasmania have declined sharply following the global economic downturn, falling to 1.5 million tonnes in 2010–11 with an estimated value of $236 million. In 2011–12, woodchip exports declined further to 419 000 tonnes, valued at $64 million. In 2011, the Tasmanian forestry sector employed 3 526 workers (1.7 per cent of the total employed workforce in Tasmania) compared with 5 390 (2.7 per cent) in 2006 (number of people employed includes forestry support services and timber wholesaling).

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ReferencesABS 2011, Census of Population and Housing, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014a, Agricultural Commodities, Australia, 2012–2013, cat. no. 7121.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014b, Labour Force, Australia, Detailed, Quarterly, Nov 2014, cat. no. 6291.0.55.003, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

ABS 2014c, Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, 2012–13, cat. no. 7503.0, Australian Bureau Statistics, Canberra.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics-Bureau of Rural Sciences 2010, Land use of Australia 2005-06, Version 4, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra.

ABARES 2014, Catchment scale land use of Australia – update March 2014. Department of Agriculture. http://data.daff.gov.au/anrdl/metadata_files/pb_luausg9abll20140506_11a.xml

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences 2014, Australian forest and wood products statistics: March and June quarters 2014, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.

Lyle, JM, Tracey, SR, Stark, KE & Wotherspoon, S 2009, 2007–08 Survey of Recreational Fishing in Tasmania, Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart.

Montreal Process Implementation Group for Australia and National Forest Inventory Steering Committee 2013, Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2013, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.

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