Australia's State of the Forests Report

The purpose of Australia's State of the Forests Report is to keep the public informed about Australia's forests, their management, use and conservation, and to provide information on how they are changing. It is also used to report on the state of Australia's forests to the world.

Australia's State of the Forests Report is a key source of comprehensive information on Australia's forests, and is used extensively across industry, state, territory and Australian governments, and research and educational institutions. It is a key source of data and information for many other publications. Forest-related data for Australia's State of the Forests Report are collected from state and territory forest management agencies and Australian Government departments.

The National Forest Policy Statement, the Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002, and agreements in individual Regional Forest Agreements constitute the key mandates and drivers for producing the SOFR series, and for reporting using criteria and indicators developed under the international Montréal Process. Reporting in this way leads to known Benefits of producing Australia's State of the Forests Reports.

Indicator 1.1a Area of forest by forest type and tenure

• 1.1a.i Forest area by type
• 1.1a.ii Forest area by tenure
• 1.1a.iii Forest area in RFA regions
• 1.1a.iv Forest area change over time

Indicator 1.1b Area of forest by growth stage

Indicator 1.1c Area of forest in protected area categories

Indicator 1.1d Fragmentation of forest cover

Indicator 1.2a Forest dwelling species for which ecological information is available

Indicator 1.2b The status of forest dwelling species at risk of not maintaining viable breeding populations, as determined by legislation or scientific assessment

Indicator 1.2c Representative species from a range of habitats monitored at scales relevant to regional forest management

Indicator 1.3a Forest associated species at risk from isolation and the loss of genetic variation, and conservation efforts for those species

Indicator 1.3b Native forest and plantations of indigenous timber species which have genetic resource conservation mechanisms in place

Indicator 2.1a Native forest available for wood production, area harvested, and growing stock of merchantable and non-merchantable tree species

Indicator 2.1b Age class and growing stock of plantations

Indicator 2.1c Annual removal of wood products compared to the volume determined to be sustainable for native forests and future yields for plantations

Indicator 2.1d Annual removal of non-wood forest products compared to the level determined to be sustainable

Indicator 2.1e The area of native forest harvested and the proportion of that effectively regenerated, and the area of plantation harvested and the proportion of that effectively re-established

Indicator 3.1a Scale and impact of agents and processes affecting forest health and vitality

Indicator 3.1b Area of forest burnt by planned and unplanned fire

Indicator 4.1a Area of forest land managed primarily for protective functions

Indicator 4.1b Management of the risk of soil erosion in forests

Indicator 4.1c Management of the risks to soil physical properties in forests

Indicator 4.1d Management of the risks to water quantity from forests

Indicator 4.1e Management of the risks to water quality in forests

Indicator 5.1a Contribution of forest ecosystems and forest industries to the global greenhouse gas balance

Indicator 6.1a Value and volume of wood and wood products

Indicator 6.1b Values, quantities and use of non-wood forest products

Indicator 6.1c Value of forest based services

Indicator 6.1d Production and consumption and import/export of wood, wood products and non-wood products

Indicator 6.1e Degree of recycling of forest products

Indicator 6.2a Investment and expenditure in forest management

Indicator 6.2b Investment in research, development, extension and use of new and improved technologies

Indicator 6.3a Area of forest available for public recreation/tourism

Indicator 6.3b Range and use of recreation/tourism activities available

Indicator 6.4a Area of forest to which Indigenous people have use and rights that protect their special values and are recognised through formal and informal management regimes

Indicator 6.4b Registered places of non-Indigenous cultural value in forests that are formally managed to protect those values

Indicator 6.4c The extent to which Indigenous values are protected, maintained and enhanced through Indigenous participation in forest management

Indicator 6.4d The importance of forests to people

Indicator 6.5a Direct and indirect employment in the forest sector

Indicator 6.5b Wage rates and injury rates within the forest sector

Indicator 6.5c Resilience of forest dependent communities to changing social and economic conditions

Indicator 6.5d Resilience of forest dependent Indigenous communities to changing social and economic conditions

Indicator 7.1a Extent to which the legal framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests

Indicator 7.1b Extent to which the institutional framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests

Indicator 7.1c Extent to which the economic framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests

Indicator 7.1d Capacity to measure and monitor changes in the conservation and sustainable management of forests

Indicator 7.1e Capacity to conduct and apply research and development aimed at improving forest management and delivery of forest goods and services