Reforestation dynamics in the context of climate change in Australia

The aim of this research was to compare spotted gum plantations with peanut-maize cultivation and beef pasture in low rainfall areas, incorporating carbon values. This study covers all variable costs and benefits, and different sources and sinks carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. If the comparison of net present values is limited to traditional benefits (i.e. income from crops and hay in cultivation, beef in pasture and timber in plantation), cultivation is the most profitable option, followed by pasture and plantations. Even after the inclusion of beef value, plantations could not compete with other land use systems. After the inclusion of greenhouse gas value, plantations were the most profitable option, followed by pasture and cultivation. These findings have some implications for attempts to increase the plantation estate to 3 million hectares by 2020, through policy frameworks such as the Australian Government s Vision 2020 . Therefore, this study has recommended several measures to increase the benefits from plantations.