Why Forests Matter

Social & cultural values

Australia’s forests are among the nation’s most important natural assets. As well as supplying essential products and services, they also provide recreation and relaxation.

Camping in SA forest
Photo: Forestry SA

Australians use forested areas for a wealth of outdoor activities, including four-wheel driving, mountain biking, horse riding, orienteering, bushwalking, birdwatching, camping and eco-tourism.

Forests also form part of our national cultural identity. Most Australians have a natural affinity for the ‘great outdoors’. Forests feature significantly in our folklore and literature, as well as contemporary television and film. Many urban dwellers visit national parks and forests to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Indeed, some of Australia’s first parks and conservation areas were set up to give urban Australians a place to enjoy open spaces and appreciate the natural world.

Forests also hold cultural and spiritual values for indigenous Australians. Today, around 18% of Australia’s total land area, or more than 1.3 million square kilometres, is under indigenous ownership.

Enjoying recreation in South Australia forest

Recreation in SA forest
Photo: Forestry SA

This includes 13% of Australia’s forested areas. Most of this land is in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. These areas hold great cultural significance for Aboriginal people and are associated with human activity dating back over fifty thousand years. Forests contain places of non-indigenous historical value too. Cultural heritage sites located within forests include places associated with exploration and agricultural settlement, forestry and mining industries, graves and cemeteries, railways and travel routes, and other historic locations. These sites form an important part of Australia’s historical record since European settlement and are carefully managed to ensure their preservation.

Forests embody a range of social and cultural values for all Australians. Community, government and industry are working to manage forests in a way that protects these values whilst also balancing other demands for forest products and services, now and into the future.

Case Study: Bundaleer Forest receives heritage icon status

Bundaleer Forest Reserve has been elevated into the spotlight as a Bank SA Heritage Icon. The icon list was created by Bank SA and the National Trust five years ago to recognise and document South Australia’s treasures for future generations. Icons are chosen for their significance - historic, aesthetic, scientific, and social - to past, present and future generations.

Bundaleer farmer and historian Leith Cooper said the icon award would bring greater recognition to Bundaleer’s importance in forestry in Australia and the southern hemisphere. Bundaleer was established as the first site of plantation forestry in Australia in 1876 and played a huge role in establishing radiata pine as the preferred species for forestry, not only in Australia, but also in Chile, New Zealand and South Africa.

Today Bundaleer remains rich with the heritage of its early days – not just plantations of forest species that are now 120 or so years old, but also a collection of buildings some of which have already been restored and State Heritage listed.

For more information about the Bundaleer Forest Reserve’s icon status visit the website of the National Trust South Australia.

Historic Building in Bundaleer Forest Reserve
Bundaleer Forest Reserve
Photo: Forestry SA

For more information about protecting sites of cultural significance in Australia read an article titled “Protecting our ancient treasures” taken from In the living forest: an exploration of Australia’s forest community.

Protecting Our Ancient Treasures - (PDF- 150KB)


		AUSTRALIA'S FORESTS
HOME AUSTRALIA'S UNIQUE FORESTS WHY FORESTS MATTER Social & cultural values Environmental values Economic values MAPS AND FACTS FOREST TYPES		Why Forests Matter Social & cultural values Australia’s forests are among the nation’s most important natural assets. As well as supplying essential products and services, they also provide recreation and relaxation. Camping in SA forest Photo: Forestry SA Australians use forested areas for a wealth of outdoor activities, including four-wheel driving, mountain biking, horse riding, orienteering, bushwalking, birdwatching, camping and eco-tourism. Forests also form part of our national cultural identity. Most Australians have a natural affinity for the ‘great outdoors’. Forests feature significantly in our folklore and literature, as well as contemporary television and film. Many urban dwellers visit national parks and forests to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Indeed, some of Australia’s first parks and conservation areas were set up to give urban Australians a place to enjoy open spaces and appreciate the natural world. Forests also hold cultural and spiritual values for indigenous Australians. Today, around 18% of Australia’s total land area, or more than 1.3 million square kilometres, is under indigenous ownership. Recreation in SA forest Photo: Forestry SA This includes 13% of Australia’s forested areas. Most of this land is in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. These areas hold great cultural significance for Aboriginal people and are associated with human activity dating back over fifty thousand years. Forests contain places of non-indigenous historical value too. Cultural heritage sites located within forests include places associated with exploration and agricultural settlement, forestry and mining industries, graves and cemeteries, railways and travel routes, and other historic locations. These sites form an important part of Australia’s historical record since European settlement and are carefully managed to ensure their preservation. Forests embody a range of social and cultural values for all Australians. Community, government and industry are working to manage forests in a way that protects these values whilst also balancing other demands for forest products and services, now and into the future. Case Study: Bundaleer Forest receives heritage icon status Bundaleer Forest Reserve has been elevated into the spotlight as a Bank SA Heritage Icon. The icon list was created by Bank SA and the National Trust five years ago to recognise and document South Australia’s treasures for future generations. Icons are chosen for their significance - historic, aesthetic, scientific, and social - to past, present and future generations. Bundaleer farmer and historian Leith Cooper said the icon award would bring greater recognition to Bundaleer’s importance in forestry in Australia and the southern hemisphere. Bundaleer was established as the first site of plantation forestry in Australia in 1876 and played a huge role in establishing radiata pine as the preferred species for forestry, not only in Australia, but also in Chile, New Zealand and South Africa. Today Bundaleer remains rich with the heritage of its early days – not just plantations of forest species that are now 120 or so years old, but also a collection of buildings some of which have already been restored and State Heritage listed. For more information about the Bundaleer Forest Reserve’s icon status visit the website of the National Trust South Australia. Bundaleer Forest Reserve Photo: Forestry SA For more information about protecting sites of cultural significance in Australia read an article titled “Protecting our ancient treasures” taken from In the living forest: an exploration of Australia’s forest community. Protecting Our Ancient Treasures - (PDF- 150KB)

AUSTRALIA'S FORESTS