Transcript - Supporting ecosystems and the economy

The video Supporting ecosystems and the economy describes the protection of natural habitats before and during harvesting activity, how it can reduce Queensland's overall carbon footprint and how native timber harvesting benefits industry and regional communities.

[Male voice over]

Forestry Facts - Supporting ecosystems and the economy.

The Queensland Government ensures state-owned native forests are carefully managed to safeguard the environment and support regional growth.

Queensland's native forests continue to provide essential timber resources for our state. Like many state forests in Queensland, harvesting has been occurring in this forest for over 100 years.

[Monique – Planning Officer, Forestry]

Careful forest management ensures that ecosystems are preserved and protected. During selective harvesting, steps are taken to reduce disturbance and support regeneration.

Machines operate in a manner to minimise forest floor disturbances, maintaining a healthy ecosystem. All harvesting debris remain on site which decompose, release nutrients, and feed the forest floor.

This supports a healthy ecosystem.

[Nathan – Senior Ecology Officer]

Protecting animal and plant habitats is a priority consideration when planning for a harvest.

Before harvesting begins, trained staff identify any habitat trees and plants, including those that might be used by animals for food or shelter.

We look for signs such as tree hollows, nests, scratchings and scats.

These trees are left untouched and protected from damage and fire, ensuring that suitable habitats for important species such as koalas and gliders are maintained.

Selective harvesting leaves an extensive forest canopy that ensures fauna can move around in their natural habitat.

Canopies support the overall health of the forest ecosystem. They play a critical role in climate regulation, nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration.

With selective timber harvesting, only certain mature trees are removed, as many mature trees are not suitable for wood products and a significant number are retained for habitat purposes.

Gaps in the canopy left from harvesting support biodiversity by promoting forest regeneration. These gaps are filled by existing saplings that have been waiting for an opportunity to develop into trees.

[Barry – Executive Director, Forestry]

Native forests are critical to our environment.

Trees extract carbon from the atmosphere and store it in their trunks, roots, branches and bark in a process called sequestration.

Timber products continue to store carbon throughout their useful life,which can be more than 100 years. This contributes to the carbon cycle.

Timber production is also much less carbon intensive than concrete or steel production.

This helps to reduce Queensland's overall carbon footprint.

[Richard Kirk, Architect]

As an architect, I really love to use Queensland native timbers because they're strong, they're incredibly durable and they provide a great deal of design flexibility.

Behind me is the Sound Shell at the University of Queensland.

It's an example of using GL21 spotted gum in the form of a diagrid. The diagrid gives this curved shape extra strength.

The spotted gum that you see is incredibly durable and incredibly strong and it will last for several lifetimes.

The other important thing about using Queensland native timbers is the local industry here supplies and manufactures the material, keeping the entire project locally sourced.

[Mark Pitt – CEO, South Burnett Council]

The native hardwood timber industry is extremely important to our region and our local communities.

The employment that they offer, both direct and indirect, is an extremely strong economic stimulus to our area.

The local sawmills, through their direct economic activity and the support industries that work with them, give great benefit to local residents and again to the region and our local communities.

They are a valuable partner and conduct themselves in an extremely ethical and good way.

We're very pleased to be able to support them and have them in our communities.

[Barry – Executive Director, Forestry]

Demand for more sustainable building materials like timber is growing.

This presents opportunities for growth, innovation and the development of new products and processing efficiencies.

Queensland state-owned native forests contain substantial timber resources.

Native forestry contributes significantly to the Queensland economy and especially rural communities each year.

[Male voice over]

Our forestry practices support the ongoing supply of high value timber, while protecting forest ecosystems.

Queensland's native timber harvesting. Selective. Responsible. Renewable.

Watch the video Supporting ecosystems and the economy.