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Australia's Forests
Vision
The federal, state and territory governments share a vision of ecologically sustainable management of the forest estate that integrates environmental, commercial and community values and uses.
These values are embodied in regional forest agreements negotiated in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania. Further information.
Australia’s forests are strikingly different from those of the rest of the world. They range from tropical rainforests to mulga scrub, and are diverse in their species composition, structure and the fauna.
Many forest species are unique to Australia, with more than 2800 of the 3000 species of trees endemic to Australia.
Eucalypts dominate most forests with more than 700 species found principally in Australia.
Australia’s forests can be broadly classified by the density of their crowns, height and composition.
Forest distribution
The distribution of forest types is determined by environmental attributes, including:
- climate – particularly rainfall and temperature
- soil fertility, and
- the frequency and intensity of bushfires.
Most of Australia is too dry to support forests, which are limited to arcs of higher rainfall across the tropical north, around the eastern, south-eastern and south-western coasts of mainland Australia, and across Tasmania.
Areas of high rainfall, fertile soils and low fire frequency support rain forests that range from complex tropical types in the north to simpler temperate forests in the south-east.
Forests with eucalypts as dominant species cover habitats ranging from tropical to temperate.
Some eucalypts, like the river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), are widespread while other species are restricted to a few isolated populations.
Australia’s forests are the foundation for a broad range of cultural and spiritual experiences for different groups of people. They include:
Tourism
Forests are a major tourist attraction for Australian and overseas visitors, and cater for an array of recreational activities — from camping, bushwalking, rock climbing, caving, boating and rafting to four-wheel driving, horse riding, fishing and shooting.
Industry
Australia’s forests and plantations provide the basis for Australia’s forest industries employing about 83,400 people. The annual turnover is more than $19 billion.
Employment and wealth flow directly from the wood products derived from the forests. But they also nurture other forest products and services, such as honey, wildflowers, natural oils, firewood, craft wood, fodder, water and mineral production.
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