Contributing to carbon cycles
It is widely recognised that well-managed native forests make an important contribution to global carbon cycles by acting as net carbon sinks. Our management practices support carbon retention and balance in State-owned native forests. Applying the Code of practice for native forest timber production on State lands 2007 (PDF, 4.4M)* maintains the long-term productive capacity of native forests and provides a high level of confidence that they will maintain their contribution to carbon cycles.
We also use controlled and top disposal burns to reduce the risk of major destructive forest wildfires, which result in large-scale release of stored carbon.
Although not currently recognised in proposed emissions trading schemes—partly because of the difficulty of measuring it—carbon remains stored in harvested timber for the life of the product. The forests from which the products were harvested regenerate naturally removing further carbon from the atmosphere.
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Last reviewed 18 October 2010
Last updated 20 April 2010