Links and Resources
The following web sites contain information of value to both teachers and students to enhance their studies of forest ecology, forest management and forest-related issues. This is not a comprehensive list, but will act as a starting point, leading to many other excellent sources of information.
General links
- Forestry Australia
- Forestry Tasmania
- Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service
- Tasmanian Timber
- State Forests of New South Wales
- Forest Practices Authority.
- Environment Education Network
Education
Australian Forests education and reference portal.
The website provides easy access to comprehensive information about Australias forests, their nature and distribution, and their management for a wide range of purposes. The government policies and programs related to the use and management of forests and forest industries are also contained on the site, with links to State and national based websites and education programs.
Royal Botanical Gardens Melbourne Forgotten Flora
This website provides information about a superb CD and poster publication focusing on fungi, lichens and bryophytes. There are 3 CD's in the package with notes, classifications, collection and investigation ideas and a 10 A1 size colour poster set. There is a charge for this material but it is well worth the investment.
Research
Cooperative Research Centre for Forestry.
The CRC is based in Hobart but is a national research consortium, linking leading Australian forest research organisations, companies, governement agencies and universities in a forest science management research and partnership. There is a wealth of information about research projects , filds sites and opportunities for university students.
This site looks at the areas of forest reasearch undertaken by CSIRO scientists, with the emphasis on sustainability. There are links to agriculture and commercial forestry, and it considers the effects of global climate change on forest management.
This section of the site identifies the opportunities available for degree students and the current areas of research being follwed in earth science, biodiversity and landscape and cultural heritage disciplines
Industry
This site offers a wide range of further links to industry, government, educational and environmental sites.
It is also the Home Page for TimberTreck, a Web site for students, which offers a range of activities for them including stories to read, puzzles to solve, prizes to win, and things to make, build and grow.
This site provide information on logging trailer design and weighing systems for a wide range of trucks to allow drivers to comply with axel load limits on roads.
Victorian Association of Forest Industries Educational Section
The victorian Association of Forest Industries has developed an interactive tour of Victoria's native forest Industries. It explores the native timber supply chain and the balance between sustainable production forestry and biodiversity.
Government agencies
This site provides information on Regional Forest Agreements across Australia, the National Forest Policy Statement and how these are related to long term planning for Australias forests.
This site provides links to a range of information about our environment including biodiversity, forests, greenhouse, threatened species etc. Clicking in the Find your area of interest box brings up these topics and many more.
Provides information about the range of activities that Forestry Tasmania is involved in. The site includes such things as job vacancies, State of the Forest report, Annual reports, Tasforests (a journal about Tasmanias forests), products from the forests, information on interesting places to visit and forest research. Of particular interest is the Warra Long Term Ecological Research site. This area is located in the south of the state and there are links to other LTER sites in other parts of the world on the Web Page.
Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service
Provides information about Tasmanias Parks and Reserves including visitor guides, information on flora and fauna, recreation opportunities, historical heritage and information about the management of the natural and cultural heritage.
Provides information about Tasmanian timbers and their uses and has a link to the School of Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Tasmania who have a wealth of information on the environmental properties of timber. Clicking on T.R.U. takes you to the Timber building in Australia page which has information on the environmental properties of timber as well as information on projects, technical data related to timber, education and research.
State Forests of New South Wales
Provides information on sustainable management of forests in New South Wales for a wide range of values. It includes a Kids and Schools section.
Natural Resources and Environment - Forest Service, State Department of (Victoria)
Provides Forest Education resource sheets covering forest environments and management topics and a number of question sheets suitable for secondary students. There are also other useful links.
National Forest Inventory Australia
Other Organisations
Australian Threatened Species Program - Action Guides for Conservation
An excellent on-line guide dealing with Australian threatened species such as the Orange Bellied Parrot. It includes Action Guides, resources and excellent curriculum approaches to environmental education with links to the SOSE and Science learning areas.
Threatened Species and Biological Communities
Provides information, education, policy, legislation and strategies for the protection and recovery of Australias threatened species.