Code of practice for native forest timber production on Queensland’s State forest estate 2020.

The Code defines the principles, policies, and practices for sustainable timber production from the State Forest Estate and seeks to ensure that: the forest estate is assessed and protected from loss or degradation; harvesting is planned to ensure that social, nature conservation and forest values and environmental needs are identified and provided for; harvesting practices are safe, sustainable and protect the forest from damage and/or material or serious environmental harm. Corrective action will be taken if damage and/or material or serious environmental harm occurs; the forest is able to regenerate to at least maintain its productivity and biodiversity values; and research and development is applied to improve forest management and management practices. The Code of practice is presented in two parts: Part A – Core: Incorporating policies and principles. Part B − Schedules: Incorporating operational prescriptions.
The Code applies to the harvesting of timber products (Schedule 1) from native forests on the State Forest Estate, where operations are conducted under the Forestry Act 1959. The Code defines the minimum standards to be applied to timber harvesting operations with consideration of efficiency, acceptable environmental impact and optimal community benefit. Code standards consider and seek to balance and be appropriate to: the nature, scale, sensitivity and impact of use and its implications to sustainability; the protection of forest, environmental and social values, and the natural or operational capability for restoration and recovery of disturbed areas; operational needs for efficient production including; environmental, resource management and conservation legislation; forest management policies, forest management systems; community interest including accountability to the public, involvement in decision making processes, public education and the encouragement of community ownership of environmental issues.