Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Broad-Scale Restoration of Landscape Function with Timber, Carbon and Water Investment

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Forest Landscape Restoration

Part of the book series: World Forests ((WFSE,volume 15))

Abstract

Salinization threatens up to 17 million hectares of Australian farmland, major fresh water resources, biodiversity and built infrastructure. In higher rainfall (>600 mm/year) areas of south-western Australia a market based approach has resulted in the reforestation of over 280,000 ha of farmland with Eucalyptus globulus plantations. This has had significant collateral environmental benefits in terms of reducing salinity in several watersheds. This model has not been replicated in the lower (300–600 mm/year) rainfall areas of this region, which is a global biodiversity hotspot. In this area, conventional forestry species have lower wood yields and longer rotations, compromising profitability, and reinforcing land-holder preference to maintain existing agricultural activities.

Two complementary strategies are being used to restore landscape function across this drier region, through increased reforestation. The first is to shift from the paradigm of forestry comprising tall trees grown in relatively long rotations and producing timber to one based on the production of a range of biomass products (bioenergy, chemicals, sequestered carbon), and environmental services such as providing fresh water. As a consequence of breaking this paradigm, silvicultural practices such as stand densities and rotation length can also be redefined. The second strategy is to integrate these new systems into the existing dryland farming systems. Four broad approaches are being assessed viz. (a) belts of trees with farming maintained in inter-row alleys, (b) blocks of trees located on areas of water accumulation or of high recharge, (c) adjusting species selection to soil conditions, such as those that are shallow or saline, and (d) alternating short phases (3–5 years) of trees with farming. These systems offer the prospect of sequestering carbon, and producing wood or biofuels from farmland without displacing food production.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Archibald RD, Harper RJ, Fox JED, Silberstein RP (2006) Tree performance and root-zone salt accumulation in three dryland Australian plantations. Agrofor Syst 66:191–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Australia URS (2008) Oil mallee industry development plan for Western Australia. Forest Products Commission, Perth

    Google Scholar 

  • Bari MA, Smettem KRJ (2006) A daily salt balance model for stream salinity generation processes following partial clearing from forest to pasture. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 10:519–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bari MA, Mauger GW, Dixon RNM, Boniecka LH, Ward B, Sparks T, Waterhouse AM (2004) Salinity situation statement Denmark River. Water resource technical report no. WRT 30. Department of Environment, Perth, Western Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartle JR (2001) New perennial crops: Mallee eucalypts – a model, large scale perennial crop for the wheatbelt. In: Managing agricultural resources. Proceedings of outlook conference 2001, Canberra. ABARE, Canberra, pp 117–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartle JR, Shea S (1989) Development of a pulpwood cropping industry in Western Australia. Land Water Res News 1:5–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett DL, George RJ (1995) Using the EM38 to measure the effect of soil salinity on Eucalyptus globulus in south-western Australia. Agric Water Manage 27:69–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benyon RG, Theiveyanathan S, Doody TM (2006) Impacts of tree plantations on groundwater in south-eastern Australia. Aust J Bot 54:181–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burvill GH (1979) The development of light lands. In: Burvill GH (ed) Agriculture in Western Australia. University of Western Australia Press, Nedlands, pp 157–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Consortium (2001) The contribution of mid to low rainfall forestry and agroforestry to greenhouse and natural resource management outcomes: overview and analysis of opportunities. Australian Greenhouse Office/Murray-Darling Basin Commission, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper D, Olsen G, Bartle JR (2005) Capture of agricultural surplus water determines the productivity and scale of new low-rainfall woody crop industries. Aust J Exp Agric 45:1369–1388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CSIRO, Australian Bureau of Meteorology (2007) Climate change in Australia-technical report 2007. CSIRO, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Climate Change (2008) Carbon pollution reduction scheme green paper. Australian Government, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Flugge F, Abadi A (2006) Farming carbon: an economic analysis of agroforestry for carbon sequestration and dryland salinity reduction in Western Australia. Agrofor Syst 68:181–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garnaut R (2008) The Garnaut climate change review. Cambridge University Press, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • George RJ (1990) Reclaiming sandplain seeps by intercepting perched groundwater with eucalypts. Land Degrad Rehabil 2:13–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • George RJ, Nulsen RA, Ferdowsian R, Raper GP (1999) Interactions between trees and groundwaters in recharge and discharge areas – a survey of Western Australian sites. Agric Water Manage 39:91–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory PJ, Tennant D, Hamblin AP, Eastham J (1992) Components of the water balance on duplex soils in Western Australia. Aust J Exp Agric 32:845–855

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harper RJ, Gilkes RJ (2004) Aeolian influences on the soils and landforms of the southern Yilgarn Craton of semi-arid, south-western Australia. Geomorphology 59:215–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harper RJ, Hatton TJ, Crombie DS, Dawes WR, Abbott LK, Challen RP, House C (2000) Phase farming with trees: a scoping study of its potential for salinity control, soil quality enhancement and farm income improvement in dryland areas of southern Australia. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, RIRDC publication Nº 00/48, RIRDC publication Nº 00/48, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper RJ, Mauger G, Robinson N, McGrath JF, Smettem KRJ, Bartle JR, George RJ (2001) Manipulating catchment water balance using plantation and farm forestry: case studies from south-western Australia. In: Nambiar EKS, Brown AG (eds) Plantations, farm forestry and water. Joint Venture Agroforestry Program, Canberra, pp 44–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper RJ, Smettem KRJ, Tomlinson RJ (2005) Using soil and climatic data to estimate the performance of trees, carbon sequestration and recharge potential at the catchment scale. Aust J Exp Agric 45:1389–1401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harper RJ, Beck AC, Ritson P, Hill MJ, Mitchell CD, Barrett DJ, Smettem KRJ, Mann SS (2007) The potential of greenhouse sinks to underwrite improved land management. Ecol Eng 29:329–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harper RJ, Smettem KRJ, Carter JO, McGrath JF (2009a) Drought deaths in Eucalyptus globulus (Labill.) plantations in relation to soils, geomorphology and climate. Plant Soil 324:199–207

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harper RJ, Smettem KRJ, Reid RF, Callister A, McGrath JF, Brennan PB (2009b) Pulpwood crops. In: Reid RF, Nuberg I (eds) Agroforestry for natural resource management. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, pp 199–218

    Google Scholar 

  • Harper RJ, Gilkes RJ, Hill MJ, Carter DJ (2010a) Wind erosion and soil carbon dynamics in south-western Australia. Aeolian Res 1:129–141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harper RJ, Sochacki SJ, Smettem KRJ, Robinson N (2010b) Bioenergy feedstock potential from short-rotation woody crops in a dryland environment. Energy Fuel 24:225–231

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hatton TJ, Dawes W, Harper RJ (2002) Woodlots in rotation with agriculture. In: Stirzaker R, Vertessy R, Sarre A (eds) Trees, water and salt – an Australian guide to using trees for healthy catchments and productive farms. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra, pp 43–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatton TJ, Ruprecht J, George RJ (2003) Preclearing hydrology of the Western Australian wheatbelt: target for the future? Plant Soil 257:341–356

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hobbs TJ, Bennell M, Huxtable D, Bartle JR, Neumann C, George N, O’Sullivan W, McKenna D (2007) Potential agroforestry species and regional industries for lower rainfall southern Australia. RIRDC, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Jack BK, Kousky C, Sims KRE (2008) Designing payments for ecosystem services: lessons from previous experience with incentive-based mechanisms. Proc Natl Acad Sci 105:9465–9470

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keighery GJ, Halse SA, Harvey MS, McKenzie NL (eds) (2004) A biodiversity survey of the Western Australian agricultural zone, Records of the Western Australian Museum supplement 67. Western Australian Museum, Perth

    Google Scholar 

  • Kingwell R, Hajkowicz S, Young J, Patton D, Trapnell L, Edward A, Krause M, Bathgate A (2003) Economic evaluation of salinity management options in cropping regions of Australia. Grains Research and Development Corporation and National Dryland Salinity Program, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Koziell I, Swingland IR (2002) Collateral biodiversity benefits associated with ‘free-market’ approaches to sustainable land use and forestry activities. Philos Trans R Soc Lond A Math Phys Eng Sci 360:1807–1816

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marcar N, Crawford D (2004) Trees for saline landscapes. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Mauger GW, Bari M, Boniecka L, Dixon RNM, Dogramaci SS, Platt J (2001) Salinity situation statement Collie River. Water resources commission, Water resource technical report no. WRT 29

    Google Scholar 

  • McArthur WM (1991) Reference soils of south-western Australia. Australian Society of Soil Science Inc. (WA Branch), Perth

    Google Scholar 

  • McGrath JF, Ward D, Jenkins PJ, Read B (1991) Influence of site factors on the productivity and drought susceptibility of Pinus radiata in the Blackwood valley region of Western Australia. In: Ryan PJ (ed) Productivity in perspective. Third Australian forest soils and nutrition conference, Melbourne. Forestry Commission of New South Wales, Sydney, pp 65–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers N (1996) Environmental services of biodiversity. Proc Natl Acad Sci 93:2764–2769

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Myers N, Mittermeier RA, Mittermeier CG, da Fonseca GAB, Kent J (2000) Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature 403:853–858

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Land and Water Resources Audit (2001) Australian dryland salinity assessment 2000. Extent, impacts, processes, monitoring and management options. National Land and Water Resources Audit, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver YM, Lefroy EC, Stirzaker R, Davies CL (2005) Deep-drainage control and yield: the trade-off between trees and crops in agroforestry systems in the medium to low rainfall areas of Australia. Aust J Agric Res 56:1011–1026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons M, Gavran M (2007) National plantation inventory Australia – 2007 update. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • Peck AJ, Williamson DR (1987) Effects of forest clearing on groundwater. J Hydrol 94:47–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petersen EH, Schilizzi S, Bennett D (2003) An economic assessment of the role of commercial tree crops to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality in predominantly grazing systems of southwestern Australia. Aust J Agric Resour Econ 47:213–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Raper GP, Guppy LM, Argent RM, George RJ (2001) Innovative use of simulation models in farm and catchment planning in Western Australia. In: Conacher AJ (ed) Land degradation: papers selected from contributions to the sixth meeting of the international geographical union’s commission on land degradation and desertification, Perth, Western Australia, 20–28 Sept 1999. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, pp 319–331

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritson P, Sochacki SJ (2003) Measurement and prediction of biomass and carbon content of Pinus pinaster trees in farm forestry plantations, south-western Australia. For Ecol Manage 175:103–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson N, Harper RJ, Smettem KRJ (2006) Soil water depletion by Eucalyptus spp. integrated into dryland agricultural systems. Plant Soil 286:141–151

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan PJ, Harper RJ, Laffan MD, Booth TH, McKenzie NJ (2002) Site assessment for farm forestry in Australia and its relationship to scale, productivity and sustainability. For Ecol Manag 171:133–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez PA (2002) Soil fertility and hunger in Africa. Science 295:2019–2020

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schuck S (2006) Biomass as an energy source. Int J Environ Stud 63:823–835

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Select Committee into Land Conservation (1990) Discussion paper Nº 2. Agricultural region of Western Australia. Western Australia Legislative Assembly, Perth, Western Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • Shea S (1998) Farming carbon. Landscope 14:17–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Shea SR (1999) The development of tree crops for farms in Western Australia. In: Tree crops for farms. Landscope tree crops special edition. Conservation and Land Management, Perth, pp 2–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Shea SR, Bartle JR (1988) Restoring nature’s balance: the potential for major reforestation of south western Australia. Landscope 3:3–14

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith M, Dixon R, Boniecka L, Berti M, Sparks T, Bari M, Platt J (2006) Salinity situation statement Warren River. Water resource technical series report no. WRT 32, Department of water

    Google Scholar 

  • Sochacki S, Harper R, Smettem K (2007) Estimation of woody biomass production from a short rotation bio-energy system in semi-arid Australia. Biomass Bioenergy 31:608–616

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • State Salinity Council (2000) Natural resource management in Western Australia. The Salinity Strategy, Government of Western Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoneham G, Chaudhri V, Ha A, Strappazzon L (2003) Auctions for conservation contracts: an empirical examination of Victoria’s BushTender trial. Aust J Agric Resour Econ 47:477–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Townsend PV, Harper RJ, Brennan PD, Dean C, Wu S, Smettem KRJ, Cook SE (2012) Multiple environmental services as an opportunity for watershed restoration. Forest Policy Econ 17:45–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vertessy RA (2001) Impacts of plantation forestry on catchment runoff. In: Nambiar EKS, Brown AG (eds) Plantations, farm forestry and water. Joint Venture Agroforestry Program, Canberra, pp 9–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson RT, Noble IR, Bolin B, Ravindranath NH, Verardo DJ, Dokken DJ (2000) Land use, land–use change, and forestry. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood WE (1924) Increase of salt in soil and streams following destruction of the native vegetation. J R Soc West Aust 10:35–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan JS, Tiller KH, Al-Ahmad H, Stewart NR, Stewart CN (2008) Plants to power: bioenergy to fuel the future. Trends Plant Sci 13:421–429

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zorzetto A, Chudleigh P (1999) Commercial prospects for low rainfall agroforestry. Joint venture agroforestry program, RIRDC Publication 99/15299/152

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Project funding has been obtained from the Joint Venture Agroforestry Program (Projects CAL-3A, CAL-6A, CAL-8A, FPC-2A), the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Accounting, and Cooperative Research Centre for Future Farm Industries, and the Western Australian Government’s Greenhouse Strategy (Action 3.1.11). We thank Kevin Goss, Don McGuire and Stan Sochacki for constructive comments on the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alcoa Chair in Sustainable Water Management, Environmental Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia

    R. J. Harper

  2. Forest Products Commission, Perth Business Centre, 888, Perth, WA, 6849, Australia

    R. J. Harper & P. V. Townsend

  3. Centre for Eco-Hydrology, School of Environmental Systems Engineering, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, 6907, Australia

    K. R. J. Smettem

  4. Cooperative Research Centre for Future Farm Industries, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, 6907, Australia

    J. R. Bartle & J. F. McGrath

Authors
  1. R. J. Harper
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. R. J. Smettem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. V. Townsend
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. R. Bartle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. F. McGrath
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. J. Harper .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Ctr. Forest Disturbance Science, US Forest Service, Green St. 320, Athens, 30602, Georgia, USA

    John Stanturf

  2. Center for Mined Land Rehabilitation, Queensland University, Brisbane, 4072, Queensland, Australia

    David Lamb

  3. , Danish Ctr Forest, Landscape Planning, University of Copenhagen, Vedelsgade 6, Vejle, 7100, Denmark

    Palle Madsen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Harper, R.J., Smettem, K.R.J., Townsend, P.V., Bartle, J.R., McGrath, J.F. (2012). Broad-Scale Restoration of Landscape Function with Timber, Carbon and Water Investment. In: Stanturf, J., Lamb, D., Madsen, P. (eds) Forest Landscape Restoration. World Forests, vol 15. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5326-6_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation