Combination of timber production & agriculture on the same land. Farming activities are undertaken between widely spaced trees usually cultivated for timber, firewood and/or fodder.
Forests are important to our ecological, economic and social wellbeing. They provide wood and non-wood products, recreational opportunities and other non-market goods and services such as water and clean air.
Forests make an important contribution to our economy through supporting regional communities involved in resource-use industries, and by providing excellent opportunities for recreation and tourism. In fact, more people visit our forests for recreation than for any other purpose.
They also perform important environmental functions, such as protecting the health of our water catchments, and providing habitats for plant and animal species, thereby playing a vital role in the conservation of biodiversity.
Forests can have considerable indigenous and cultural heritage values. They are used for education, and their aesthetic values are also highly valued.
The provision of clean water, conversion of carbon dioxide (atmospheric carbon) into wood (stored carbon) through the process of photosynthesis (carbon sequestration), and the maintenance of fertile soils that support healthy and productive ecosystems are critical processes performed by our forests.
The community expects its forest ecosystems to be protected for current and future generations to enjoy, while continuing to provide sustainably derived products such as wood for construction and furniture, reconstituted products like paper, and even food sources such as honey. Finding a balance between these multiple uses, while sustaining and conserving forests for the future, is the basis of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM).
Social and Economic Contribution
Forests provide many social and economic benefits to the communities that regularly interact with them, particularly regional and indigenous communities.
Forests can contribute to sustainable economic growth as well as community development. For example, forests near residential areas provide our large and growing urban population with opportunities for spiritual renewal and strengthening. Within urban areas, forests are planted by community groups to transform degraded areas, reduce wind and noise, and help improve air quality. While in rural regions, farmers plant trees to provide livestock with shelter and to stabilise and improve degraded agricultural land.
Forests have been found to improve the well-being of those who use them for recreation and relaxation. Added benefits can come from observing wildlife and flora in natural habitats.
Forestry also helps to conserve Australia’s rich cultural heritage. This includes helping protect remnant rainforests, old growth forests, and protected area forests that include archaeological and aboriginal sacred sites.
Products from trees
Wood and timber harvested from native forests and plantations can be used for many purposes, including house construction, infrastructure (e.g. bridges and railways), fencing, heating fuel, and fibre for paper-making.
High quality timber from our native forests is highly prized by furniture makers and as hardwood flooring and decking.
Woodchips are a by-product of timber harvesting in native forests and plantations, and are sought after both locally and internationally for use in high quality paper products. The majority of our current eucalypt plantations are being purpose-grown for woodchips using species selected especially for their high fibre yield and suitability for pulping as the base ingredient in paper manufacturing.
While other building materials can provide shelter, warmth and comfort, none are renewable like wood. Once trees are harvested, the same areas can be replanted and new trees grown. Other resources, such as clay for bricks, iron ore for steel, or bauxite for aluminium require a much greater energy input to transform them from raw material to usable products. Compared to these other common building materials, timber not only stores carbon, but it embodies much less energy in its processing and manufacture.
Wood is not the only useful product that can be obtained from trees; the leaves can provide chemicals with useful medicinal properties, while the flowers and fruit produce seed which can be used for land rehabilitation and revegetation, or even food in some cases.
Recreation and tourism
Forests also provide a broad range of opportunities for recreation and tourism in a variety of settings. These opportunities range from high visitation sites with significant infrastructure and accommodation facilities, to remote sites that may only be accessible via walking tracks.
State forests cater for a broader range of recreational opportunities than are available in most National Parks, including horse riding, dog walking, hunting, mountain biking and rally car driving . National Parks generally provide for lower impact nature-based tourism such as bush walking. Many of our Parks and State forest areas make an important contribution to nature-based tourism, with significant potential for further growth in commercial tour operations.
Cultural, social and spiritual needs and values
The social and cultural values provided by our forests are generally intangible, as they relate to the personal enjoyment of being among the trees. Indigenous people have close ties to their land and forests are integral to expressing their cultural, social and spiritual values. For non-indigenous Australians there are also many places of significance located in forest areas.
Employment and community needs
The number of direct and indirect jobs provided by the forestry sector is vital to the future of many regional towns. The timber industry is often a major employer in rural areas and integral to the long-term viability of regional communities. These regions often have processing and manufacturing businesses based on value-adding logs into sawn timber and products like fibre board and pulp for paper manufacturing.
In addition, indirect employment includes suppliers of services to the industry (fuel, mechanical repairs and contractors) and the flow-on businesses and services such as doctors, and schools that serve any economically-viable community.
Forests are living, they are renewable, and provide a wide range of benefits to all who interact with them. A tree can be harvested and a new tree grown in its place in the space of a single human lifetime. The sustainable management of our forests is aimed at ensuring there are enough resources for our generation, while laying the foundations for future generations.
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Australian forest profiles fact sheetDetailed information on the state of Australian forests. |
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Cultural values of forestsSome of the cultural values of forests. |
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Economic values of forestsSome of the economic values of forests. |
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Employment fact sheetThe management and use of Australia’s native and planted forests generate substantial employment, helping to sustain many regional economies. Find out more on careers within the industry. |
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Fire fact sheetFire has been a feature of Australian forests for thousands of years. Find out moer about the challenges and management of forest fires. |
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Forest PhotosDifferent photos of forestry and the industry. |
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Forestry Matters!Forestry matters! is a free, comprehensive education resource that provides teachers with relevant, up-to-date information about South Australia’s forests. |
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Forests global sceneWorld harvesting, world timber production and the Kyoto protocol. |
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Getting involved
Find out how about the number of ways in which you can help preserve South Australia’s precious |
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Having fun in forestsSouth Australia’s forest reserves are important places for a variety of community activities. Find out about the forest reserves in South Australia. |
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Local trees for biodiversity in South East South AustraliaThis is a fact sheet about how local tree species benefit biodiversity |
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Managing biodiversity in Victoria's native forestsAn important part of sustainably managing Victoria’s forests is ensuring the protection of biological diversity, including threatened species and their habitat. Find out more. |
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Managing timber production in WA's forestsRead more about the management of WA's timber industry. |
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Native timber harvesting in Central HighlandsVicForests’ Central Highlands region covers more than five million hectares across the central, north-east and south-east part of Victoria. Find out more. |
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Rainforest fact sheetFind out more about Australian rainforests and their uses. |
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Regenerating Victoria's forestsDid you know that VicForests re-seeds and replants trees in all areas where harvesting takes place to ensure the forest grows back? Find out more. |
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Social values of forestsSome of the social values and uses of forests. |
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Value of treesFactsheet covering the benefits of trees and forests. |
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Victoria's native timber industryFind out more about Victoria's native timber industry. |
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Warra Long Term Ecological Research site: Part BFind out about the Warra Long Term Ecological Research site in Tasmania. |
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Warra Long Term Ecological Research site:Part AFind out about the Warra Long Term Ecological Research site in Tasmania. |
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Water mangement in native forests and plantationsThis factsheet discusses Forest Hydrology. |
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Water quality and supply issuesForests have an important role in maintaining water quality and protecting soil from erosion. |
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A closer look at rainforests- WorksheetA factsheet and worksheet to help students explore questions around rainforests. |
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Adventure TimeColour and post your own postcard. |
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Biodiversity is…Biodiversity is defined, as well as food chains and food webs. |
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Cumberland Forest Adventure self guided excursion plans and activitiesPlanning an excursion to Cumberland Forest- this booklet is filled with self guided excursion plans and activities. |
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Earth Alive by Planet ArkEarth Alive is a 10 week actionbased science unit of work suitable for students in Years 5 & 6 focusing on authentic scientific investigation resulting in local action. The program investigates biodiversity in the school grounds and culminates in a Schools Tree Day planting action project. |
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Forestry Matters!Forestry matters! is a free, comprehensive education resource that provides teachers with relevant, up-to-date information about South Australia’s forests. |
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Forests and forestry in NSW facts and worksheetFactsheet and worksheet to guide discussions around Forests and Forestry in NSW. |
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In a rainforest – biodiversity colour-in sheetColour in and discover all about NSW rainforests. |
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Plan it - planning fun activities in state forests
State forests offer the perfect location for fun activities in your relaxation time. Some planning is |
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Planet Ark - Schools Tree dayEach year in July, around 2500 schools across Australia take part in Schools Tree Day. Students nation-wide have learnt how to plant, and care for the seedlings they grow. Become involved. |
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Ready, set, wildfire - preparing for the fire seasonOctober through to March is called the 'fire season' because it is a hot and dry time of the year. This activity helps students to understand wildfire and prepare for fire season. |
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Timber harvesting in native State forests- Factsheet and WorksheetA combined fact and work sheet for students to explore questions relating to timber harvesting in native State forests. |
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What do Forest Ecologists do?Find out what forest ecologists do through this fun interview. |
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What's a forest to me?The United Nations announced 2011 as the International Year of Forests. This means that in 2011 people around the world will be celebrating forests and thinking about how we use them, what they provide for us and how we can look after them for the future. This worksheet will help you think more about what a forest means to you. |
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Wild Forest Adventure Activity BookWild Forest Adventure is an activity based companion booklet especially designed for use with the Forests NSW website. |
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Wild Forest Adventure online gameThe Wild Forest Adventure section has been especially designed for students, to provide interesting and relevant information about the forest environment, in a stimulating and fun way. |
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Wintry warmersExplore winter in NSW forests. |
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Forestry Matters! websiteForestry matters! is a free, comprehensive education resource that provides teachers with relevant, up-to-date information about South Australia’s forests. |
To view this link
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Planet Ark - Schools Tree dayEach year in July, around 2500 schools across Australia take part in Schools Tree Day. Students nation-wide have learnt how to plant, and care for the seedlings they grow. Become involved. |
To view this link
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Planet Ark's Make It Wood - Do Your World Some GoodThis website developed by Planet Ark provides a wealth of information regarding sustainably sourced timber. |
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1. Multi Media task - Wood use from native and plantation production forestsUsing an internet link to one of the 'Going Bush' series video's, students get to see various forest types including native and plantation production forests. Different uses for the wood sourced from these forests is discussed, and how wood properties influence these uses. The demand for wood in Australia is higher than the regulated supply, meaning imported wood is necessary. This raises various issues that students can begin to contemplate. |
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Going Bush - Value addingThis series of 'Going Bush' presents valuable information on value adding to our native forest resource from harvesting, through processing the various grades of saw logs and defect wood, to end uses in high value flooring and furniture, and low value pulp wood and waste for paper and electricity production. It highlights the valuable contribution the native forest industry makes to supplying hardwood solid timbers in Australia, and the importance of sustaining this industry into the future. |
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Wild Forest Adventure online gameThe Wild Forest Adventure section has been especially designed for students, to provide interesting and relevant information about the forest environment, in a stimulating and fun way. |
To view this link
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Forest management in Tasmania - The truthReport highlighting the management of Tasmanian forests for multiple values, supported by a commitment to sustainable charter and certification process for harvested timber. |
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