Australia’s Forests At A Glance 2009
Australia’s forestsat a glance 2009Data to 2007–08
BRS 2009. Australia’s forests at a glance 2009.Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra Commonwealth of Australia 2009Selected passages, tables and diagrams may be reproducedprovided due acknowledgement is made.ISBN: 978-1-921192-31-9The Australian Government, acting through the Bureau of RuralSciences, has exercised due care and skill in the preparation andcompilation of the information and data set out in this publication.Notwithstanding, to the maximum extent permitted by law, theBureau of Rural Sciences, its employees and advisers disclaim allliability, including expense or cost incurred by any person as a resultof accessing, using or relying upon any of the information or dataset out in this publication.Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2008 and the NationalPlantation Inventory 2009 Update are the primary references forthis booklet.All values in tables in this booklet have been rounded, hence,column and row totals may not tally exactly. Where data earlierthan 2007–08 are presented, they are the latest available, or usedto indicate trend over time.Contact detailsBureau of Rural SciencesGPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601More information on forest issues is available atwww.daff.gov.au/forestsaustraliaCover images: John Davidson (front), Department of Agriculture,Fisheries and Forestry (back)Graphic design: Fusebox Design, MelbournePrinted by: Union Offset Printers, Canberra
ForewordForests are a sustainable resource base for industries thatemploy thousands of people across Australia, particularlyin rural and regional areas. Ensuring these industries remainvibrant and strong in a continually evolving global economyis a priority for the Australian Government.Australia’s world-class forests also provide valuable environmentalservices and make a significant contribution to Australia’swealth and social wellbeing.To prepare our forest industries for the future, the AustralianGovernment has committed 20 million to help address skillshortages, tackle illegal logging, prepare for a changing andmore extreme climate and encourage value-adding to improvemarket development.This publication is a vital source of information for anyonewith an interest in Australia’s forest industries. It containsup-to-date facts and figures about our forests and theirmanagement and shows – at a glance – the key featuresof Australia’s forest industries, including their size, location,contribution to the economy and export markets.Australia’s Forests at a Glance 2009 shows that Australia’sforests remain a well managed, sustainable resource.The Hon. Tony Burke MPMinister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Australia’s forests in summaryNational statisticsTotal population (July 2008)Total land area21.4 million769.2 million hectaresTotal forest area 149.4 million hectaresForest as a proportion of land area 19%Forest area per personabout 7 hectaresNative forest area 147.4 million hectaresPlantation forest area 1.97 million hectares New plantation area reported(five year average)72 000 hectares/yearNet plantation area increase(five year average)61 000 hectares/yearAverage area of native forestconverted (mainly to agriculture)(2000–04)260 000 hectares/yearForest area in natureconservation reserves (IUCN I–IV)23.0 million hectares
Public native forests where timberharvesting is permitted (gross area)Total carbon in forestsTotal log harvest (2006–07)Total exports of wood products(2007–08)9.4 million hectares 12 billion tonnes27.1 million m3A 2.47 billionTop export destinationsJapan (A 965 million; 39%)(2007–08)New Zealand (A 375 million; 15%)China (A 360 million; 15%)Major exports ofcommoditiesby valueWoodchips A 1.07 billionPaper and paper products A 461 millionSawn timber A 120 millionTotal imports of wood products(2007–08)A 4.40 billionTrade deficit in wood products(2007–08)A 1.93 billionNumber of people employed in ABScategories – forestry, logging and woodmanufacturing (2007–08)Value of turnover in forestproduct industries (2005–06)Forestry and forest products industriescontribution to GDP (2005–06)76 800A 21.4 billion0.6%
Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Centre
ContentsForeword 1Australia’s forests in summary2Australia’s state of the forests reporting7What is a forest?9Forest area 11Australia’s climate 13Types and classes of forest 14Native forest tenure and ownership24Forest biodiversity27Forests in reserves28Recreational use of forests30Plantation forests31Forest certification, chain of custody and codes of practice41Socio-economic contribution43Forest products45Forest contribution to global carbon cycles53State and territory summaries57Information sources94References and further reading96
David MannesThis is Australia’s tallest known tree, the world’s tallest flowering plant,the world’s tallest eucalypt tree and the world’s tallest standing hardwoodtree. Named ‘Centurion’, this swamp gum (Eucalyptus regnans) is almost100 metres tall and more than 4 metres in diameter near its base. It wasdiscovered in 2008 near Geeveston in Tasmania.
Australia’s state of the forestsreportingAustralia’s State of the Forests Report 2008 comprehensivelydescribes Australia’s forests. It uses the seven reportingcriteria developed by the international Montreal ProcessWorking Group on Criteria and Indicators for the SustainableManagement of Temperate and Boreal Forests. The workinggroup involves 12 countries, including Australia.Montreal Process Criteria1.2.3.4.Conservation of biological diversityMaintenance of productive capacity of forest ecosystemsMaintenance of ecosystem health and vitalityConservation and maintenance of soil and waterresources5. Maintenance of forest contribution to globalcarbon cycles6. Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiplesocioeconomic benefits to meet the needs of societies7. Legal, institutional and economic framework for forestconservation and sustainable management.Australia’s State of the Forests Report 2008 can be obtainedfrom the Bureau of Rural Sciences (see inside back cover).
John Davidson
What is a forest?The definition of forest used in the State of the Forests reports is:‘An area, incorporating all living and non-living components,that is dominated by trees having usually a single stemand a mature or potentially mature stand height exceeding2 metres and with existing or potential crown cover ofoverstorey strata about equal to or greater than 20%.’This definition includes Australia’s diverse native forestsand plantations, regardless of age. It is also sufficientlybroad to encompass areas of trees that are sometimesdescribed as woodlands.
Australia’s forestsForest typeEucalyptAcaciaOther10
Forest areaAustralia has 147.4 million hectares of native forest and1.97 million hectares of forestry plantations. Together thesecover about 19% of the continent. This is about 7 hectares offorest for each Australian, one of the highest areas per personin the world. The world average is less than 0.6 hectares offorest per person. Australia has about 4% of the world’s foreston 5% of the world’s land area.The current estimate of total native forest area is considered tobe more accurate than the 2003 estimate of about 163 millionhectares. Most of the difference is the result of changes inmapping technologies and data resolution, rather than a realchange in forest cover. Native forest cover is declining in someregions, largely because of clearing of open woodland forestsfor grazing and cropping. The rate of clearing is declining. Did you know?About one quarter of Australia’s land areais sand, sand ridge and sandstone desertthat has no forest.11
Rainfall in AustraliaRainfall zone 500 mm500–599 mm600–799 mm800–1199 mm 1200 mm12
Australia’s climateAustralia is generally a warm and dry continent with erraticrainfall and frequently recurring drought. Arid lands occupyabout 70% of the interior of Australia. Native forests aregenerally located in areas with an average of more than500 millimetres of rain annually. Commercial plantationshave been established mainly in areas with more than700 millimetres of rain annually. Did you know?Australia is the driest inhabited continent.(Antarctica is the driest continent.)13
Types and classes of forestForests are categorised nationally by forest type (dominantgenus) and by height and crown cover classes (foreststructure).Australia’s native forest types are dominated by eucalypts(78%), followed by acacias (7%) and melaleucas (5%). Incontrast, about half (52%) of Australia’s plantations areexotic conifers (predominantly Pinus radiata), which are oftenreferred to as softwood plantations.Climate and soil properties broadly determine the distributionof forest types and classes across Australia, although otherfactors, especially fire frequency and intensity, are important. Did you know?Australia’s native forest is 99% broadleaved.There are very few native conifers.14
Forest area by types (‘000 hectares)*Acacia10 365Callitris2 597Casuarina2 229Eucalypt116 449Mangrove980Melaleuca7 556Rainforest3 280Other forest3 942Total native forestHardwood plantationSoftwood plantationOther plantationTotal plantationTotal forest147 3979501 01491 973149 370* All estimates as at 200815
Forest crown coverCrown cover is determined by measuring the proportion ofground covered by tree canopies. A line around the outeredge defines the limits of an individual canopy. All the areawithin that line is counted as ‘canopy’, irrespective of gapsand overlaps. There are three broad national forest crowncover classes used by the National Forest Inventory.Native forest areas by crown cover class (‘000 hectares)Woodland forest (20–50% crown cover)99 007Open forest (51–80% crown cover)44 120Closed forest (81–100% crown cover)Total native forestJohn Davidson164 270147 397
Native forest by crown cover classLegendWoodlandOpenClosed17
Forest heightForests are mapped into three national height classes based onpotential mature stand height:Native forest area by height class (‘000 hectares)Low (height 2–10 metres)Medium (height 10–30 metres)Tall (height 30 metres)UnknownTotal native forestJohn Davidson1835 846104 0247 329199147 397
Australia’s forest by height classLegendLowMediumTallUnknown19
Native forest by crown cover and height classes Did you know?Nearly 46% of Australia’s forest is medium heightwoodland forest and less than 1% is tall closed forest.John Davidson20
EN FORESTDense crown cover (51–80%)0.6%1.7%0.5%CLOSED FORESTClosed crown cover (81–100%)Sources: Australian Land Information Group and JA Carnahan (1990). Atlas of Australian Resources,Vegetation. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra. Percentages from the NFI.LOW(2–10m)MEDIUM(10–30m)TALL(greaterthan 30m)40WOODLAND FORESTSparse crown cover (20–50%)Proportion of Australia’s forest extent in each classPotential mature stand height (m)
Old-growth forests‘Old-growth forests are ecologically mature forests wherethe effects of past disturbances are now negligible.’Old-growth forests were surveyed in regions whereassessments were conducted for Regional Forest Agreements(RFAs) a decade or more ago. There has been no comprehensivesurvey of old-growth forests across Australia. Old-growthforests in Western Australia were remapped in 2007.In RFA areas: More than 5 million hectares of forest, 22% of total forestarea, were classified as old-growth. 73% of these known old-growth forests are in natureconservation reserves. Some of the remainder are availablefor timber production. Did you know?Almost half of Australia’s identified old-growth forest isin New South Wales and most of it is on public land.22
Area of old-growth forest in areas surveyed for RFAs(‘000 hectares)Nativeforest inregionArea ofold-growthidentifiedArea of oldgrowth informal andinformalreservesaProportionof oldgrowth inreservesNSWb8 9892 5361 74269%Qldb3 23027019673%Tas.3 1161 22997379%Vic.c5 77467346068%WAd1 909331331100%Total23 0185 0393 70273%eNote: Old-growth forest has not been assessed in the Australian Capital Territory,Northern Territory and South Australia.a Includes nature conservation reserves and informal reserves on other tenures.b Area surveyed in Queensland did not lead to establishment of a RFA. Newreserves have been established in New South Wales and Queensland since thisinformation was prepared. The ‘area of old-growth in formal and informalreserves’ is therefore an underestimate.c The area of old-growth was reduced as a result of conversion to regrowth byfires, predominantly in 2003.d Original RFA old-growth mapping.e Proportion of total area for the five states listed.23
Native forest tenure andownershipTenure is important in forest management because the ownerof the land (and in most cases also the forest) has primaryresponsibility for its management. Six tenure categories arerecognised. These can be further grouped under public andprivate management.Multiple-use public forest – public forests managed for arange of values, including timber harvesting, water supply,conservation, recreation and environmental protection.Significant proportions of multiple-use forests are informalreserves where timber harvesting is not permitted.Nature conservation reserves – Crown lands that areformally reserved for environmental, conservation andrecreational purposes.Forest on ‘other Crown land’ – Crown land held for avariety of purposes. Did you know?About 70% of Australia’s forest is effectively privatelymanaged, with 26% on land either held under freeholdtitle or managed by Indigenous communities, and a further44% on leasehold land where the predominant land useis grazing.24
Private forest – forest on land held with freehold title.Leasehold forest – forest on privately-managed leasedCrown land generally used for grazing.Unresolved tenure – forests where data are insufficient todetermine ownership status are categorised.Indigenously managed native forests can be found in each ofthe tenure categories described above with the exception ofmultiple-use forests. There is no formal tenure classificationsystem to enable native forests under Indigenous managementto be identified.Native forest area in 2008 by tenure categoryTenureMultiple-use forestNature conservation reserveaArea(‘000 hectares)Proportionof total9 4106%22 37115%Other Crown land10 8627%Private forest (including Indigenous)38 09926%Leasehold forest65 13244%Unresolved tenure1 5241%Total native forest147 397100%Note: Data in this table are supplied by the states and territories. The 23 millionhectares of formal nature conservation reserve (IUCN categories I – IV) mentionedon p29 are derived from the Collaborative Australian Protected Area Databasethat includes additional reserved lands found in ‘Other Crown land’ and ‘Privateland (including Indigenous)’ categories.25
Forest cover, by tenureLegendLeaseholdMultiple-use forestNature conservation reserveUnresolvedOther Crown landPrivate Did you know?Australia is one of the world’smost biologically diverse countries.26
Forest biodiversityMost (80%) of Australia’s flowering plants, mammals, reptiles,frog and fish species, and about half the bird species arefound only in Australia.All states and the Northern Territory have developed lists offorest-dwelling vertebrates and vascular plant species. Theselists continue to expand as information improves.Some ecological information is available on around 60% offorest-dwelling vertebrate and vascular plant species, andcomprehensive information is available on at least 10% ofmammal, bird and amphibian species.Significantly better information is available for species inregions that have been subjected to formal assessmentprocesses, such as the Comprehensive Regional Assessmentsthat preceded Regional Forest Agreements.Information on forest-dwelling invertebrates, fungi, algae andlichens is limited.A total of 1287 forest-dwelling species are listed as vulnerable,endangered or critically endangered under the AustralianEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act1999. Thirty-nine species or subspecies were removed fromthe list and 71 were added in the five years to 2008.27
Forest in reservesThe Australian and some state governments have developedregional forest agreements (RFAs) for most of the main nativeforest timber production areas. RFAs are 20-year plans for theconservation and sustainable management of those forests.They provide a comprehensive, adequate and representativenature conservation reserve system. The aim of the processwas to reserve at least 15% of the pre-1750 distribution ofeach forest type, 60% of the existing distribution of eachforest type if vulnerable, 60% of existing old-growth forest,90% or more of high quality wilderness forests, and allremaining rare and endangered forest ecosystems.The area of informal forest reserves has increased in recentyears, though the full extent of the increase has not beenreported nationally. Did you know?The proportion of forest in nature conservation reservesrecognised by the International Union for Conservation ofNature increased from 11% in 1998, to 13% in 2003 and16% in 2008.28
In 2008, 23.0 million hectares – 16% of Australia’s forestestate – were in dedicated formal reserves to protect naturalvalues (reserved under International Union for Conservation ofNature (IUCN) reserve categories I–IV).Additional forests are also conserved within leasehold land,multiple-use forest and private land (through covenantsor other management arrangements). Codes of forestpractice and other regulatory mechanisms also provide forconservation of forest biodiversity and protection of othervalues, such as water quality.John Davidson29
Recreational use of forestsMost public forest is available for recreation and tourism,regardless of whether it is primarily managed for conservation,environmental protection or wood production. Both nativeand plantation forests provide a wide range of recreationalopportunities, including: walking and runningfishingpicnicking and playingswimming and water sportsriding and walking animalscultural heritage appreciationnature studycampingcyclingorienteeringclimbingmotor sportcaving.John Davidson30
Plantation forestsWhat is a plantation?Plantations are: ‘intensively managed stands of trees ofnative or exotic species, created by the regular placementof seedlings or seeds’.The primary purpose of plantation forestry is woodproduction. Plantations also contribute to a range ofenvironmental values and services, including water qualityimprovement, dryland salinity mitigation, carbon sequestrationand habitat for native plants and animals.Plantation species fall into two groups: Softwood – mainly pine (Pinus) species. Hardwood – mainly eucalypts, including Eucalyptus andCorymbia species.31
SoftwoodsRadiata pine 75%Southern pine 5%Hoop pine 5%Maritime pine 4%Other softwoods %HardwoodsBlue gum 62%Shining gum 9%Blackbutt and flooded gum 4%Other eucalypts %Other hardwoods 4%32
Types of plantationsPlantation establishment began in Australia in the 1870s.About 200 000 hectares had been established by 1960 andmore than 90% of that was with introduced pines. From the1960s to the 1980s, the area of pine plantations increasedrapidly because of investment by governments.The total area by 1990 was a little over one million hectares.After 1990, the plantation area of hardwoods began toincrease rapidly because of private investment, while therate of establishment of new pine plantations has slowed.In some regions the softwood area has declined in the pastfew years because harvested pine areas have been replantedwith hardwood species or the land use has shifted awayfrom plantations.The emphasis since 1990 has been on eucalypts establishedon farmland and managed to produce woodchips for papermanufacture
up-to-date facts and figures about our forests and their management and shows – at a glance – the key features of Australia’s forest industries, including their size, location, contribution to the economy and export markets. Australia’s Forests at a Glance 2009
Deciduous forests Tundra Tundra Boreal forests Boreal forests Figure 10. Vegetation types, temperature, and rainfall If you guessed humans, you are right! FAO wanted to understand how forests are changing as a result of human activity. To study the infl uence of humans on forests, the scientists
Forests cover a large expanse of the Midwest ranging from boreal forests around the northern Great Lakes to oak-hickory forests of the Ozarks. The Midwest is characterized by savannas and open woodlands, which mark a major transition zone between forest and grassland biomes within the U.S. Overall, forests cover some 87 million acres in the .
A) clouds are formed over the moist forests B) forests hold the rainwater in the leaves of the trees C) forests keep the entire balance of the atmosphere D) the number of forests is decreasing 15. What does “they” in the 3rd paragraph refer to? 1 point A) forests B) leaves C) trees D) water cycles 16. According to the 4th paragraph, which .
action is needed to sustain the planet’s forests. Time is running out for the world’s forests, whose total area is shrinking by the day. By halting deforestation, managing forests sustainably, restoring degraded forests and increasing the global forest area, potentially damaging consequences for t
Pakistan is one of the low forest cover countries with only 5 percent of land area under natural forests and tree cover. Major forest types include coastal mangroves, reverine forests, sub-tropical scrub forests, moist temperate conifer forests, dry temperate conifer forests and irrigated plantations including linear plantations.
The forestry resource is predominantly based on native forests, comprising 152 million hectares or about 20 per cent of the total land area of Australia. Forest Area (‘000 hectares) Native forests: Closed forest 4,644 Open forest 45,603 Woodland 102,526 Total native forestsTotal native forests 152,773152,773 % of land area 19.89
– visualize the forest – replace missing values – identify mislabeled data, outliers, novel cases . Local variable importance. 8. Visualization. Part 4 Other Applications 9. Random forests for unsupervised learning. 10. Random forests for regression. 11. Random forests for survival analysis. 12. Some Case Studies . Unsupervised Learning .
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