Policies & Programs

Australia’s Forest Policy

In Australia, State and Territory Governments have primary responsibility for forest management, while the Australian Government coordinates a national approach to environmental and industry development issues. In 1992 the Australian, State and Territory Governments all signed the National Forest Policy Statement. This provided a framework for all governments to work towards the sustainable management of Australian forests whilst maximising their conservation values.

Australian native forest
Photo: National Association
of Forest Industries

A key element of the National Forest Policy Statement was the creation of Regional Forestry Agreements between the Commonwealth and State governments to provide secure access to wood resources whilst helping to create a positive environment for investment in value-adding manufacturing. The Regional Forestry Agreements cover a 20-year period and are based on comprehensive regional assessments of forest values and uses. These agreements are developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders, to ensure that the environmental, social, economic and heritage values of forests are maintained for current and future generations.

The Regional Forestry Agreements also establish a forest conservation reserve system, which aims to be complementary to sustainable forest management systems outside reserves. Formally titled the Comprehensive Adequate and Representative (CAR) Reserve System for Forests in Australia, it is responsible for the protection of forests as well as safeguarding endangered and vulnerable species and ecosystems.

In May 2000, the Australian Government announced the Forest and Wood Products Action Agenda. This outlined a vision for Australia's forest and wood products industry and the actions required to create a dynamic partnership between industry and government. It is a key policy document for the Australian forest and wood products industry and is the basis for the actions of the Forest and Wood Products Council.

Harvesting Australian forest
Photo: Forest NSW

Another important component of Australian forest management has been the development of the National Indigenous Forestry Strategy. This strategy was launched in July 2005 after consultation with Indigenous communities and forest industry stakeholders. Its objective is to encourage Indigenous participation in the forest industry by forming business partnerships that provide long-term benefits to Indigenous communities, as well as to the forest and wood products industry. Some of these initiatives with industry involve forest plantations and timber processing as well as cultural and eco-tourism, bush tucker, traditional medicines, bee keeping and other forest based ventures. As part of the National Indigenous Forestry Strategy, the National Association of Forest Industries received Australian Government funding to employ a National Forestry Employment Liaison Officer to promote Indigenous employment and involvement in the forest industry.

Governments are also working with industry and regional groups on plantation and farm forestry initiatives. Plantations for Australia – The 2020 Vision was launched in 1997 and is a strategic partnership between the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments and the plantation timber growing and processing industries. The overarching principle of the Vision strategy is to enhance regional wealth creation and international competitiveness through a sustainable increase in Australia's plantations. The objective of the Vision strategy is to treble the area of Australia’s commercial tree crops by 2020.

For more information about these Australian forest policies visit the following websites:

Case Study: Blueprint for management of Honan Native Forest

Native Forest Reserves are managed by ForestrySA for conservation purposes and a works program is undertaken to protect them from pest plant and animals, rehabilitate as necessary and to manage fire effectively. In a recent investigation of one of the state’s most diverse areas of native vegetation, Honan Native Forest Reserve was found to contain the greatest amount of State threatened species in any South Australian reserve.

Forestry worker holding endangered Bandicoot

Bandicoot
Photo: SA Forestry

The reserve contains 139 plants that are considered endangered, vulnerable or rare in South Australia as well as 21 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians that are rated as threatened.

These include the nationally endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot and the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. In addition the reserve contains 160 hectares of seasonal and permanent wetlands that provide important refuge to a range of significant bird species such as the Brolga and Latham’s Snipe.

This discovery led to the development of a new plan providing an effective blueprint for the reserve’s management framework over the next five years. This will see ForestrySA works with a wide range of volunteers and community groups in managing these areas.

For more information about Honan Native Forest Reserve or to review the management plan visit: ForestrySA’s website.


		MANAGING AUSTRALIA'S FORESTS
HOME FOREST MANAGEMENT FAQ HISTORY RESEARCH POLICIES & PROGRAMS Australia's forest policy Australia's forest programs Australia's forest information ACT NSW NT QLD SA Tas Vic WA NATIVE FORESTS PLANTATIONS AGROFORESTRY		Policies & Programs Australia’s Forest Policy In Australia, State and Territory Governments have primary responsibility for forest management, while the Australian Government coordinates a national approach to environmental and industry development issues. In 1992 the Australian, State and Territory Governments all signed the National Forest Policy Statement. This provided a framework for all governments to work towards the sustainable management of Australian forests whilst maximising their conservation values. Australian native forest Photo: National Association of Forest Industries A key element of the National Forest Policy Statement was the creation of Regional Forestry Agreements between the Commonwealth and State governments to provide secure access to wood resources whilst helping to create a positive environment for investment in value-adding manufacturing. The Regional Forestry Agreements cover a 20-year period and are based on comprehensive regional assessments of forest values and uses. These agreements are developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders, to ensure that the environmental, social, economic and heritage values of forests are maintained for current and future generations. The Regional Forestry Agreements also establish a forest conservation reserve system, which aims to be complementary to sustainable forest management systems outside reserves. Formally titled the Comprehensive Adequate and Representative (CAR) Reserve System for Forests in Australia, it is responsible for the protection of forests as well as safeguarding endangered and vulnerable species and ecosystems. In May 2000, the Australian Government announced the Forest and Wood Products Action Agenda. This outlined a vision for Australia's forest and wood products industry and the actions required to create a dynamic partnership between industry and government. It is a key policy document for the Australian forest and wood products industry and is the basis for the actions of the Forest and Wood Products Council. Harvesting Australian forest Photo: Forest NSW Another important component of Australian forest management has been the development of the National Indigenous Forestry Strategy. This strategy was launched in July 2005 after consultation with Indigenous communities and forest industry stakeholders. Its objective is to encourage Indigenous participation in the forest industry by forming business partnerships that provide long-term benefits to Indigenous communities, as well as to the forest and wood products industry. Some of these initiatives with industry involve forest plantations and timber processing as well as cultural and eco-tourism, bush tucker, traditional medicines, bee keeping and other forest based ventures. As part of the National Indigenous Forestry Strategy, the National Association of Forest Industries received Australian Government funding to employ a National Forestry Employment Liaison Officer to promote Indigenous employment and involvement in the forest industry. Governments are also working with industry and regional groups on plantation and farm forestry initiatives. Plantations for Australia – The 2020 Vision was launched in 1997 and is a strategic partnership between the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments and the plantation timber growing and processing industries. The overarching principle of the Vision strategy is to enhance regional wealth creation and international competitiveness through a sustainable increase in Australia's plantations. The objective of the Vision strategy is to treble the area of Australia’s commercial tree crops by 2020. For more information about these Australian forest policies visit the following websites: National Forest Policy Statement Regional Forestry Agreements Forest and Wood Products Action Agenda National Indigenous Forestry Strategy Plantations for Australia – The 2020 Vision Case Study: Blueprint for management of Honan Native Forest Native Forest Reserves are managed by ForestrySA for conservation purposes and a works program is undertaken to protect them from pest plant and animals, rehabilitate as necessary and to manage fire effectively. In a recent investigation of one of the state’s most diverse areas of native vegetation, Honan Native Forest Reserve was found to contain the greatest amount of State threatened species in any South Australian reserve. Bandicoot Photo: SA Forestry The reserve contains 139 plants that are considered endangered, vulnerable or rare in South Australia as well as 21 species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians that are rated as threatened. These include the nationally endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot and the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. In addition the reserve contains 160 hectares of seasonal and permanent wetlands that provide important refuge to a range of significant bird species such as the Brolga and Latham’s Snipe. This discovery led to the development of a new plan providing an effective blueprint for the reserve’s management framework over the next five years. This will see ForestrySA works with a wide range of volunteers and community groups in managing these areas. For more information about Honan Native Forest Reserve or to review the management plan visit: ForestrySA’s website.

MANAGING AUSTRALIA'S FORESTS