As at 30 June 2003, Tasmania had 3.4 million hectares of forested land, including 79,000 hectares of softwood plantation and 129,000 hectares of hardwood plantation. Approximately 30% (1.0 million hectares) of Tasmania's forested land is 'other private land'. Of the 2.3 million hectares of public land that is forested, 49% is State forest.
PLANTATIONS
In the past 50 years, a large plantation base has been established and is still rapidly expanding. The main species are the eucalypts Tasmanian Blue Gum and Shining Gum (E. nitens), Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), and Pinus radiata.
At 30 June 2003 in Tasmania, there were approximately 208 thousand hectares of plantations located on private and State lands. An increase in the area of plantations, particularly eucalypt plantations has been a feature of recent years. While the majority of softwood plantations are grown on State lands (55 thousand hectares or 69.6% of all softwood plantations), the majority of hardwood plantations are grown on privately owned land (96 thousand hectares or 74.4% of all hardwood plantations).
FOREST TYPES BY LAND CLASSIFICATION, Tasmania - 30 June 2003 |
|
 | State
forest | Forest
Reserves | Conservation
reserves | Public
reserves | Other
publicly
managed
land(a) | Other
private
land(b) | Total
area |
Forest type |
'000
ha
|
'000
ha
|
'000
ha
|
'000
ha
|
'000
ha
|
'000
ha
|
'000
ha
|
|
| Forest | | | | | | | |
| Tall native eucalypt forest(c) | 493 | 42 | 175 | 6 | 12 | 150 | 878 |
| Low native eucalypt forest(d) | 337 | 67 | 394 | 14 | 51 | 685 | 1,548 |
| Subtemperate (myrtle) rainforest(e) | 176 | 38 | 326 | - | 4 | 22 | 567 |
| Other native forest(f) | 56 | 10 | 47 | 1 | 4 | 34 | 152 |
| Softwood plantation | 54 | - | - | 1 | - | 23 | 79 |
| Hardwood plantation | 33 | - | - | - | - | 96 | 129 |
| Total forest(g) | 1,149 | 157 | 942 | 22 | 71 | 1,010 | 3,353 |
Non-forest(h) |
177
|
19
|
1,379
|
24
|
208
|
1,653
|
3,459
|
Total area |
1,326
|
175
|
2,322
|
46
|
279
|
2,664
|
6,812
|
|
(a) Includes land owned by, or vested in, the Hydro Electric Commission and Commonwealth; municipal reserves; and private and municipal lands managed by the Welllington Park Management Trust.
(b) Private property areas are as advised by Private Forests Tasmania, and generally reflect forest mapping as at early 2000.
(c) Eucalypt forest with current or potential height of 34 m or more.
(d) Eucalypt forest with current or potential height of less than 34 m.
(e) With no significant eucalypt or acacia.
(f) Including acacia spp, melaleuca etc.
(g) Estimates have been rounded and minor discrepancies may occur between sums of component items and totals.
(h) Including scrub, moorland, farmland, rocks and lakes.
Source: Forestry Tasmania, Annual Report 2002-03. |
Print Page
Print All