Delegates from the Asia-Pacific Forestry Commission have taken part in a field trip hosted by Forestry Corporation looking at sustainable, multi-use forest management in the Watagan Mountains of the Central Coast. Source: Timberbiz
The commission is represented by international delegates, who report to the United Nations on forestry matters in the Asia-Pacific region.
The delegates were in Australia looking at sustainably managed forests and undertook a field trip to Ourimbah State Forest, which showcased the balance found in state forests of timber production, biodiversity, recreation and cultural use.
The Watagan Mountains forests attract more than a million visits from people every year. World-class adventure tourism destinations including the Tree Tops Adventure Park and the Ourimbah Mountain Bike Park both within Ourimbah State Forest, are a strong drawcard as is the appeal of free dog-friendly camping helps to attract more than a million visitors a year to the forests of the Watagan Mountains in this area.
Delegates heard how a unique sustainability model that balances multiple uses in State forests allows these activities to occur in conjunction with timber harvesting and biodiversity conservation.
The Commission was also shown unique Aboriginal sites and discussed the partnerships program that Forestry Corporation has with local Aboriginal groups and businesses.
“Delegates were enthralled by stories of thousands of years of occupation by Aboriginal people and were very interested to understand the long-held knowledge, care and responsibility re-quired to care for Country so it stays healthy, safe and productive for both people and wildlife,” Forestry Corporation’s Partnership and Heritage Team Leader John Shipp said.
“They were also pleased to hear about partnership programs in the local area, which see Aboriginal businesses run cultural tours in State forests,” Mr Shipp said.
The field trip also highlighted many important cultural sites in Ourimbah State Forest.
“It was a great opportunity to show our international visitors a shelter site, grinding grooves and other sites that are common to these sandstone mountains as well as a site we have in-vested in significantly to protect from damage and illegal dumping,” Forestry Corporation’s Cultural Heritage Supervisor Sharon Hodgetts said.
The commission was also shown a selective timber operation and it was detailed how through careful planning, important timber species are sustainably harvested.
“These forests have a long history of active timber harvesting and regrowth, from the original timber getting with bullocks and cross-cut saws of big old timber 100 plus years ago to the modern safe mechanised techniques harvesting younger regrowth trees,” Forestry Corporation’s Forest Practices Manager Tony Brown said.
“The Watagan mountains have always produced a range of specialty products such as turpentine, which is durable and resistant to marine borers and used extensively in marine applications such as piles and decking in our coastal estuaries and around Sydney Harbour.
“If you have caught a harbour ferry or enjoy eating an oyster, turpentine timber has been an important part of that,” he said.
Forestry Corporation’s Biodiversity and Strategy Manager Justin Williams explained to delegates the comprehensive biodiversity management program that protects threatened species in multiple use State forests.
Mr Willliams said the local regrowth forests support dozens of threatened species such as the Red-crowned Toadlet, the Giant Burrowing-frog, three species of large forest owls, Gang-Gang and Glossy Black-Cockatoos, Eastern Pygmy Possums and Yellow-bellied Gliders.
“Globally, forests in NSW rank very highly for the level of forest reservation with more than 80% of public forests in the area protected in either National Parks or State Forest reserves,” Mr Williams said.
“Timber harvesting is selective and searching for threatened species and their habitat is a key component of what we do to ensure forestry operations are sustainable.
“Forestry Corporation is one of the largest managers of forests with around one million hectares primarily managed for biodiversity conservation so as the world is moving increasingly towards valuing nature-based solutions we are well placed to participate in these growing environmental markets,” he said.
