Global Uses of Australian Acacia Species: Recent Trends and Future Prospects

Across a global range of temperate to tropical environments, Australian species of Acacia (‘wattles’) provide a highly diverse range of economic benefits. These include both production of internationally tradable commodities and benefits that are primarily local. Trends over the past decade are discussed with comment on likely future prospects.By far the largest wattle plantation areas are in South-East Asia, with A. mangium, its hybrid with A. auriculiformis, and A. crassicarpa being the predominant taxa. Over 3.5 Mha support production of kraft pulp worth around US$7 billion per annum in addition to solid wood products worth over US$6 billion per annum. There is scope for further expansion, particularly in Vietnam.Elsewhere, the most significant industry is tannin production from A. mearnsii in Brazil and South Africa. This is a mature industry with demand static or somewhat in decline. Acacia dealbata flowers are processed to produce mimosa oil, which has long been used by perfume manufacturers in southern France. Demand is expanding and is increasingly met from lower-cost regions including India. The ornamental value of winter-flowering wattles was the primary driver of introductions to Mediterranean countries, and horticultural use and associated cut-flower production are still important, as they are in Australia.Rural communities in many countries derive domestic fuelwood and poles from planted wattles and this demand is likely to persist. Across Australia, in line with commitments to halt loss of biodiversity and mitigate climate change, wattles are an important component of environmental restoration and carbon farming projects, where they are well suited to low-cost establishment by direct seeding.Recent patterns of seed export from the CSIRO Australian Tree Seed Centre are reviewed as an indication of changing demand for wood-producing taxa. Many additional species are used in horticulture and environmental restoration projects, contributing further diversity to the range of useful species.