Non-wood Products

Plant & animal products

A diverse range of plant and animal products are sourced from Australian forests, including plant oils, honey, seeds, mushrooms, wildflowers, animal skins and animal meat. Many nursery plants and bushfoods also originate from forests, such as the Macadamia nut, which comes from a tree native to New South Wales and Queensland.

Eucalyptus and tea-tree oil

Oil
Photo: istock

Some native trees contain oils that Aboriginal people have used for thousands of years. Small industries have grown around the production of some of these plant extracts. Eucalyptus oils, for example, are used in pharmaceutical products and are good for clearing congested noses. Tea Tree oil is also an effective antiseptic and insect repellent.

Honey

Many native trees are used as a source of nectar for honeybees, with beekeepers locating their hives in or near forested areas. A popular Australian honey is made from the nectar of the Leatherwood tree, found only in wetter Tasmanian forests. Indigenous people use wild honey produced from a variety of native bee species occurring in forests, particularly in northern Australia.

Seeds

Breeding programs for commercially valuable tree species involve incorporating selected wild trees into seed orchards and testing their progeny. Markets for these seeds include genetically improved seed (resulting from long-term breeding trials) to selections of local indigenous varieties. Many types of seed are also consumed as food. Wattle seed, for example, is used in baked products such as bread and biscuits.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms
Photo: istock

In autumn, State forest plantations in New South Wales become popular mushrooming sites. The pine plantations are an ideal environment for exotic wood mushrooms, which are prized in markets and restaurants around Australia. Between late January and early May, a number of edible mushroom species emerge from the ground, including the Saffron Milk Cap.

When it comes to mushrooms: If in doubt, throw it out! It cannot be emphasised strongly enough that you must correctly identify your mushrooms. Some mushrooms contain toxins and will make you extremely sick. For tips on mushrooming visit Forest NSW website.

Wildflowers

Wildflowers can be grown in controlled environments or picked from native woodlands. However in some States, like Western Australia, picking wildflowers is prohibited without a licence.

Animal Products

Some native and exotic animals found in Australian forests are used for commercial purposes. These include introduced deer, the native brush-tail possum and certain species of wallabies. Kangaroos are also taken from the wild for a variety of products, including meat and skins. Grey kangaroos, in particular, are often harvested commercially from forested areas. The hunting of these animals is subject to regulations enforced by government agencies and usually requires the possession of special permits or licences.

Case Study: Tasmanian Leatherwood Honey

Leatherwood flowers
Photo: Forestry Tasmania

Introduced honeybees, most likely descended from those brought to Tasmania from England in 1831, produce leatherwood honey, which is unique to Tasmania and is prized throughout the world for its distinctive flavour.

Tasmania’s leatherwood honey can only be obtained from the nectar of leatherwood and dwarf leatherwood trees that grow in the mixed forests and rainforests of Tasmania’s north-west, west and south. Currently there are over 18,417 hives registered for use in Tasmania.

Honey
Photo: istock

Only about one quarter of forest containing leatherwood species is available for apiculture, the rest occur in reserves or inaccessible places. Areas used by apiarists for leatherwood honey collection are classified as Special Management Zones, and require modification of other forestry operations in order to protect the leatherwood flowers for bees.

On state forests, there is an estimated 17,000 hectares that will be available for leatherwood management, with two thirds of this area already excluded from any future harvesting activity. Forestry Tasmania has a Community Forest Agreement with the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association, which is the governing body for beekeeping in Tasmania.


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HOME PRODUCTION CONSUMPTION WOOD PRODUCTS NON-WOOD PRODUCTS Plant & animal products Electricity generation Indigenous use CAREERS SPECIES GUIDE		Non-wood Products Plant & animal products A diverse range of plant and animal products are sourced from Australian forests, including plant oils, honey, seeds, mushrooms, wildflowers, animal skins and animal meat. Many nursery plants and bushfoods also originate from forests, such as the Macadamia nut, which comes from a tree native to New South Wales and Queensland. Eucalyptus and tea-tree oil Oil Photo: istock Some native trees contain oils that Aboriginal people have used for thousands of years. Small industries have grown around the production of some of these plant extracts. Eucalyptus oils, for example, are used in pharmaceutical products and are good for clearing congested noses. Tea Tree oil is also an effective antiseptic and insect repellent. Honey Many native trees are used as a source of nectar for honeybees, with beekeepers locating their hives in or near forested areas. A popular Australian honey is made from the nectar of the Leatherwood tree, found only in wetter Tasmanian forests. Indigenous people use wild honey produced from a variety of native bee species occurring in forests, particularly in northern Australia. Seeds Breeding programs for commercially valuable tree species involve incorporating selected wild trees into seed orchards and testing their progeny. Markets for these seeds include genetically improved seed (resulting from long-term breeding trials) to selections of local indigenous varieties. Many types of seed are also consumed as food. Wattle seed, for example, is used in baked products such as bread and biscuits. Mushrooms Mushrooms Photo: istock In autumn, State forest plantations in New South Wales become popular mushrooming sites. The pine plantations are an ideal environment for exotic wood mushrooms, which are prized in markets and restaurants around Australia. Between late January and early May, a number of edible mushroom species emerge from the ground, including the Saffron Milk Cap. When it comes to mushrooms: If in doubt, throw it out! It cannot be emphasised strongly enough that you must correctly identify your mushrooms. Some mushrooms contain toxins and will make you extremely sick. For tips on mushrooming visit Forest NSW website. Wildflowers Wildflowers can be grown in controlled environments or picked from native woodlands. However in some States, like Western Australia, picking wildflowers is prohibited without a licence. Animal Products Some native and exotic animals found in Australian forests are used for commercial purposes. These include introduced deer, the native brush-tail possum and certain species of wallabies. Kangaroos are also taken from the wild for a variety of products, including meat and skins. Grey kangaroos, in particular, are often harvested commercially from forested areas. The hunting of these animals is subject to regulations enforced by government agencies and usually requires the possession of special permits or licences. Case Study: Tasmanian Leatherwood Honey Leatherwood flowers Photo: Forestry Tasmania Introduced honeybees, most likely descended from those brought to Tasmania from England in 1831, produce leatherwood honey, which is unique to Tasmania and is prized throughout the world for its distinctive flavour. Tasmania’s leatherwood honey can only be obtained from the nectar of leatherwood and dwarf leatherwood trees that grow in the mixed forests and rainforests of Tasmania’s north-west, west and south. Currently there are over 18,417 hives registered for use in Tasmania. Honey Photo: istock Only about one quarter of forest containing leatherwood species is available for apiculture, the rest occur in reserves or inaccessible places. Areas used by apiarists for leatherwood honey collection are classified as Special Management Zones, and require modification of other forestry operations in order to protect the leatherwood flowers for bees. On state forests, there is an estimated 17,000 hectares that will be available for leatherwood management, with two thirds of this area already excluded from any future harvesting activity. Forestry Tasmania has a Community Forest Agreement with the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association, which is the governing body for beekeeping in Tasmania.

FOREST INDUSTRIES