What it does
The Forestry Act 1959 (the Act) provides the statutory framework for the declaration, classification, management, and use of State forests, timber reserves, forest entitlement areas, and State plantation forests in Queensland. At its core, the Act's cardinal principle (s.33(1)) is the permanent reservation of State forests for producing timber and associated products in perpetuity while protecting watersheds. This is operationalised through a suite of powers vested in the chief executive (formerly the Conservator of Forests, now the Director-General of the department administering the Act) and delegated officers.
Key mechanisms include:
- Declaration and classification (Part 3): The Governor in Council may, by regulation, set apart Crown land, timber reserves, or certain forest reserves under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 as State forests (s.25). Timber reserves may be declared for interim timber production (s.28, though new declarations ceased after 30 June 2014). Specialised zones such as feature protection areas, scientific areas, State forest parks, and forest drives may be declared within State forests (excluding State plantation forests) under s.34A. State plantation forests are declared by regulation from within State forests (s.32A), with specific areas scheduled for phased removal on conservation grounds (s.32B).
- Management (Part 4): Management must prioritise sustainable timber production, soil conservation, water quality, and recreation (s.33(2)). The chief executive determines silvicultural systems, sustainable yield (subject to Ministerial approval under s.34(2)), and infrastructure like roads, nurseries, and fire protection works (s.34(1)). Regulatory notices under s.34AA control activities such as vehicle use, fire lighting, and animal entry; these must be accompanied by information notices under s.34AB. Camping is regulated via e-permit or self-registration systems (ss.34H–34J), with permits issued under s.35.