Summary

This final report presents the findings of a three-year trial investigating the potential for silvopastoral systems to combine commercial timber, cattle grazing and carbon sequestration on the same land in northern Australia.

The project established a 55-hectare case study near Cardwell in north Queensland, combining Brahman cattle with Caribbean pine. Researchers compared a traditional high-density plantation with two different thinning treatments, measuring tree and pasture growth, cattle weight gain and behaviour, and modelling the longer-term financial performance of different silvopastoral systems. The research involved Queensland Department of Primary Industries, CQUniversity, University of Queensland, HQPlantations, Timber Queensland and industry partners.

Results showed significantly greater pasture growth and cattle weight gain in the thinned silvopastoral treatments compared with the traditional plantation. Cattle also increasingly used tree rows during hotter periods, highlighting the potential animal welfare benefits of providing shade. Financial modelling found appropriately designed systems could deliver higher long-term returns by combining beef, timber and carbon income, although establishment costs and delayed timber returns remain barriers to adoption.

The project provides an important evidence base for diversifying land use across northern Australia, with potential benefits including new timber production, diversified farm income, carbon sequestration, improved cattle welfare and greater climate resilience. It recommends further trials across different regions and tree species, continued monitoring of the Cardwell site, stronger industry partnerships and further development of incentives and carbon market mechanisms to support adoption.