Indicator description

Why is it indicative

What does the data show

Data

Indicator description

Number of hectares of native forest harvested for timber extraction.

Why is it indicative

This indicator provides a measure of the size of the area being impacted upon for the purpose of harvesting of native forest. It should be noted that harvesting methods have differing impact upon biodiversity. This indicator should be considered in conjunction with the clearance or loss of native forest indicator.

What does the data show

Clearfelling of native forest was the preferred harvesting method on State Forest accounting for 57% all forest harvested in 2000-01. However, 67% of harvesting on private land involved partial logging operations in 2000-01. Since 1994-95 there has been a decline in the percentage of forest regenerated with seed (52% in 1994-95 to 18% in 2000-01) and an increase in plantation development. In 2000-01, 42,060 ha of native forest was harvested in total on State Forest and private land.

All harvesting methods have some impact upon biodiversity. Typically, selective/partial harvesting techniques have the least impact with clearfell the greatest. Operations following harvesting, also have differing impacts upon biodiversity. The exact impacts upon biodiversity from different harvesting and post harvesting operations are not quantifiable as current harvesting practices have only existed for relatively short periods of time compared to the time required for native forest ecosystems to evolve and develop. Current understanding of forest ecosystems is also still developing particularly through the work being undertaken at the Warra LTER site.

Current harvesting classifications as used by the Forest Practices Board include:

• partial logging
   
• clearfelling followed by regeneration by seed
   
• clearance:
   
• clearfelling following by plantation establishment
   
• eucalypt
   
• pine
   
• non-forest use (for agriculture roads etc)
   

While figures are available for the loss or conversion of native forest since 1996 (see native vegetation clearance indicator) comparable figures for total area harvested are not available. The data set used in this indicator is obtained from the Forest Practices Board Annual Reports 1999-2000 to 2001-2002. Harvesting figures prior to 1999 were provided as a percentage of the total number of forest harvesting operations approved and not as a percentage of the total area approved for harvesting.

An analysis of the figures shows that

• Between 1999-2002, a total of 109,200 ha of native forest were harvested.
   
• 56% or 61,100ha of this harvesting occurred on private land.
   
• The harvesting methods employed on State Forest differed markedly from that on private land. This is probably explained by the distribution of forest types on private land compared to State forest (70% of forest on private land is classified as dry sclerophyll compared to 33% on State Forest see Area of Native forest Available for Timber Production). Clearfelling was the preferred harvesting method on State Forest accounting for 60% of harvesting operations compared to 37% for private land.
   
• The total area harvested per year varied by 10,000ha or approximately 20% during the period.
   

Data

The areas reported for harvesting in this indicator may be an underestimate as only harvesting covered by a Forest Practices Plan is included. Areas harvested for purposes such as firewood extraction prior to the introduction of the Forest Practices Amendment Act 2001 is unlikely to be included. The extent of illegal harvesting including the removal of trees from reserves is unknown.

Percentage of harvesting operations by harvesting method, future land use and tenure - native forests only

Year	Tenure	Partial Logging	Clearfell followed by				Total / annum
			regeneration by seed	eucalypt plantation	pine plantation	non-forest use
1994-1995	State Forest (ha)	40%	52%	4%	4%	0	n.a.
	Private land (ha)	46%	7%	22%	6%	19%
1995-1996	State Forest (ha)	42%	47%	2%	9%	0	n.a.
	Private land (ha)	43%	8%	23%	5%	21%
1996-1997	State Forest (ha)	52%	34%	4%	10%	0	n.a.
	Private land (ha)	48%	7%	35%	5%	5%
1997-1998	State Forest (ha)	35.0%	23.0%	17.0%	23.0%	2%	n.a.
	Private land (ha)	40.0%	7.0%	37.0%	3.0%	13.0%
1998-1999	State Forest (ha)	33.0%	22.5%	26.0%	18.5%	0	n.a.
	Private land (ha)	42.4%	7.5%	38.2%	1.9%	10.0%
1999-2000	State Forest (ha)	26% (3,600)	17% (2,400)	41% (5,600)	16% (2,220)	4% (500)	35,120
	Private land (ha)	54% (11,200)	10% (2,100)	22% (4,500)	5% (1,100)	5% (1,900)
2000-2001	State Forest (ha)	43% (7,640)	18% (3,220)	24% (4,270)	12% (2,220)	2% (500)	42,060
	Private land (ha)	67% (16,320)	5% (1,430)	21% (5,240)	3% (80)	5% (1,140)
2001-2002	Public land (ha)	49% (7,860)	17% (2,750)	28% (4,530)	3% (460)	2% (330)	32,020
	Private land (ha)	69% (11,130)	6% (1,000)	16% (2,520)	1% (150)	8% (1,290)
Total 1999-02		57,750 52.8%	12,900 11.8%	26,660 24.4%	6,230 5.7%	5 660 5.1%	109,200

Source: Forest Practices Board Annual Reports