Why we need sustainable forests
Sustainable forest management aims to use forests for the benefit of the whole community without adversly affecting their natural attributes and future productivity.
It also means that trees continue the cycle of removing carbon dioxide from the earth’s atmosphere, locking it up within wood products. This cycle is continued through new plantings and reforestation activities.
In practice, this means achieving a balance between the four main pillars of sustainability, environmental, economic and social values.
The Montreal Process
The Montreal Process is an international agreement between 12 nations, including Australia, which have temperate or boreal forest cover. It provides a common definition of what characterises the sustainable management of forests and a way of evaluating forest management.
Seven criteria and 67 indicators were developed and agreed to by the member countries.
The criteria represent values that society wants to enhance or preserve, while the indicators identify scientific values to assess the state of forests and measure change.
The criteria are:
- Conservation of biological diversity
- Maintenance of productive capacity of forest ecosystems
- Maintenance of ecosystem health and vitality
- Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources
- Maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles
- Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socio-economic benefits to meet the needs of societies
- Establishment of a legal, institutional and economic framework for forest conservation and sustainable management
The Australian system for sustainable forestry
Australian federal, state and territory governments have collaborated to develop a system of sustainable forest management that can be applied at all levels. It consists of seven criteria and 74 indicators, and is similar to the Montreal Process framework but reflects Australia's unique forest environment.
In Australia, forest certification is a voluntary, independent assessment of sustainable forest management activities. Every year a growing number of public and privately owned forests are joining certification systems.
More than 8.9 million hectares of our native multi-use forests and plantations have been certified under the Australian Forest Certification Scheme (Standard AS 470B) - an approximate fourfold increase between 2003 and 2007. Over 0.5 million hectares have been certified to the Forest Stewardship Council standard.
Economic importance of forestry
Upholding Australia’s global reputation for sustainable forestry practices has significant economic benefits.
The forestry industry creates substantial employment throughout rural and urban Australia, and is one of the cornerstones of economic activity in key regional areas.
Forestry accounts for 6.7% of Australia’s total manufacturing output annually. The industry delivers economic value in excess of $21 billion nationally and employs more than 120,000 people.
In Western Australia alone, over 5,500 people are employed in the sector delivering in excess of $1 billion dollars of annual economic activity, focused in part on regional and rural areas.
Where can I find out more?
For more information on Australian forestry and sustainability, visit:
