A plantation of over 20 species, 10 genera and 7 families sorted for planting out on a farm
The following blueprint is a scoring system for a plantation's sustainability.
It's also a design guide, a reference and a reminder of the 10 principles that will determine how long your plantation will prosper.
What you will need to know to score your next plantation or an existing one:
(You can also assess the likely sustainability of any remnant bush
using this Blueprint)
Once you have this information the scoring will only take a few minutes. Add up your score totals and compare them to the 'Sustainability Assessment' at the end of the table.
Diversity;
- How many species you are planting and from which genera and plant
families they belong. Click here for help
- 'Food source potential' is a count of how many eucalypt and acacia species are on your planting list
Structure;
- The average width and the length of your plantation. If it connects to a remnant or another plantation, include their dimensions as well (native grasslands are a remnant so include their dimensions if you have some adjacent to the new plantation)
- Structural vegetation layers form when you plant clumps of different heights. For example planting tall trees (>12 m
tall), understorey (5 - 12 m tall) and shrubs < 5 meters tall) in adjacent clumps will create 'structural layers'
- Habitat potential looks at whether you have incorporated old trees with hollows (alive or dead) and put habitat logs or rocks on the ground within your plantation
Species survival;
- Planting in clumps of the same species to enhance pollination by mammals, birds and insects will score well
- Seed collected from an adequate number of parent trees (ideally 20) to ensure good genetic diversity. Ask your nurseryman this question.
Location;
- How far the plantation is from the nearest remnant vegetation (count native grasslands as a remnant) or permanent water
What's next?
If your score is 'marginal', 'unlikely' or highly unlikely' to be sustainable', you can improve your design by focusing on the weaknesses. Helpful ideas for improving your plantation design can be found by clicking on - Diversity; Structure; Species survival; Location- connections
If your score is 'likely' or highly likely' to be sustainable - great job, you are creating something that is likely to be a lasting legacy for your great, great, great.... grandchildren to enjoy and to marvel at your foresight, generosity and commitment to a healthy future.
Site preparation and fencing
Now all you have to do is prepare your site for planting (that's requires good weed control for twelve months after planting) and ensure that you have stock proof fences. Consider putting a stock gate at either end of your plantation so you can walk a big mob of sheep through over a few days to control weeds and to reduce fire risk. If stock are in for too long they'll damage the plantation, so keep a close eye on them.
It's also a design guide, a reference and a reminder of the 10 principles that will determine how long your plantation will prosper.
What you will need to know to score your next plantation or an existing one:
(You can also assess the likely sustainability of any remnant bush
using this Blueprint)
Once you have this information the scoring will only take a few minutes. Add up your score totals and compare them to the 'Sustainability Assessment' at the end of the table.
Diversity;
- How many species you are planting and from which genera and plant
families they belong. Click here for help
- 'Food source potential' is a count of how many eucalypt and acacia species are on your planting list
Structure;
- The average width and the length of your plantation. If it connects to a remnant or another plantation, include their dimensions as well (native grasslands are a remnant so include their dimensions if you have some adjacent to the new plantation)
- Structural vegetation layers form when you plant clumps of different heights. For example planting tall trees (>12 m
tall), understorey (5 - 12 m tall) and shrubs < 5 meters tall) in adjacent clumps will create 'structural layers'
- Habitat potential looks at whether you have incorporated old trees with hollows (alive or dead) and put habitat logs or rocks on the ground within your plantation
Species survival;
- Planting in clumps of the same species to enhance pollination by mammals, birds and insects will score well
- Seed collected from an adequate number of parent trees (ideally 20) to ensure good genetic diversity. Ask your nurseryman this question.
Location;
- How far the plantation is from the nearest remnant vegetation (count native grasslands as a remnant) or permanent water
What's next?
If your score is 'marginal', 'unlikely' or highly unlikely' to be sustainable', you can improve your design by focusing on the weaknesses. Helpful ideas for improving your plantation design can be found by clicking on - Diversity; Structure; Species survival; Location- connections
If your score is 'likely' or highly likely' to be sustainable - great job, you are creating something that is likely to be a lasting legacy for your great, great, great.... grandchildren to enjoy and to marvel at your foresight, generosity and commitment to a healthy future.
Site preparation and fencing
Now all you have to do is prepare your site for planting (that's requires good weed control for twelve months after planting) and ensure that you have stock proof fences. Consider putting a stock gate at either end of your plantation so you can walk a big mob of sheep through over a few days to control weeds and to reduce fire risk. If stock are in for too long they'll damage the plantation, so keep a close eye on them.
