Forest Management
Scientific Forest Management in eucalypt forests is relatively young. Until the early 1900’s there was no agency responsible for any aspects related to the management of Tasmania’s forests. Wastelands Acts in the 1800’s encouraged people to clear forests by any means possible and timber extraction was totally unregulated. Even with the formation of the Scenery Preservation Board in 1915 and the formation of the Forestry Department in 1921 little progress in addressing significant issues related to forest and forestry management occurred until the 1960’s. Pre-occupation with war, lack of access to forests and little knowledge about the ecology of its diverse systems hampered progress.
Increasing affluence in the 1960’s, availability of new technology and a rapidly growing population resulted in an increased focus on the sustainable management of forests and on the value of forests for conservation. The development of computers and remote sensing technology, along with a more scientific approach to ecological process in forests in recent years, has resulted in dramatic changes in the way forests are managed for conservation, recreation and the supply of a range of forest resources to meet the demands of consumers.
Historical forest management
Early European explorers visiting Tasmania were impressed by the size and quality of Tasmanian timber. The exploitation of this timber was aided by its proximity to the sea and sheltered ports, particularly in the south of the State. For more than a hundred years there were no regulations governing the harvesting of timber and this led to significant degradation of the forest resource.
Tasmania’s export timber industry began in the 1820’s with the influx of convict labour. Before this, the laborious task of harvesting trees was only undertaken to meet the immediate demands of the growing colony - to build houses, wharves, bridges and furniture for settlers. Pastoralists cleared the land bu extensive burning - a far more efficient, but wasteful, method than harvesting. In the early nienteenth century Tasmania’ trees seemed endless and the major obstacle was how to get rid of the dense forests and open up the land.
An emerging export market for Tasmanian Blue Gum (an excellent ship and wharf buuilding timber) and Huon Pine (highly valued for its shipbuilding and asthetic qualities) was apparent, however, and England was quite demanding in its desire for timber from its colonies. Tasmania’s high quality hardwood forests situated close to deep water and sheltered ports gave the island a competitive edge against other states and colonies, and with the use of convict labour a lucrative industry began. The nature of this industry was to change little in the next hundred years with the advent of steam in the middle of the 1800’s only increasing the rate of exploitation of the Tasmanian timber resource.
Modern forest mangement
While forests change and grow continuously over time, so do human values, reflected in the changing use of forest environments. In the 1950’s governments and communities were making forest management decisions based primarily on economic concerns. The focus was on trees, amd the main aim of forest management was to ensure that enough trees were regrown to sustain forest industries in the future, so that Australia could be self sufficient in forest products.