Forestry Opportunities

Private Forests Tasmania is a statutory authority which provides advice and assistance to private land owners in the management of native forests and the establishment and management of plantations on private land. They work closely with private landowners and major stakeholders to develop and deliver a wide range of services to ensure sustainable forest use.

A private landowner may apply to have land declared a private timber reserve under the Forest Practices Act 1985. Private Forests Tasmania processes timber reserve applications from landowners.

If land is not classified as a Private Timber Reserve then there is a risk to forest owners that amendments to the local planning scheme could interfere with forest operations. The Private Timber Reserve classification gives the landowner the right to undertake forest opertions according to the Forest Practices Act. Council planning approval is then not required for forest operations. Further details are available on the Private Forests Tasmania website and by contacting the agency.

Private Forests Tasmania reported that the total area gazetted as private timber reserve for the 2007-08 period was 12,709 hectares, with a progressive total of 441,734 hectares as at June 2008.

A Farm Forestry Toolbox is available from Private Forests Tasmania. The toolbox is a collection of programs (tools) for assisting managers of shelter belts, plantations or native forests.

A Farm Forestry Joint Venture Package helps both landowners and investors combine land, labour and capital for plantation development. The package enables prospective joint venture partners to undertake much of the development work themselves.