Forestry toolkit

Australia's first commercial plantation forests were established in South Australia in 1876.

Since this time, the state's forest industry has been a national leader in environmentally sustainable plantation forest management.

Today, the industry is a significant part of the state's economy with a $1.4 billion supply chain value and 168,000 hectares of softwood and hardwood plantation.

The main species grown are radiata pine and Tasmanian blue gum.

Across the state, forest industries employ about 21,000 people, both directly and indirectly.

From harvesting and haulage contractors to plantation managers, saw millers and manufacturers, many of these employment opportunities are located in regional communities.

South Australian forests are located across the state stretching from the Limestone Coast through Adelaide to the Mid-North region.

The Limestone Coast is part of the world renowned timber production region, the Green Triangle encompassing Southeast South Australia and Western Victoria.

This area is home to some of Australia's most productive plantations and features state-of-the-art wood processing facilities.

The state's regional saw mills produce timber for the construction industry, fence posts for livestock and broad acre farmers, trellis posts for grape growers, and pallets for a range of industries.

Premium export hardwood chips are used to create high quality writing and printing paper with forest products also used for making compost and potting mix that helps put food on the nation's table.

South Australia's forest industries are highly sustainable.

Every tree that is harvested has been planted specifically for wood production, ensuring native forests are protected.

Plantations are also grown in higher rainfall regions, meaning they are not reliant on irrigation and sustained primarily through rainfall.

All major forest growers are certified through independently audited and internationally recognised certification schemes that ensure forests are responsibly managed.

The state's plantation forest play a pivotal role toward meeting climate change targets with plantations absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is retained in processed wood.

The CO2 removed by these plantations offsets the estimated emissions of over 20,000 trucks annually.

The sustainability of the industry is further supported by the Trees on Farms initiative, which maximises environmental and economic benefits of on-farm plantations.

Forests in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Limestone Coast also offer a range of nature-based recreational activities and community events with significant educational values.

To grow and develop the state's forest and timber industries, a new Forestry Centre of Excellence is being established in Mount Gambier through a $15 million investment.

This will create long-term research and development capability to assist with industry challenges such as securing South Australia's fibre needs now and into the future.