IFA Policy Statements

The following policy statements are the consensus view of Australian professional foresters on traditional and contemporary forestry matters. They are free of the beliefs and convictions of either political parties or industrial lobby groups.

Although all members have had opportunity to contribute to the finalisation of these policies, the statements do not necessarily reflect the view of all members.

These policy statements will be subject to periodic review (normally every 3 years). Comments are welcome at any time and will be retained and considered when undertaking the next review.

You are encouraged to use these statements in your private study and public submissions, provided due reference is given as to the source of the information.

Many IFA members are currently developing further policy statements covering a wide range of forestry issues. New statements will be added to this website over coming months.

Policy Index

Conservation and Management of Rainforests	Statement 1.1
The IFA recognises that rainforests have an important range of biological, cultural and economic values and advocates the protection and sustainable management of these ecosystems for current and future generations. View full policy

Forest Genetic Resources	Statement 1.2
Australia's forests have high levels of diversity of endemic genetic resources with high present and potential future benefits. Climate change, deforestation and land use change, habitat modification, changing fire regimes, the impacts of exotic species upon native forests pose threats to the maintenance of genetic resources. The IFA advocates the implementation of forest management measures and ongoing research to conserve the full range of Australia's unique forest genetic resources, for both their intrinsic biodiversity value and their existing and potential uses for mankind. View full policy

Genetically Modified Organisms in Forestry	Statement 1.3
The deployment of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) in forestry is yet to be realised. While they may provide opportunities to enhance the health of forests, competitiveness of forest products and to reduce environmental impacts of silviculture, possible environmental impacts need to be assessed. The IFA advocates an informed, regulated and risk management based approach to the use of Genetically Modified Organisms in Australia. View full policy

Timber Production & Biodiversity	Statement 1.4
The IFA considers that the maintenance of biological diversity is an essential component of sustainable native forest management. Biodiversity can be maintained and enhanced in native forests and plantations managed for timber production through the application of science based Codes of Practice, forest management plans and forest certification standards. View full policy

Maintaining Forest Health	Statement 1.5
Increased public and private sector funding is needed to improve the capacity to manage for production and sustainability of forest values through research, education and training that takes into account the major long term challenges to forest health. View full policy

Forestry Certification	Statement 2.1
The impact on the world’s forests arising from deforestation and unsustainable harvesting across many countries, increasing demand for forest products and impacts of climate change increase the need to ensure forest products are sourced legally from sustainably managed forests. The IFA advocates the use and promotion of independent third party forest certification schemes and associated chain of custody schemes as the most effective way to demonstrate that forest products have been sourced legally from sustainably managed forests. View full policy

Management Private Native Forests	Statement 2.2
The potential environmental and economic contribution from private native forests is often under-valued by landholders and the community. As forest production from public forests is reduced there will be increasing demands and opportunities for private forests. In most Australian States and Territories there are inappropriate government policies and inadequate institutional and commercial support for the management of private native forests. The IFA considers that private native forests provide important multiple benefits to the community and that improved institutional support, appropriate incentives and payments for environmental services are opportunities to facilitate sustainable management of these forests. View full policy

Plantations in Rural Landscapes	Statement 2.3
The IFA recognises that well planned and managed plantations can generate substantial economic, environmental and social benefits but may also have negative impacts. The IFA advocates the continued development of plantations in rural landscapes providing that this development balances environmental, social and economic impacts. Native forests should not be cleared for plantation establishment where this would compromise regional conservation and catchment management objectives. Plantation development on private land should be assessed against criteria which also apply to alternative land-uses. View full policy

Clearing of Native Forests for Plantations	Statement 2.4
The development and expansion of plantations requires that sufficient areas of cleared land are available to be planted. Remnant native vegetation may impact negatively on the establishment, growth and management of plantations. However, clearing of substantially intact areas of native vegetation for plantations can threaten regional conservation objectives. View full policy

Use of Chemicals in Plantation Forestry	Statement 2.5
The IFA advocates responsible and judicious use of approved fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides and other chemicals in plantation management in accordance with national regulations and Codes of Practice, which require thorough planning, application and monitoring procedures and appropriate controls to minimise the risk of off-site contamination. View full policy

Forest Management Planning	Statement 2.6
Forests have multiple and diverse values that need to be integrated into plans incorporating the principles of ecologically sustainable forest management (expressed in the Montreal criteria). Strategic forest management plans guide forest management activities and take into account the range of forest uses and values. The IFA advocates the development and implementation of strategic and operational management plans on all forest land tenures to guide sustainable forest management and provide for the diverse range of uses and values. Management plans for public owned forests should incorporate community values in the planning process. Private forest management planning should, as a minimum standard, incorporate public values expressed in government policy and regulations. View full policy

Timber Production in Native Forests	Statement 2.7
The harvesting of native forests outside nature reserves is an appropriate long-term forest use where management embodies the principles of ecologically sustainable forest management. The IFA advocates that areas of public and private native forests beyond the National Reserve System be managed to integrate timber production with other forest services while maintaining ecological sustainability and other forest values. View full policy

Forest Regulation and Codes of Practice	Statement 2.8
Codes of Forest Practice are an effective tool for the regulation of forest management, to meet the expectations of the community and to ensure that forest management activities, such as timber harvesting and roading, contribute to the maintenance of forest values. The IFA considers that all significant forest activities should be subject to codes of forest practice, irrespective of land tenure, that are effectively implemented, regularly reviewed and independently audited. The IFA advocates the ongoing development, implementation, auditing and review of Codes of Forest Practice and associated forest regulations. View full policy

Silviculture in Australia’s Native Forests	Statement 2.9
Silvicultural practice in Australian native forests represents applied ecology where natural ecosystem processes are managed to create and maintain a structure and species composition that best fulfills the diverse needs and values of landowners and society on a sustainable basis. Silvicultural intervention in native forests can enhance the supply of desired forest goods and services while ensuring all ecological processes are maintained. View full policy

Future Directions for Australia’s National Forest Policy	Statement 2.10
TThe IFA considers that it is time for a revision of the National Forest Policy Statement, which has served well for 2 decades, in order to address a range of emerging issues impacting on society's expectations about forest management. View full policy

Criteria of Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management	Statement 2.11
Sustainable forest management involves managing a wide range of economic, social and environmental values in perpetuity. To ensure a consistency in assessing sustainable forest management, forest owners should assess their forest management against appropriate criteria and indicators covering the full range of benefits that forest ecosystems provide. View full policy

The Role of Fire in Australian Forests and Woodlands	Statement 3.1
As an agent of ecological change, fire is critical to the maintenance of biodiversity and ecological processes and contributes to the distinctive nature of Australian forests and woodlands. The IFA advocates the need for a better appreciation of the important and complex role that fire plays in the evolution and maintenance of Australian ecosystems, including the collection and analysis of comprehensive scientific information and the effective distribution of information to policy makers, land managers and the community. View full policy

Managing Fire in Australian Forests and Woodlands	Statement 3.2
Uncontrolled fires pose a serious threat to human life, property, community assets, forest biodiversity and ecological processes. The IFA advocates the need to actively manage fire in Australian forests and woodlands in a comprehensive, integrated manner that considers social, economic and environmental risks as well as the protection of life, property and other assets and that the focus should be upon prevention of large scale and destructive fires that impact on environmental, economic and social values. View full policy

Native Forests and Water	Statement 5.1
Native forest catchments produce high quality drinking water as well as essential environmental flows for riverine systems. The IFA advocates that designated forested domestic water supply catchments be managed according to the principles of sustainable forest management in order to maintain water quality and quantity. View full policy

Plantation Forests & Water	Statement 5.2
The establishment of plantations in catchments can have highly variable effects on water quality and quantity. The IFA advocates that plantation development take account of water management requirements and that plantations be treated equitably with other land uses when determining water rights and land use in catchments. View full policy

Water Allocation for Environmental Purposes	Statement 5.3
The ecological health of many riverine ecosystems in Australia has diminished as a result of water extraction and regulation of flows. The IFA advocates the secure allocation of environmental flows from regulated rivers for the maintenance of the ecological health and functioning of riverine ecosystems and that such allocations should have equal status to water allocation for agricultural, industrial, domestic and social purposes. View full policy

Community Awareness and Knowledge on Forestry	Statement 5.4
The IFA advocates greater public awareness and understanding of the role of the professional forester in delivering sustainable outcomes from forest management. In addition the IFA calls for greater government and industry initiatives that provide to the community information on forest management that is current, accurate and accessible and can be used to promote a greater understanding of the social, economic and environmental benefits that arise from professional, sustainable forest management. View full policy

Recreation in Australian Public Forests	Statement 5.5
Australia's forests provide opportunities for recreation and tourism. Recreation and tourism values should be integrated into forest management plans along with other forest values. The IFA advocates the ongoing provision of a wide range of recreation and tourism opportunities in public forests, in a manner that protects other forest values and doesn’t limit options for future generations. View full policy

Environmental Services	Statement 6.1
Forests produce a wide range of non-wood products and services that have been traditionally treated as public goods with no explicit financial value. These include production of clean air, carbon sequestration, ground and surface water management, land rehabilitation, erosion control and biodiversity enhancement. The IFA advocates development of mechanisms to value and integrate of the range of environmental services into forest management plans and proper consideration of these values when land use decisions are made. View full policy

Forests and climate change mitigation	Statement 6.2
Forests perform an important role in the removal and storage of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Sustainable forest management activities can therefore help meet global climate change mitigation objectives. View full policy

Wood for Bioenergy	Statement 8.1
Wood and other biomass are potentially renewable energy sources that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions when used to replace fossil fuel energy. The IFA supports the use of wood from both native forests and plantations, from all land tenures, for biomass energy when sourced from sustainably managed forests. View full policy

Wood chips from Australian Forests	Statement 8.2
Woodchips are produced from both native and planted forests in Australia, providing a financial return on trees or parts of trees and valuable fibre resources for paper and reconstituted wood products. Where markets for woodchips exist essential silvicultural operations can be implemented and a more complete utilisation of harvested trees can occur. The IFA encourages the use of woodchips from plantations or native forests, on private and public land, managed according to the principles of sustainable forest management, and implemented in accordance with relevant codes of practice. View full policy