Introduction
Significant improvements to all aspects of Australia’s forest industries have been delivered over the past 20 years. This is highlighted by a range of major achievements that support the sustainable management of forests and plantations to provide wood for the timber
and paper industries, jobs for rural communities and improved environmental outcomes.

A new era in Australia’s forest management has commenced where the key forest values including biodiversity, ecosystem health and recreation are included in the management objectives. This is commonly known as ‘multiple-use’ forest management. These
changes represent a substantial shift from the traditional focus of forest management which was primarily for timber production with the inclusion of some constraints to maintain environmental and social values.
Recreation is an important consideration in multipleuse forest management (Forestry Tasmania’s Tahune air walk facility)
The production of high value finished timber products (left) and the utilisation of wood fibre for pulp and paper production (right) are critical components of today’s forestry industry
Mechanical tree felling and timber extraction techniques have revolutionised harvesting, and advanced sawmilling and timber drying technologies have improved the utilisation and value of wood products.
The legislative and regulatory controls applied to forest management activities have become increasingly stringent. Strict codes of practice and legislated regulations now apply to all activities which take place in production forests. Independent certification of forest
management has been an important development, providing consumers of wood products with reassurance that purchased products are sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Following increased reservation of native forest available for timber production, the advances in silviculture, harvesting techniques and processing technologies have been necessary for forest managers and the timber industry to maximise both environmental protection and the utility from harvested timber.
In the interests of the environment, society, and in securing its own future, Australia’s forest managers and the timber industry continue to make extraordinary efforts to maintain healthy, productive, and biodiverse forests.
Forests are the industry’s lifeblood. They provide the resources for an array of products which vary from the paper we write on to the chairs we sit on, to the floors we walk on and the homes we live in. Wood has a myriad of uses and is a truly renewable and environmentally friendly resource.
Silviculture is the science, art and practice of sustainably managing forests to meet multiple objectives. New silvicultural strategies have been developed, with the
management and harvesting approaches determined by the nature of the forests. The protection of biodiversity and cultural heritage are fundamental objectives of forest
management, with surveys for flora and fauna undertaken prior to harvesting in public native forests. Greater consideration is now given to the protection of soil and water resources, as the basis for the detailed planning that underpins all forestry operations.
Technical improvements have flowed through to timber harvesting and processing. Modern computerised forest mapping and modelling technology have provided more accurate information on the resources available to forest managers and the timber industry.
This publication provides a valuable insight into the improvements Australia’s forest managers and the timber industry have made in advancing and modernising forestry. As a consequence, Australia’s wood based products are sourced from forests managed in
accordance with world’s best-practice environmental standards.

http://www.nafi.com.au/improvements_in_forest_practices_web.pdf