The Relevance of End-User Perceptions and Purchase Habits for the Current and Future Marketing of Australian Rainforest Cabinet Timber Products

摘要

Australia has some of the highest quality cabinet timber species in the world, sourced primarily from tropical rainforests in north Queensland, and there has been a long tradition of using these to produce furniture. Cessation of logging of Crown rainforest land has greatly reduced log supply, but there is now considerable interest in growing rainforest timbers on private land. This study provides the first quantitative description of the publicu27s perceptions and purchases of Australian rainforest cabinet timber products in north Queensland. It provides information that contributes to understanding the factors affecting the demand for products made from rainforest cabinet timbers. The majority of the north Queensland community consider Australian rainforest cabinet timbers to be vastly superior to composite wood products. Reasons for reluctance to purchase products made from RCTs include their high cost and the u27stage of lifeu27 of respondents, but also desire to protect rainforests. The main purchasing group are clustered in the 25-54 year age category. These findings have implications for current and future marketing of RCT products as well as government initiatives to promote afforestation with rainforest species.