Public concerns about pine plantations in Victoria

Abstract

Summary A study of community perceptions on Government pine plantation expansions in Victoria revealed that better information and better planning and delivery mechanisms are required to address widespread and often trenchant opposition. Most frequent concerns related to community, municipal/regional, and adjoining landowner issues, with more specific concerns relating to communication, various aspects of plantation planning and management, and potential social, economic and environmental impacts. Discussion of these and related aspects of who is affected and why leads to the conclusion that the Government and foresters need to accelerate their efforts to more closely involve the public in their pine plantation program and learn more effective ways for recording and sharing information and plans if plantation expansion programs are to achieve wider acceptance and support.