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Skidmore College

Publication Date

Fall 2007

Program Name

Australia: Sustainability and the Environment

Abstract

The Huon Forest District comprises 762,800 hectares of forests in southwest Tasmania, with 128,900 hectares of that total designated as state forest managed by Forestry Tasmania. These forests are used primarily for wood production, although tourism, carbon storage, leatherwood honey and the specialty timbers industry are competing for access to these forests. This study examines the socio-economic values of these uses and determines whether the Huon Forest District is being utilized efficiently.

To accomplish this, an extensive literature review of past research was conducted. This information supplemented 7 semi-structured interviews that were conducted with experts from the forestry industry, tourism industry, University of Tasmania, and conservation groups. The purpose of these interviews was to see what value the interview subject placed on the respective uses.

Through these interviews, it became apparent that the Huon Forest District is not being utilized efficiently. Due to the quotas for wood production that have to be met by Forestry Tasmania, the logging industry is consuming resources that would be more efficiently used by either tourism, carbon storage, leatherwood honey or the specialty timbers industries. The alternatives to logging have not reached their potential because of their dependency on traditional logging operations, the current regulatory system, and a lack of information. Changes in these areas would allow them to challenge traditional logging operations for use of the Huon Forest District.

Disciplines

Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy

Additional Files
ASM F07 Bailey ISP appendices.pdf (314 kB)
Appendices
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Related Files ASM F07 Bailey ISP appendices.pdf (314 kB)
Appendices

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