annual report 2011 - Forestry Tasmania

overview: FORESTRY TASMANIA
Tasmania
Tasmania is an island of 68,331 square kilometres and
outstanding natural beauty located 240 kilometres
below the south-east corner of the Australian mainland.
It is Australia’s southernmost state. Tasmania has a
population of around 500,000, and benefits from a
temperate climate.
Tasmania is rich in natural assets, including forests and
a diversity of minerals, and is the most forested state in
Australia. Its relatively unspoilt beauty attracts visitors
from all over the world.
Forestry Tasmania
Forestry Tasmania is a Tasmanian State Government
Business Enterprise. The business manages 1.5 million
hectares (ha) of State forest for multiple uses, an area
that contains 39 per cent of Tasmania’s forests. Just less
than half of the area of state forest is available for wood
production, with the remainder being set aside for other
values such as conservation and recreation. Forests
on other public lands, mostly national parks and other
conservation reserves, are managed by separate agencies.
Forestry Tasmania manages its operations with four
administrative Districts across the State, and headquarters
in Hobart. As of 30 June 2011, Forestry Tasmania employed
350 personnel and 975 contractors.
There are some 108,000 ha of plantations on State forest,
comprising:
- 52,700 ha of softwood - Pinus radiata
- 55,700 ha of hardwood - predominantly Eucalyptus
globulus and E. nitens
A portion of this plantation estate is in joint venture with
private investors or customers, including buyers of finished
forest products.
Forest Tourism
Forestry Tasmania also manages world-class tourist
destinations in the forest, such as the Tarkine Forest
Adventures, the Eagle’s Eyrie and this year opened the
AirWalk Lodge as an addition to the Tahune AirWalk.
The AirWalk Lodge is nestled among the
trees at the Tahune AirWalk offering
visitors an opportunity to ‘sleep among
the giants’ of the southern forests
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