Focus on Arts and Ecology

In keeping the International Day of Forests theme of Forests and Education – Learn to Love Forests, the Australian state of Victoria's 2018 State of the Forests Report has been published. 
https://www.ces.vic.gov.au/reports/state-forests-2018 

Amongst other things the report identifies several major issues for long-term sustainable forest management in Victoria:,

• Climate change – There is considerable scientific evidence predicting damage to the vitality and health of Australia’s forests due to climate change
• Changing fire regimes – more frequent and severe fires as a result of climate change are expected to cause tree mortality, regeneration and loss of seed viability in fire-sensitive forest types
• Biodiversity – In Victoria, nearly 250 fauna species are listed as ‘threatened’ in the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act). Of these, approximately 20% are forest-dependent species.
• Fragmentation – Forest-dwelling fauna species, including endangered species, are impacted by the fragmentation of native forests.
• Economics - The forest products industry alone provides an estimated 15,696 jobs, of which 14,475 are directly related to forests and Victoria has the largest area of plantations in Australia. Successful management of Victoria’s forest/timber resources is vital to the state’s economy.
• Legal framework – Management of Victoria’s forests is delivered within a complex legal and policy framework.,