New map on Australia's forest resources

Summary

Australia’s Department of National Development released the second edition of its Forest Resources map and booklet, providing the first continent-wide account of native forests, plantations, and forest-product trade. Native forests cover about 75 million acres, although only half are currently considered economically exploitable. Pine plantations exceed 750,000 acres and grow seven to eight times faster per acre than native forests. A federally supported expansion programme aims to establish approximately 3 million acres of softwood plantations by 2000 to meet rising demand.