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Indicators as a basis framework. Every forest region
of Australia is different, and so the application and
importance of the criteria and their respective indica-
tors vary between tenures and broad forest types. As
such, Australia developed a framework for assessing
the sustainability of forest management which could
be applied across all its forests. Representatives of the
Australian, state and territory governments developed
44 indicators used to track progress across the criteria.
Australia reports on its progress towards sustainable
forest management through the five-yearly release of
its State of the Forests Report, the most recent of which
was produced in 2008.
New influences on forest management
The past decade has seen a new dynamic in forest
management. The drought experienced by parts
of the country and the expansion of the plantation
estate has caused some jurisdictions in Australia to
be concerned about the impact of plantations on
water availability. This is compounded by uncertainty
regarding how climate change will impact different
regions of Australia. Plantations can have positive
environmental effects by lowering saline water tables,
but some communities have become concerned that
they may also reduce water availability for other uses,
such as irrigated agriculture. Plantation development
is one of the land-use changes covered by the 2004
Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water
Initiative, which provides a national framework for
considering the impacts of activities that may inter-
cept water. Some state governments are reviewing
their water policies and water allocation mechanisms
with the intention of requiring plantations to gain a
water licence prior to being established.
Policies to address climate change and transition to
a low-carbon economy have also gained momentum in
Australia. It is recognized that Australia’s forests will be
affected by climate change and areas once suitable for
commercial plantations may change. However, forests
also sequester carbon and have an important role to play
in addressing climate change. This was recognized by
the Australian, state, territory and New Zealand govern-
ment ministers responsible for the primary industries
when they endorsed the National Climate Change and
Commercial Forestry Action Plan. The plan is intended
to guide action by the forestry industry, with the
support of governments, to respond to climate change
through adaptation and mitigation, underpinned by
research and development and communication. The
plan identifies knowledge gaps and proposes actions to
assist forest industries to respond to climate change.
Partnerships with industry
The Australian Government has a strong history of
partnership with the forestry industry through support-
ing research and development and providing grants
for innovation. The most recent of these is the Forest
Industries Climate Change Research Fund, a grants
tive and adequate reserve system were nationally agreed. This was
followed by groundbreaking scientific comprehensive regional
assessments of forest values and uses. Wide stakeholder consulta-
tion was undertaken throughout the process.
The social assessment process, which forms part of the compre-
hensive regional assessment, was a major development in land
management policy, garnering international attention for ensuring
the inclusion of social values in production forest management.
Through the social assessments, Australian and state governments
collated information about how regional and rural communities
use and value their forests. This information ensured that a balance
was struck between managing forests for timber production whilst
ensuring that their community values were conserved.
In addition to Regional Forest Agreements, new strategies that build
upon and complement the National Forest Policy Statement have
been developed and implemented, including Plantations for Australia:
the 2020 Vision, the National Indigenous Forestry Strategy, and the
Farm Forestry National Action Statement. Each of these strategies’
outcomes are achieved through partnerships between the Australian,
state and territory governments, key stakeholders and industry, and
they provide robust frameworks for opportunities that sustainably
develop the Australian forestry industry.
To measure and monitor how well its forests are being managed,
Australia uses the international Montreal Process Criteria and
Eucalypt tall open forest – south-western Australia
Image: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry