The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) has released a new edition of ‘Australian forests at a glance 2012’. This pocketbook compendium has data and information about Australia’s native forests and timber plantations. Source: Timberbiz
“The pocketbook covers forest types, areas and how native forests – including old growth forests – are conserved and managed,” said Dr Ritman, Acting Executive Director ABARES.
“It also covers timber harvesting, production and consumption of wood products and employment in the forestry and wood products industries, the effects of climate change of forests, forest certification and codes of practice.”
Facts and figures about Australia’s forests are essential for public debate about forest conservation and management and the pocketbook is a useful tool in that respect.
“Australia has 147.4 billion hectares of native forest of which 9.4 million hectares are multiple-use forest that is potentially available for timber production,” Ritman said.
“The majority of multiple use public forests are covered by internationally recognized forest certification schemes.
“The value of turnover in wood products industries is about $22.3 billion and 6% of total manufacturing industry income. The forest industry employs more than 66,000 people and total exports of wood products was around $2.5 billion in 2010-2011.”
A more comprehensive assessment of forests and progress towards sustainable forest management will be published in ‘Australia’s state of the forests’ report to be released in the first half of 2013.
A copy of the pocketbook Australian forests at a glance 2012 is available from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.
