Private Forests Tasmania
| Statutory authority overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Tasmania, Australia |
| Headquarters | Hobart, Tasmania |
| Employees | 6.4 FTE (2017) |
| Annual budget | $1.877 million (2016) |
| Minister responsible |
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| Statutory authority executive |
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| Parent department | Department of State Growth |
| Key document | |
| Website | www.pft.tas.gov.au |
Private Forests Tasmania is a Tasmanian government statutory authority established in 1994 by the Tasmanian Private Forests Act 1994. The Authority was created to provide assistance and advice on private forest management in Tasmania, Australia. The objectives of the authority are to facilitate and expand the development of the private forest resource in Tasmania, in a manner that is consistent with sound forest land management practices.
Private Forest Tasmania is the only Australian government funded body established to specifically promote, foster and assist private landowners to manage sustainably their native forests and encourage the expansion of plantation estate.
Private Forests Tasmania has a Board of Directors which includes people with experience in commerce, economic development, industrial private forestry, non-industrial growers (two farm foresters), or forest science or related activities, and includes a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO provides advice to the Tasmanian Minister for Forestry on private forest matters.
Costs and expenses, incurred in performing selected functions are funded by money provided by the Tasmanian Parliament.
A private forest service levy was introduced in August 2001 to fund other activities the Authority. As of 2015, it is set at $15 per hectare, based on the net area of land being harvested or afforested area, in a certified forest practices plan under the Tasmania Forest Practices Act 1985.
Prior to 1994, the Private Forestry Division of the Tasmanian Forestry Commission, provided support to private forest owners. The Private Forestry Division was established after an amendment to the Forestry Act in 1977, for the express purpose of encouraging the establishment and sound management of forests on farms and other private land. The 1977 amendment to Forestry Act also created the Private Forestry Council.
These amendments were a recommendation of the 1977 Board of Inquiry into Private Forest Development in Tasmania.
Tasmania has a high proportion of privately owned forests, about 30 percent by area, which was formally recognized by the government when the Private Forests Council was established in 1978. The Council advised the Government on private forestry matters.
The Private Forestry Division provided financial incentives, as grants and loans, for the establishment and tending of commercial plantations of pine, eucalyptus and special timber species, notably blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon).
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