The Murray Region Forestry Hub has undertaken a detailed climate forecasting study to understand how changing weather patterns could impact the future of softwood plantations across the South West Slopes.
Using the latest CSIRO and international climate modelling, the project examines key variables such as rising maximum and minimum temperatures, heatwaves, rainfall shifts, drought frequency, and frost days. By comparing historical observations with projections for 2030, 2050, 2070, and 2090, the study highlights both the risks and opportunities for plantation forestry under different climate scenarios.
The analysis confirms that climate change will alter the frequency of extreme events, with hotter and drier conditions likely to challenge plantation growth and increase fire risk. However, by integrating these insights into risk management and planning, forest managers, investors, and policymakers can adapt planting strategies, rotation lengths, and resource management practices to ensure resilience. This project provides an essential evidence base to guide long-term decision-making, helping to secure the sustainability and productivity of forestry in the Murray Region.