Plantations & Private Forests
Plantations
In 1993, the majority of the State’s plantations intended for ongoing use were vested in the Victorian Plantations Corporation (VPC), a State-owned body established under the State Owned Enterprises Act 1992. In 1998, the VPC was privatised and its assets sold to Hancock Victorian Plantations Pty Ltd (HVP). While the Crown retains ownership of the land, HVP has the right to harvest the trees on that land.The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) develop policies regarding plantations, while the Department of Sustainability and Environment manages the public land. For further information on plantations visit the Forestry and Climate Change page on the DPI website.
Private Forestry
Private forestry is the productive use of trees on private land, and includes management of both plantations and native forests. Forests on private land have experienced significant change in size and quality since European settlement, and are generally more fragmented than State forests. Some of the forests on private land are included in local planning provisions, and the Code of Practice for Timber Production (2007) apply to their management.
The Victorian Private Forestry program is a partnership between a broad range of stakeholders interested in farm forestry integrated with existing farming systems and encouraging the expansion of plantations in the rural landscape. The program is delivered through the Private Forestry Unit and Catchment and Agriculture Services, DPI.
For more information on Private Forestry visit the Department of Primary Industries website.