About the South east Queensland Forests Agreement
Whites Mountain
The South East Queensland Forests Agreement provided for the cessation of timber harvesting in native forest on State forests and timber reserves in the South East Queensland Bioregion.
When the Agreement commenced, harvesting immediately stopped on an estimated 425,000 ha of native forest. These lands were then transferred into forest reserves, a holding tenure under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, and preparations began to transfer them to protected areas.
By the end of 2024, timber harvesting will have been completed on the remaining native forests (not plantations) in State forests and timber reserve, and these lands will be transferred to the protected area estate.
Forest reserves
Forest reserve is a holding tenure under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, which was created to help transfer the forested lands into protected area tenure.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) manages forest reserves under the Forestry Act 1959 as it did when they were State forests or timber reserves, except for allowing commercial timber harvesting, which is not allowed on forest reserves. Other uses can continue until the area is gazetted as protected area.
Protected areas
Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, the role of protected areas is help in conserving the natural environment. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service or a trustee manages these areas in accordance with the management principles for the class of protected area and a management plan.
Forest reserves can be transferred into the following classes:
- national park
- national park (scientific)
- national park (recovery)
- conservation park
- resources reserve.
Determining the type of protected area
The highest possible conservation status was generally applied when the type of protected area for an SEQFA reserve was determined. Natural integrity, regional ecosystems and biological diversity were considered in theis process.
The following are specifically recognised:
- regional ecosystem status and level of representation in the protected area estate
- biological diversity
- rare and threatened species and their management needs
- threatening processes
- uses and community conflict that may affect conservation goals.
Benefits of the Agreement
The Agreement will:
- protect the communities necessary for building a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system which
- includes the full range of forest communities (recognised as regional ecosystems in Queensland).
- addresses the question of extent (the level of reservation that will ensure survival of populations, species and communities—how much is enough)
- ensures that the diversity in each regional ecosystem is represented in the reserve system.
- ensure ecologically sustainable forest management of the whole estate, both on and off reserves. This involves maintaining the diversity of plants and animals and their health and integrity, and ensuring their natural and cultural values are protected for current and future generations.
Last updated: 28 September 2007