While most of the forests cleared for cropping and grazing will be lost permanently, areas harvested for timber will be regenerated. Over recent weeks, The Age has given extensive coverage to claims of future species extinction due to current forestry practices, but timber harvesting in Australia is well regulated compared to clearing for Agriculture. National and State level forestry policies incorporate the precautionary principle and commit governments to long-term research so that any adverse impacts of current practices can be detected and redressed.
There is no record of species extinction through sound management of
our native forests for timber production, but the scientific community
rightly insists that we deal with uncertainty about the threat of extinction
through precautionary approaches. Urgent action is required, however to
save those forests that are being lost for agriculture and grazing.