Tyron Venn

Tyron Venn was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. With a passionate interest in forest management and a firm belief in the need for wise use of natural resources, he had decided by the age of 13 to study forestry. He was exposed to natural resource economics during his second year of university study and was so impressed by the economists’ toolkit, and its application to policy analysis, that he enrolled in a combined forestry and economics degree the following semester.

His economics honours research gave him the opportunity to work with Steve Harrison of The University of Queensland and took him to the Islands of Mindanao and Leyte in the Philippines where he assessed the economic potential for Australian timber species in smallholder plantations. The following year, Tyron commenced a thoroughly interesting PhD study in which he developed and evaluated culturally appropriate forestry opportunities for Wik people (an indigenous tribe) on their traditional lands in far north Queensland. Social interaction with the Wik people, including being ‘adopted’ into the Ngallametta family, led to Tyron reassessing his outlook on life.

During a 10-month deferment of his PhD, he undertook contract work for the Queensland Forestry Research Institute where he examined small-scale forestry opportunities for graziers in western Queensland and the economic (as opposed to financial) value of hardwood plantations in Queensland. Following submission of his PhD, Tyron had the honour and pleasure of working with John Quiggin as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow on water management in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin. In 2005 Tyron commenced employment at The University of Montana and is enjoying this opportunity to experience ‘the last best place’.

Outside of work, Tyron enjoys spending time with family, hiking, gardening, and watching and playing cricket.
 

Bachelor of Science (Forestry), The Australian National University, 1997.
Bachelor of Economics, The Australian National University, 1998.
Postgraduate Economics Honours (1st Class), The University of Queensland, 1999.
Doctor of Philosophy in Economics, The University of Queensland, 2004.

PowerPoints for Natural Resource and Environmental Economics

PowerPoints for Forest Economics - FOR 320

I specialize in natural resource and environmental economics. My research interests include:

  
• market and non-market valuation of ecosystem services and cultural heritage;
  
• property rights, particularly the property rights of indigenous Australians to natural resources;
  
• the economics of forestry;
  
• socio-economic evaluation of natural resource management; and
  
• the contribution of forestry to economic development.

Journal articles (published or in press)

Venn, T.J. and Quiggin, J. (in press), ‘Accommodating indigenous cultural heritage values in resource assessment: Cape York Peninsula and the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia’, Ecological Economics.

Venn, T.J. (2005), ‘Financial and economic performance of long-rotation hardwood plantation investments in Queensland, Australia’, Forest Policy and Economics, 7(3): 437-454.

Venn, T.J. (2004), ‘Visions and realities for a Wik forestry industry on Cape York Peninsula, Australia’, Small-Scale Forest Economics Management and Policy, 3(3): 431-51.

Venn, T.J., McGavin, R.L. and Leggate, W.W. (2004), ‘Costs of portable sawmilling timbers from the Acacia woodlands of western Queensland’, Australia, Small-Scale Forest Economics Management and Policy, 3(2): 161-75.

Venn, T.J., McGavin, R.L. and Rogers, H.M. (2003), ‘Managing woodlands for income maximisation in western Queensland, Australia: clearing for grazing versus timber production’, Forest Ecology and Management, 185(3): 291-306.

Venn, T.J. and Whittaker, K. (2003), ‘Potential specialty timber markets for hardwoods of western Queensland, Australia’, Small-Scale Forest Economics Management and Policy, 2(3): 377-95.

Harrison, S., Venn, T., Herbohn, J., Dart, P., Brown, S. (2003), ‘Some research experiences in socio-economics of non-industrial forestry in the Philippines’, Annals of Tropical Research, 25(1): 45-56.
 

Journal articles in review

Venn, T.J. (in review), ‘Economic implications of inalienable and communal native title: the case of Wik forestry’, Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
 

Book and Monograph chapters (published or in press)

Venn, T.J. (2006), ‘Commercial forestry: an economic development opportunity consistent with the property rights of the Wik people to natural resources’, in Smajgl, A. and Larson, S. (eds), Adapting Rules for Sustainable Resource Use, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Townsville, pp. 135-152.

Venn, T.J. (2004), ‘The scope of this research on utilisation of western Queensland hardwoods’, in T.J. Venn, R.L. McGavin and W.W. Leggate (eds), Utilisation of Western Queensland Hardwoods as Specialty Timbers, RIRDC publication number 04/132, RIRDC, Canberra, pp. 1-5.

Venn, T.J., McGavin, R.L., Leggate, W.W. and Cause, A.G. (2004), ‘Portable sawmilling of mulga and gidgee in western Queensland: green-off-saw recovery, variable costs of production and comparison with the east-coast hardwood industry’, in T.J. Venn, R.L. McGavin and W.W. Leggate (eds), Utilisation of Western Queensland Hardwoods as Specialty Timbers, RIRDC publication number 04/132, RIRDC, Canberra, pp. 29-56.

Venn, T.J., McGavin, R.L., Leggate, W.W. and Cause, A.G., Redman, A.L. and Roberts, S. (2004), ‘Drying time and costs associated with seasoning mulga and gidgee timber in western Queensland’, in T.J. Venn, R.L. McGavin and W.W. Leggate (eds), Utilisation of Western Queensland Hardwoods as Specialty Timbers, RIRDC publication number 04/132, RIRDC, Canberra, pp. 57-78.

Venn, T.J., McGavin, R.L., Leggate, W.W. and Cause, A.G., Redman, A.L. and Roberts, S. (2004), ‘Graded recovery of seasoned mulga and gidgee boards’, in T.J. Venn, R.L. McGavin and W.W. Leggate (eds), Utilisation of Western Queensland Hardwoods as Specialty Timbers, RIRDC publication number 04/132, RIRDC, Canberra, pp. 79-110.

Whittaker, K. and Venn, T.J. (2004), ‘Postal survey assessment of potential markets for western Queensland hardwoods’, , in T.J. Venn, R.L. McGavin and W.W. Leggate (eds), Utilisation of Western Queensland Hardwoods as Specialty Timbers, RIRDC publication number 04/132, RIRDC, Canberra, pp. 114-154.

Venn, T.J. and McGavin, R.L. (2004), ‘Appraisal of market opportunities for western Queensland hardwoods’, in T.J. Venn, R.L. McGavin and W.W. Leggate (eds), Utilisation of Western Queensland Hardwoods as Specialty Timbers, RIRDC publication number 04/132, RIRDC, Canberra, pp. 155-162.

Venn, T.J. (2004), ‘Financial comparison of potential hardwood timber processing operations with grazing in western Queensland’, in T.J. Venn, R.L. McGavin and W.W. Leggate (eds), Utilisation of Western Queensland Hardwoods as Specialty Timbers, RIRDC publication number 04/132, RIRDC, Canberra, pp. 163-206.

Venn, T.J. and McGavin, R.L. (2004), ‘Future prospects for the western Queensland hardwood processing industry’, in T.J. Venn, R.L. McGavin and W.W. Leggate (eds), Utilisation of Western Queensland Hardwoods as Specialty Timbers, RIRDC publication number 04/132, RIRDC, Canberra, pp. 212-221.

Venn, T.J, Harrison, S.R. and Herbohn, J.L (2001), ‘Predicting yields and returns to smallholder plantation forestry: a Philippines case study’, in S.R. Harrison and J.L. Herbohn (eds), Sustainable Farm Forestry in the Tropics: Social and Economic Analysis and Policy, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, pp. 61-76.

Venn, T.J. and Harrison, S.R. (2001), ‘Imperatives for reforestation in the Philippines’, in S.R. Harrison and J.L. Herbohn (eds), Socio-Economic Evaluation of the Potential for Australian Tree Species in the Philippines, ACIAR Monograph 75, ACIAR, Canberra, pp. 21-31.

Venn, T.J., Beard, R.M. and Harrison, S.R. (2001), ‘Modelling stand yield of non-traditional timber species under sparse data’, in S.R. Harrison and J.L. Herbohn (eds), Socio-Economic Evaluation of the Potential for Australian Tree Species in the Philippines, ACIAR Monograph 75, ACIAR, Canberra, pp. 55-77.

Venn, T.J. and Harrison, S.R. (2001), ‘Stand yield models for Australian eucalypt and acacia plantations in the Philippines’, in S.R. Harrison and J.L. Herbohn (eds), Socio-Economic Evaluation of the Potential for Australian Tree Species in the Philippines, ACIAR Monograph 75, ACIAR, Canberra, pp. 79-92.

Venn, T.J., Harrison, S.R. and Herbohn, J.L. (2001), ‘Relative financial performance of Australian and traditional timber species in the Philippines’, in S.R. Harrison and J.L. Herbohn (eds), Socio-Economic Evaluation of the Potential for Australian Tree Species in the Philippines, ACIAR Monograph 75, ACIAR, Canberra, pp. 93-110.

Venn, T.J., Harrison, S.R. and Herbohn, J.L. (2001), ‘Impediments to the adoption of Australian tree species in the Philippines’, in S.R. Harrison and J.L. Herbohn (eds), Socio-Economic Evaluation of the Potential for Australian Tree Species in the Philippines, ACIAR Monograph 75, ACIAR, Canberra, pp. 167-181.

Dart, P.J., Brown, S.M., Simpson, J.A., Harrison, S.R. and Venn, T.J. (2001), ‘Experience from ACIAR Trials of the Suitability and Performance of Australian Tree Species’, in S.R. Harrison and J.L. Herbohn (eds), Socio-Economic Evaluation of the Potential for Australian Tree Species in the Philippines, ACIAR Monograph 75, ACIAR, Canberra, pp. 7-20.

CRA (1999), ‘Wood and wood products industry background and situation analysis SE2.5’, in CRA, South-east Queensland Comprehensive Regional Assessment, Commonwealth and Queensland Regional Forest Agreement Steering Committee, Brisbane, pp 115-119.
 

Monographs

Venn, T.J., McGavin, R.L. and Leggate, W.W. (eds) (2004), Utilisation of Western Queensland Hardwoods as Specialty Timbers, RIRDC publication number 04/132, RIRDC, Canberra, 221 pp.
 

Conference papers in refereed published proceedings

Venn, T.J. (2004), ‘Potential markets for logs and sawn timber from the Darwin stringybark forests of Cape York Peninsula’, in J. Suh, D.B. Smorfitt, S.R. Harrison and J.L. Herbohn (eds), Marketing of Farm-grown Timber in Tropical North Queensland, Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management, Cairns, pp. 133-46.

Venn, T.J. and Harrison, S.R. (2001), ‘Appropriate multi-criteria decision support tools for aiding indigenous decision-makers in Aurukun Shire, Cape York Peninsula’, in F. Ghassemi, M. McAleer, L. Oxley and M. Scoccimarro (eds), Integrating Models for Natural Resources Management Across Disciplines, Issues and Scales, Volume 3: Socioeconomic Systems, MODSIM 2001, international congress on modelling and simulation, 10-13 December 2001, The Australian National University, Canberra, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Canberra, pp. 1097-1102.

Venn, T.J., Harrison, S.R. and Herbohn, J.L. (2001), ‘Estimating financial returns to small-scale and industrial plantations of Australian eucalypt and Acacia mangium in the Philippines’, in J.L. Herbohn, S.R. Harrison, K.F. Herbohn and D.B. Smorfitt (eds), Developing Policies to Encourage Small-Scale Forestry, proceedings from IUFRO Working Group 3.08 Small-Scale Forestry symposium, 9-15 January 2000, Kuranda, Australia, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 316-28.

Venn, T.J. and Harrison, S.R. (2001), ‘Estimating the yield of small-scale and industrial plantations of Australian eucalypt and Acacia mangium plantations in the Philippines’, in J.L. Herbohn, S.R. Harrison, K.F. Herbohn and D.B. Smorfitt (eds), Developing Policies to Encourage Small-Scale Forestry, proceedings from IUFRO Working Group 3.08 Small-Scale Forestry symposium, 9-15 January 2000, Kuranda, Australia, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, pp. 305-15.
 

Other conference papers

Venn, T.J. and Quiggin, J. (2005), ‘Accommodating indigenous cultural heritage values in resource assessment: the case of Cape York Peninsula’, a paper presented at Human Dimensions in the Western U.S. Conference, 27-29 October 2005, Park City, Utah.

Venn, T.J., (2005), ‘Commercial forestry: an economic development opportunity consistent with the native title rights of Wik people to natural resources’, a paper presented at the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society Conference, 9-11 February 2005, Coffs Harbour.
Venn, T.J. (2004), ‘Optimal timber utilisation strategies for Wik people on Cape York Peninsula’, a paper presented at North Queensland Forestry Industry Development Workshop, 28-29 April 2004, Cairns.

Harrison, S., Emtage, N., Herbohn, J and Venn, T. (2004), ‘Designing developing and testing financial models for non-industrial private forestry’, a paper presented at EcoMod2004: International Conference on Policy Modelling, 30 June to 2 July 2004, University of Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne, Paris, available on-line at http://www.ecomod.net/conferences/ecomod2004/ecomod2004_papers.htm

Venn, T.J. (2003), ‘Property rights of Wik people to timber resources on Cape York Peninsula, Australia’, a paper presented at the International Association for the Study of Common Property (IASCP) Regional Workshop, Traditional Lands in the Pacific Region: Indigenous Common Property Resources in Convulsion or Cohesion, 7-9 September 2003, Brisbane. Soon to be available on-line at http://www.indiana.edu/~iascp/pacific2003.html.
 

Research reports and theses

Venn, T.J. (2004), Socio-economic Evaluation of Forestry Development Opportunities for Wik People on Cape York Peninsula, unpublished PhD thesis, School of Economics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.

Annandale, M.G., McGavin, R.L. and Venn, T.J. (2002), Injinoo Sawmilling Project Phase 1: Small-Scale Timber Processing, Queensland Forestry Research Institute, Brisbane.

Venn, T.J. (1999), The Likelihood of Adoption of Recently Trialled Australian Timber Species in the Philippines, unpublished economics honours thesis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.

CRA (Comprehensive Regional Assessment) (1999), Wood and Wood Products Industry Background and Situation Analysis SE2.5, Department of Natural Resources, Brisbane. (available on the Commonwealth RFA Internet site: www.rfa.gov.au)CRA (1999), Public Forest Resource Description and Inventory SE 1.2, DNR, Brisbane.

CRA (1999), Forest Grazing, Apiculture and other Products Description and Assessment SE4.2, DNR, Brisbane.
 

Book Reviews

Venn, T. (2001), ‘Forest Tourism and Recreation: Case Studies in Environmental Management, edited by Xavier Font and John Tribe (2000), CABI Publishing, Wallingford’, Economic Analysis and Policy, 31(1): 96-7.