Australian forest resource inventory data sought

An Australian national study is underway to identify the wood resource characteristics of private forest estates (private native forests and farm forests) and Indigenous managed forests suitable for commercial uses. Led by the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), the study supports the National Forest Industries Plan – 2019-20 and 2020-21, Growing a Better Australia – A Billion Trees for Jobs and Growth. It will enable strategic coordination to support regional economic opportunities for private forest owners and Indigenous communities through the sustainable use of this underutilised forest resource.

ABARES is seeking the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders including forest industry associations, farm forestry organisations and cooperatives, Indigenous community bodies, and individual landholders, to assist with the identification of any available resource information that describes any of the three estates – private native forests, farm forests and Indigenous managed forests. Together, this information will inform the development of policies and industry initiatives to support landholders and regional communities, including Indigenous communities, become a vibrant and sustainable part of the Australian forestry industry and processing sectors. Commercial plantation information is not being sought as these data are already collected through the National Plantation Inventory.

It is acknowledged that the recent summer bushfires of 2019-20 affected large areas of forests in many parts of Australia, with the impact continuing to be felt by regional communities. An outcome of the ABARES private forest study is to support the development of economic opportunities in regional Australia.

The information sought for the study includes current and historical datasets and maps, reports and studies from state government databases, private industry, forest owners and managers, associations and forestry experts, and any other existing information relevant to private native forests, farm forestry and Indigenous forests. A number of forestry consultants are working with ABARES to ensure the study is as extensive as possible.

The ABARES contacts for this study are Claire Howell and Mihai Daian. They are keen to hear from anyone who has, or knows of, any resource information for areas of private native forests, farm forestry or Indigenous forests, or is interested more generally in the project. Please contact Mihai via email on mihai.daian@awe.gov.au or by telephone on (+61) 431 660 887.

Source: ABARES