A selected or prepared area to which logs are hauled for sorting, processing, loading or stockpiling.
What is Sustainable Forest Management?
Sustainable forest management (SFM) refers to the management of our private and public forests to ensure they continue to provide not only a sound supply of renewable timber for present and future generations, but also maintain their environmental values and social services.
SFM is dependent on credible science and professional commitment to improving the nature of forest management by responsible agencies and forest managers. In Australia, governments set policies and targets to guide the application of sustainable forestry, particularly on public land.
Nationally we have adopted principles and measures that are based on international level criteria widely agreed among nations with strong, long-term forestry industries. Some of the criteria for SFM are;
- conservation of biological diversity.
- maintenance of productive capacity of forest ecosystems and their health and vitality.
- conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources.
- maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles.
- maintenance and enhancement of long term multiple socio-economic benefits to meet needs of societies.
State forest and land management agencies and corporate forestry organisations often use the term ESFM – i.e. ecologically sustainable forest management, to describe the approach outlined above. A reputable forest and environmental consultant recently proclaimed, “The language of sustainability is now being spoken from the boardroom to the bush”, suggesting that the message of SFM is now widely accepted.
In summary, ESFM is aimed at achieving a continuing balance of timber supply, economic and social benefits, while retaining a range of environmental values.
Some contrasting realities that Australians should consider in the sustainable management of our forests include:
- Our indigenous communities had, and some still have, a wealth of awareness and knowledge on how to look after woodlands and forests in a sustained way for a variety of values. Aboriginal people lived in balance with their wooded environment, drawing on only as many resources as it would sustain, for thousands of years.
- In parts of Asia-Pacific countries to our north, and on the South America and African continents, forests are still being cut down without proper management to ensure their regeneration, sometimes illegally. They are not regarded as being sustainably managed and natural forest resources are being greatly diminished and in some cases continue to decline.
Fortunately, in an affluent country such as Australia, forest management is highly evolved and our forest scientists and practitioners are constantly striving to improve and apply sustainable forestry practices.
Sustainable Yield
In relation to native forests, sustainable yield is a technical term which relates to harvesting timber where the volume of wood removed from a forest each year must at least be equalled by the forest’s renewal of itself through natural regeneration and growth of trees in unharvested areas.
Determining what the level of sustained yield is, and then monitoring and potentially altering it over time, is a complex matter. Usually it is expressed in tonnes or cubic metres of logs taken annually from a defined forest area. Predicting what a forest can sustain over 10, 20 and 30 year periods, and beyond, is subject to considerable uncertainty due to the impact on growth of changing rainfall patterns, wildfire and disease, the potential need for additional conservation reserves, community demands or other scientific reasons.
Forest managers have become skilled in sustained yield determinations and have many tools with which to validate predictions and monitor progress over time.
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Environmental Conservation & Habitat Protection in ForestsMore on sustainable forest management. |
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FireWildfire is the greatest threat to plantations. This fact sheet discusses the programs to reduce the amount of flammable material in and around plantations. |
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Fire management in NSW State forestsManagement of fire is one of the most important roles that Forests NSW (FNSW) undertakes. Find out more about fire management. |
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Forest certification fact sheetForest certification is a voluntary process by which the planning and implementation of on-the-ground forestry operation are audited by a qualified, independent third party. Find out what certification programs we have in Australia. |
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Forest management certificationInformation to guide discussions on forest certification and sustainable forest management. |
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Forest management planning in VictoriaForest Management Plans (FMPs) provide a framework for the management of a geographic forest area for a range of environmental, social and economic uses. Find out about Victoria's forest management plan. |
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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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How pine forests are managedInformation on the plantation cycle and sustainable management of forests. |
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Managing the ResourceThe who, how, where & why? This resources discusses forest management. |
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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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Pests and diseasesTypes of pests and diseases and different techniques for pest control. |
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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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Sustainable yield fact sheetRead more on Sustainable yield which is the quantity of timber or other product that can be harvested from a forestwhile ensuring that the functioning of the forest ecosystem as a whole is maintained and the flow of products is continuous in perpetuity. |
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Victoria's Forest Planning ProcessesFind out about planning and managing forests for harvest. |
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Victoria's native timber industryFind out more about Victoria's native timber industry. |
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Water and landscapeGood land and water management mean that forest plantations can be maintained in an environmentally-sustainable manner. Find out how this is done in South Australia. |
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What is Tasmania's forest practices code?Overview of the code and its importance. |
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What will our forests look like in 100 years?Find out about re-engineered products and their role in the future. |
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The pine plantation rotationWhat happens in a pine plantation rotation from 0 years- 35years. Find out through this poster resource. |
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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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Find out what its like to be a Forest Practice Officer- Part AFollow steps1-2 that a Forest Practice Officer must go through to assess forest management plans. |
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Find out what its like to be a Forest Practice Officer- Part BFollow steps 3-5 that a Forest Practice Officer must go through to assess forest management plans. |
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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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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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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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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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Forestry Matters! websiteForestry 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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Going Bush - Stories from the Bush CapitalWe go to Australia’s bush capital and the Capitol itself to see some of the decorative bits of Parliament House. Not the pollies themselves but some of the floors they walk, seats and couches they sit on and tables the argue across … all made from various Australian special species of timber. See how work is coming along with the National Arboretum, due to open next year. Being created on the site of the devastating 2003 bushfires, the collection of 100 forest communities from around the world will be an imaginative tribute to the heritage and culture of forests. |
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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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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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Planet Ark's carbon sequestration videoVideo to showcase the role of trees in carbon sequestration, developed by Planet Ark |
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Wood.Naturally BetterWood. Naturally Better.™ is a program designed to help professionals and consumers understand how they can play a part in tackling climate change by using one of the most natural materials – wood. |
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2. Multi Media task: Value adding to woodWhen trees are harvested, the various parts of the tree are graded for different end uses as seen in this 'Going Bush' series video on value adding. Technological advances have helped mechanise harvesting and processing operations. Tree replanting is conducted after harvest to assist with forest regeneration. Forest Ecologists are the scientists that help with identifying rare and endgangered species to ensure areas of forest remain for habitat protection. |
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Going Bush - A biodiversity melting pot in Northern NSWExplore the biodiversity of Coffs Harbour in NSW where tropical and temperate forests meet, throwing up a Noah's Ark of flora and fauna. It means scientists in these parts have hundreds of critters to study and consider when planning for forest operations. We do a bit of bat hunting as part of the study of forest biodiversity and look out over Coffs Harbour from a spanking new lookout. |
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Going Bush - Stories from the Bush CapitalWe go to Australia’s bush capital and the Capitol itself to see some of the decorative bits of Parliament House. Not the pollies themselves but some of the floors they walk, seats and couches they sit on and tables the argue across … all made from various Australian special species of timber. See how work is coming along with the National Arboretum, due to open next year. Being created on the site of the devastating 2003 bushfires, the collection of 100 forest communities from around the world will be an imaginative tribute to the heritage and culture of forests. |
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Going Bush - Timber harvested nearby makes a NSW south coast social magnetWe visit Bermagui to see how the controversial harvesting of a nearby forest has resulted in the creation of a new focal point for the town. The natural log pillars and timber cladding and decks, milled just down the road at Eden, of the Bermagui Fishermen's Co-op underline the South Coast's joint heritage of timber getting and fishing. |
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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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Going Bush - Various demand for plantation and native forestsThe importance for balance in consideration of native and plantation forests is explored from a Victorian perspective, where the main players say there will always be demand for resource from both. |
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Planet Ark's carbon sequestration videoVideo to showcase the role of trees in carbon sequestration, developed by Planet Ark |
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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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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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