|
|
       |
 |
 |
    |  |
 |
|
Forestry Facts: An Overview Statistics Old Growth Forests Biodiversity Bushfires Australia's changing forests Native forests Forests and the Economy Eucalypt (Hardwood) Plantations Pine (Softwood) Plantations Multiple use forests Woodchips Pulp and Paper Regrowth forests The World's Rainforests The Greenhouse Effect Glossary of Terms Timber construction in bushfire areas |
| |
The World's RainforestsThere are about 4 billion hectares of forest in the world, of which about 25 percent is tropical forest or rainforest. About one billion hectares of forest have been cleared for agriculture and other uses, rainforest being least affected largely due to inaccessibility (Repetto 1988, p. 2).
Source: World Bank 1987, Indonesia-The Outer Islands: issues in the Sustainable Use of Land and Forest Resources, Washington, DC, unpublished. Conserving the world's tropical rainforests is very important, but it must be done in ways that take into account that the core factor causing degradation of rainforests is poverty. Third world countries experiencing rapid population growth and continued poverty cannot ignore their immediate requirements in favour of longer term environmental programs. Although most rainforests are cleared for sustainable agriculture, timber harvesting increases the value of the forests and makes it less likely that people will clear them for farming. In South-East Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia sustainable harvesting is already happening. (Minister for Primary Industry) The International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) is working with the United Nations to promote the sustainable harvesting of tropical forests throughout the world. To further encourage this, Australian timber importers have adopted a policy of importing only from suppliers using the best logging methods.(Australian Timber Importers Federation 1992). Australia's imports of rainforest timber decreased from 132,400 m3 in 1991-92 to 86,500m3 in 1997-98.(ABARE 1998). This reflects the decreasing availability of timber exports from countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. The imported timber is used to make doors, mouldings, panels, window frames, furniture and decking. Australia also imports manufactured items such as doors and other finished products made from rainforest timber. Australia has 2.3 million hectares of rainforest, 5.6% of the total native forest estate.(ABARE 1995). Rainforests in Australia are mainly found in Northern Queensland (tropical), and Western Tasmania (temperate), but there are also pockets of rainforest along the Great Dividing Range. Because Australia is essentially a desert continent, it has very little rainforest. Despite this, Australia is recognised as a leader in the scientific understanding of rainforests. This scientific knowledge was developed in response to the need for sustainable harvesting in regions where rainforests are the principle source of wood (CSIRO 1990). Political decisions in the 1980's led to the cessation of most commercial rainforest logging in Australia. Unlike in developing countries, Australian farmers do not need to clear private forests to feed themselves and their families. It is hoped that Australian forestry expertise will continue to be provided to assist the development of sustainable rainforest management in developing countries. References ABARE 1998, Australian Forest Products Statistics, June Quarter, Canberra. Australian Timber Importers Federation 1992, Policy on the importation of tropical timbers, ATIF Sydney. CSIRO 1990, Tropical Rainforests, CSIRO Tropical Research Centre, Atherton Queensland. Minister for Primary Industry 1991, Malaysian Rain Forests...A Living Resource, Kuala Lumpur. Repetto, R. 1988 'Overview', in Repetto, R. and Gillis, M. 1988, Public Policies and the Misuse of Forest Resources, Cambridge University Press. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
 |
      |
|
|
|
| Site development by Rendrag Networks, Canberra - Graphic design by Swell Design Group, Canberra | |