Deforestation by early settlers (circa 1895–1917).
Deforestation by early settlers (circa 1895–1917).
Deforestation by early settlers establishing pastures.
Deforestation by early settlers establishing pastures.
Present day deforestation in Toolangi State Forest.
Present day deforestation in Toolangi State Forest.

The land area of Victoria, Australia is estimated to have had 88% forest coverage totaling 199,830 km2 in 1869 during early European colonisation of Victoria.[note 1][1][2] This was at a time between the 1861 and 1871 censuses of the colony of Victoria in which the number of inhabitants of the colony were estimated to number between 540,322 (1861) and 729,654 (1871), and the number of houses were estimated to number between 134,332 (1861) and 160,410 (1871).[3] By 1987, deforestation had led to the forested areas of Victoria declining to 35% (79,656 km2) of the total land area.[note 1][1] From the 1980s onwards the logging and clearing of old growth native forests was challenged by environmentalists, including through the use of nonviolent direct action.[4]

Protection of forests

By 2016, the state of Victoria had formally protected 31,382 km2 of forested land area, equating to 14% of the land area of Victoria.[5] A further 7,397 km2 of forested land area had been informally protected by 2016, equating to an additional 3% of the land area of Victoria.

In November 2017, the Victoria State Government led by Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch) released a plan setting a target date of 2037 by which Victoria should start to experience a net gain in the extent and quality of native vegetation within Victoria.[6] The plan noted that although deforestation had slowed since regulations were introduced in 1989, net deforestation of 40 km2 per year was still being experienced within Victoria.

In November 2019, the Victoria State Government led by Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch) announced that deforestation of native forests on crown lands would be phased out by 2030. This would have the effect of plantation timber being the only timber being sourced from the land area of Victoria from 2030.[7] Both the Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division) and National Party of Australia – Victoria opposed the plan to phase out deforestation of native forests by 2030, claiming the practice is sustainable.[7] The Australian Greens Victoria campaigned for an immediate end to deforestation of native forests within Victoria.[8]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b The definition of forest for this statistic was woody vegetation over 2 metres in height and a foliar coverage (density) greater than 10%.

References

  1. ^ a b Woodgate, Peter; Black, Peter (October 1988). Forest Cover Changes in Victoria 1869-1987 (PDF) (Report). Remote Sensing Group, Lands and Forests Division, Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, State of Victoria. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  2. ^ Victoria's Forests Forests Factsheet (Report). Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment. June 2006. ISSN 1440-2262. Archived from the original on 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  3. ^ Australian Bureau Of Statistics; Australian Data Archive; Smith, Len; Rowse, Tim; Hungerford, Stuart (2021), Historical and Colonial Census Data Archive (HCCDA), Australian Data Archive, Australian Data Archive, ADA Dataverse, doi:10.26193/mp6wrs, archived from the original on 2022-06-01, retrieved 2022-06-01
  4. ^ McIntyre, Iain (2020-11-04). "Environmental Blockading in Australia and Around the World - Timeline 1974-1997". The Commons Social Change Library. Retrieved 2023-07-07.
  5. ^ State of the Forests 2018 Report (PDF) (Report). Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability Victoria. 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-03-15. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  6. ^ Protecting Victoria's environment - biodiversity 2037. Land, Water and Planning Victoria. Department of Environment. [Melbourne, Victoria]. 2017. ISBN 978-1-76047-397-6. OCLC 999396301. Archived from the original on 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-01.((cite book)): CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ^ a b Willingham, Richard (6 November 2019). "Victorian Government announces multi-million-dollar plan to end native logging by 2030". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 2022-05-29. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  8. ^ "Restore Victoria's forests and habitat after the bushfires". Australian Greens Victoria. Archived from the original on 2022-05-21. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
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