Potential performance of rainforest and Eucalypt cabinet timber in plantations in North Queensland

A brief outline is provided of the timber industry in North Queensland including a discussion of recent efforts to establish a plantation timber industry based on rainforest cabinet timbers to replace the industry lost with World Heritage listing in 1988. Results of a Delphi survey which sought expert opinion about the growth of rainforest and Eucalyptus species in mixed-species plantations in North Queensland are presented. Specifically, expert opinions about preferred species combinations and likely effects of mixed species plantations on timber yields are reported. Estimates of yield (m3 ha-1 y-1) and harvest age (years) are provided for 31 species commonly planted under the Community Rainforest Reforestation Program