Optimal Timber Utilisation Strategies for Wik People on Cape York Peninsula

A forestry industry based on the native Darwin stringybark forests of Cape York Peninsula has been identified as a potential generator of employment and income for Wik people. Information appropriate for examining potential Wik timber utilisation strategies is scarce, necessitating primary data collection activities in north Queensland. A mixed-integer, single-period goal program is developed to produce a suite of ‘optimal’ timber utilisation strategies from the perspective of Wik people. Optimal forestry strategies predicted by the goal programming model are financially viable and suggest, in general, that relatively low-technology forestry activities are likely to best satisfy Wik forestry objectives

Commercial Forestry: An Economic Development Opportunity Consistent with the Property Rights of Wik People to Natural Resources

Wik people on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, aspire to economic independence. Commercial processing of native forest timbers is seen by Wik people as a culturally appropriate engine for economic development; however, much uncertainty surrounds their property rights to native forest timber. The granting of native title over some traditional Wik land in 2000 and 2004 was seen as a coup by Wik people, but some economists have argued that the inalienable and communal nature of native title is an obstacle to development in indigenous communities. An assessment of Wik property rights to timber resources reveals that a commercial forestry industry is consistent with their rights. In comparison with social and cultural factors, the inalienable and communal characteristics of native title are second-order development constraints for Wik people.native title, native forest management, Aurukun community, Cape York Peninsula.

Accommodating Indigenous Cultural Heritage Values in Resource Assessment: Cape York Peninsula and the MurrayÐDarling Basin, Australia

In this paper we consider the problem of accommodating indigenous cultural heritage values in resource assessment and valuation. We suggest a need for price-based approaches to valuation to be replaced by or complemented with quantitative constraints, reflecting the requirement that rights should not be violated.indigenous cultural heritage, resource assessment, valuation

Optimal Timber Utilisation Strategies for Wik People on Cape York Peninsula

A forestry industry based on the native Darwin stringybark forests of Cape York Peninsula has been identified as a potential generator of employment and income for Wik people. Information appropriate for examining potential Wik timber utilisation strategies is scarce, necessitating primary data collection activities in north Queensland. A mixed-integer, single-period goal program is developed to produce a suite of 'optimal' timber utilisation strategies from the perspective of Wik people. Optimal forestry strategies predicted by the goal programming model are financially viable and suggest, in general, that relatively low-technology forestry activities are likely to best satisfy Wik forestry objectives

Potential markets for logs and sawn timber from Darwin stringybark forests of Cape York Peninsula

On Cape York Peninsula there are about 1.7 Mha of eucalypt forests with commercially attractive timber species on land tenures other than National Park. Potential north Queensland markets for Darwin stringybark (Eucalyptus tetrodonta), Cooktown ironwood (Erythrophleum chlorostachys) and Melville Island bloodwood (Corymbia nesophila) are described, and prices and quantities demanded estimated from informal discussions with timber processors and consumers who are familiar with the species are reported. Interviewees are optimistic about market prospects for the former two species, but are pessimistic about Melville Island bloodwood. The structural hardwood market is the largest market for hardwood timbers in north Queensland. Other products from the region with relatively high demand include strip flooring and electricity poles. Darwin stringybark is considered to be highly suitable for the electricity pole, structural timber and strip flooring markets, where prices of about $500/m3 of chemically treated log,$1,400/m3 of chemically treated structural timbers and $2,750/m3 of kiln dried floorboards, respectively, could be achieved. Cooktown ironwood is regarded as a high-quality appearance grade timber, with interviewees indicating a willingness to pay at least$2,000/m3 of dried timber and potentially up to about $5,000/m3. Opportunities exist to sell small volumes of Cooktown ironwood into extremely high-value domestic musical instrument markets. Interviewees asserted that Darwin stringybark and Cooktown ironwood have sound prospects in overseas markets

Appendix M: GAMS Programming Code for the Wik Forestry Goal Programming Model

GAMS Programming Code for the Wik Forestry Goal Programming Mode

Appendix A: MCA Terminology

This appendix reviews the terminology of multiple criteria analysis

Portable Sawmilling Costs for Landholders in Western Queensland

Portable sawmilling trials with Acacia aneura (mulga) and A. cambagei (gidgee) have been undertaken to estimate the private landholder costs associated with small-scale timber production from woodlands in western Queensland, Australia. A time study of harvesting and milling operations facilitated estimation of landholder labour input requirements. The scarcity and small size of millable logs, coupled with the prevalence of timber defects, make harvesting and portable sawmilling of western Queensland acacias an expensive undertaking for landholders. The cost of producing sawn timber that meets the High Feature (HF) grade of Australian Standard AS2796 is estimated at between A$3,000-m3 and A$3,400/m3 of HF timber.