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Australian Government: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

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Australia's Sustainable Forest Management Framework of Criteria and Indicators 2008

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Criterion 1 - Conservation of Biological Diversity

Ecosystem diversity

1.1a - Area of forest by forest type and tenure
1.1b - Area of forest by growth stage
1.1c - Area of forest in protected area categories
1.1d - Fragmentation of forest cover

Species diversity

1.2a - Forest dwelling species for which ecological information is available
1.2b - The status of forest dwelling species at risk of not maintaining viable breeding populations, as determined by legislation or scientific assessment
1.2c - Representative species from a range of habitats monitored at scales relevant to regional forest management

Genetic diversity

1.3a - Forest associated species at risk from isolation and the loss of genetic variation, and conservation efforts for those species
1.3b - Native forest and plantations of indigenous timber species which have genetic resource conservation mechanisms in place

Criterion 2 - Maintenance of Productive Capacity of Forest Ecosystems

2.1a - Native forest available for wood production, area harvested, and growing stock of merchantable and non-merchantable tree species
2.1b - Age class and growing stock of plantations
2.1c - Annual removal of wood products compared to the volume determined to be sustainable for native forests and future yields for plantations
2.1d - Annual removal of non-wood forest products compared to the level determined to be sustainable
2.1e - Harvested area of native forest effectively regenerated and plantation clearfell effectively re-established

Criterion 3 - Maintenance of Ecosystem Health and Vitality

3.1a - Scale and impact of agents and processes affecting forest health and vitality
3.1b - Area of forest burnt by planned and unplanned fire

Criterion 4 - Conservation and Maintenance of Soil and Water Resources

4.1a - Area of forest land managed primarily for protective functions
4.1b - Management of the risk of soil erosion in forests
4.1c - Management of the risks to soil physical properties in forests
4.1d - Management of the risks to water quantity from forests
4.1e - Management of the risks to water quality in forests

Criterion 5 - Maintenance of Forest Contribution to Global Carbon Cycles

5.1a - Contribution of forest ecosystems and forest industries to the global greenhouse gas balance

Criterion 6 - Maintenance and Enhancement of Long Term Multiple Socio-Economic Benefits to Meet the Needs of Societies

6.1 Production and consumption

6.1a - Value and volume of wood and wood products
6.1b - Values, quantities and use of non-wood forest products
6.1c - Value of forest based services
6.1d - Production and consumption and import/export of wood, wood products and non-wood products
6.1e - Degree of recycling of forest products

6.2 Investment in the forest sector

6.2a - Investment and expenditure in forest management
6.2b - Investment in research, development and extension and use of new and improved technologies

6.3 Recreation and tourism

6.3a - Area of forest available for general recreation/ tourism
6.3b - Range and use of recreation/tourism activities available

6.4 Cultural, social and spiritual needs and values

6.4a - Area of forest to which Indigenous people have use and rights that protect their special values and are recognised through formal and informal management regimes
6.4b - Registered places of non-Indigenous cultural value in forests that are formally managed to protect those values
6.4c - The extent to which Indigenous values are protected, maintained and enhanced through Indigenous participation in forest management
6.4d - The importance of forests to people

6.5 Employment and community needs

6.5a - Direct and indirect employment in the forest sector
6.5b - Wage rates and injury rates within the forest sector
6.5c - Resilience of forest dependent communities to changing social and economic conditions
6.5d - Resilience of forest dependent Indigenous communities to changing social and economic conditions

Criterion 7 - Legal, Institutional and Economic Framework for Forest Conservation and Sustainable Management

7.1a - Extent to which the legal framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests
7.1b - Extent to which the institutional framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests
7.1c - Extent to which the economic framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests
7.1d - Capacity to measure and monitor changes in the conservation and sustainable management of forests
7.1e - Capacity to conduct and apply research and development aimed at improving forest management and delivery of forest goods and services