New forest education resource launched
Friday 25 July, 2008
Forestry matters! a comprehensive education resource designed to promote forest awareness and the importance of South Australia in the development of the Australian forest industry is now available to South Australian school students.
Assisted at today’s launch by students from Tarpeena Primary School, Executive Director of PIRSA’s Forestry Division, Stuart West said forests were not only a significant contributor to the state’s economy, but they also played an important role in our ecosystems and had significant recreational and cultural value.
“Forests are also an integral part of people’s lives by providing the newspapers we read, along with timber and furniture for our houses,” Mr West said.
The 140-page resource aimed at reception to Year 12 levels is designed for both teachers and students and contains learning activities, fact sheets, photos and program suggestions.
“South Australia has a unique forest history and is regarded as the birthplace of plantation forestry in Australia,” Mr West said.
“We pioneered many of the silvicultural techniques for managing forests and maintaining productivity which are now used around the world.
“Our history of radiata pine plantations date back to the 1870s and since then over 174,500 hectares of softwood plantations have been established.
“The associated processing industry is also well-established with its accompanying infrastructure and processing facilities located throughout the Limestone Coast region contributing $1.4 billion annually to the local economy and employing over 7000 people.”
Mr West said the South Australian forest industry was on the cusp of great change in coming years.
“We can expect a significant increase in harvesting with the maturation of the blue gum resource, particularly in the Limestone Coast region, most of which has been established in the last 10 years. Today the hardwood plantation covers 164 000 hectares in the Limestone Coast and Western Victoria.
“Students, will gain a greater understanding of local issues and their environment through the Forestry matters! resource,” Mr McEwen said.
Copies will soon be shortly distributed to all South Australian schools and is also available from the PIRSA Forestry website www.pir.sa.gov.au/forestry
