Glossary of key terms
Find a word or phrase on the Take a closer look website that you didn’t understand?
Here’s a glossary to help. It lists and defines all the key industry terms used on the site. Hopefully, that makes things easier!
Apiary siteA location where the beehives of honey bees are kept.
BeekeeperA person who manages bee hives to produce honey.
Carbon storage capacityThe amount of carbon a forest can store (if undisturbed). Source: Forest Management Plan 2024- Clear-fellingHarvesting all the trees in a given area. (Note: An area clear-felled in one year will usually undergo regeneration treatment the following year.) Source: Forest Management Plan 2024
- Commercial leatherwoodAreas of leatherwood trees greater than half a hectare which can support honey production. Source: Planning Guidelines for Apiary Values
- Community Service Obligation Instructions issued by the Tasmanian Government’s Treasurer to Sustainable Timber Tasmania and other Government Business Enterprises to conduct non-commercial activities and functions for community focused outcomes. Source: Department of Treasury, Tasmania
ConservationThe careful preservation and protection of something, especially a natural resource.- Conservation reserveAn area of land set aside for the protection and conservation of biodiversity and/or environmental values.
- CoupeAn identified area of forest planned for harvesting and regeneration. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024
Drip torchA hand tool used in fire management to intentionally ignite fire by dripping small amounts of flaming fuel onto the ground.- Environmental plantingAreas of leatherwood trees greater than half a hectare which can support honey production. Source: Planning Guidelines for Apiary Values
EucalyptA tree species in the genus Eucalyptus, of which there are 29 native species in Tasmania.- Firearms licenceA licence issued by Game Services Tasmania and Tasmania Police to legally and safely operate own or use a firearm. Source: Game Services Tasmania
Forest Activity AssessmentAn assessment of possible impacts on the environment and other forest users from short-term activities by third parties in public production forests.- Forest CertificationIndependent third party verification that forests are managed in a manner that is environmentally, socially, culturally and commercially sustainable.
- Forest Management SystemA framework for the systematic management of Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s forest management related obligations, objectives and risks. Source: Forest Management Plan
- Forest practicesActivities defined under the Forest Practices Act 1985 including establishing forests growing and harvesting timber clearing trees clearing and converting threatened native vegetation work within forest areas such as on roads and in quarries.
- Forest Practices Act 1985Legislation to make sure all forest practices are conducted in accordance with the Forest Practices System (a management guide) and Forest Practices Code (see definition below). Source: Forest Management Plan 2024
- Forest Practices AuthorityThe independent Tasmanian Government regulator for activities defined as forest practices on public and private land in Tasmania.
- Forest Practices CodeA code under the Forest Practices Act 1985 setting out how forest practices must be conducted for conservation outcomes. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024
Forest Practices PlanA plan for forest operations under Section 18 of the Forest Practices Act 1985. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024- Forestry rightA legal agreement allowing other organisations to manage and harvest (fell) trees on Sustainable Timber Tasmania land.
- Fuel moistureThe water content of a fuel (including soil, leaves, ground litter) expressed as a percent of the dry weight of the fuel. Source: Australian Fire and Emergency Service Authority Council
- Fuel reduction burnA planned fire which involves strategically lighting a low-intensity (not as hot) fire (either from a helicopter or by hand) in a particular location to remove dry fuels and reduce future bushfire risk.
Giant treeA live tree that is 85 m tall (or taller), 4m in diameter and/or 280 cubic metres in volume (or greater). Source: Giant Tree Policy- Government Business EnterpriseA Government Business Enterprise is a Commonwealth entity or company prescribed by the rules in the Government Business Enterprises Act 1995. Source: Australian Department of Finance
- Hardwood plantationA plantation comprised of broad-leaved flowering trees (for example, eucalypts). Typically produces hard timber. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024
- Harvesting boundaryAn identified boundary within which a harvesting operation takes place.
High-intensity burnA fire which burns very hot.- Hunting permitAlso: Permission to Shoot A permit document which can be purchased from Sustainable Timber Tasmania to access identified areas on Permanent Timber Production Zone land across Tasmania for the purpose of recreational hunting.
- Informal reserveInformal reserves managed by Sustainable Timber Tasmania include some of Tasmania’s Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative reserve system, wildlife habitat strips, skyline reserves and other set aside areas designed to protect natural and cultural values on Permanent Timber Production Zone land. Source: Forest Management Plan
Large treeA live eucalypt tree greater than 2.5m diameter at breast height. Source: Sustainable Timber Tasmania Large Tree Instruction
LeatherwoodA species of tree/ shrub (Eucryphia lucida) endemic to the western Tasmanian forests whose flowers are sought for honey production.
Low-intensity burnA fire which burns with less heat and low flame height.- Mature forestOlder native forest, typically with larger trees showing evidence of senescence (see definition below) or deterioration.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)A documented agreement with mutually beneficial outcomes between two or more parties.
Native forestA forest consisting of tree species that are native to Tasmania (and are not plantations). Native forests include mature, regrowth forests and regeneration forests. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024
Notice of Intent (NOI)A letter sent to neighbours near public production forests to notify them of planned forest harvesting (felling) operations.- Old-growth forestEcologically mature native forest with negligible effects from either natural or human-created changes. Natural changes include bushfires. Human-created changes include sustainable forest management. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024
- Operational planningA process to identify and understand tree species and values (wildlife, plants, soil, water, geological features for example) and how they can be managed at the same time as harvesting (felling) timber from a coupe.
- Ordinary dividendAn accounting term which broadly describes regular payments made by a company to shareholders.
- Partial harvestingHarvesting some trees while retaining others in a given area.
Permanent Timber Production Zone landLand managed by Sustainable Timber Tasmania under the Forest Management Act 2013. This classification replaced the term State forest. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024- Permission to shootAlso: Hunting permit A permit document which can be purchased from Sustainable Timber Tasmania to access identified hunting areas on Permanent Timber Production Zone land across Tasmania for the purpose of recreational hunting.
PlantationArea of standing trees (either non-Australian or native species) created by the regular planting, sowing or control of cuttings, seedlings, seed, or coppice. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024- Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)An umbrella organisation which endorses national forest certification systems, including the Australian Responsible Wood certification scheme.
- PruningRemoving lower branches from growing trees (typically in hardwood plantation forests).
Public production forestsPublic production forests which are ecologically suitable for commercial harvesting (felling). (Legally known as Permanent Timber Production Zone land). Source: Forest Management Plan- Pulpwood Is recovered after harvesting sawlogs. Recovery means it can be used in popular products such as paper, cardboard and toilet paper instead of being left on the forest floor.
- Recreational huntingRecreational hunting is permitted for persons who have a firearms licence and recreational hunting licence. Recreational hunting is often for deer, wallaby, possum, wild duck, brown quail, ring necked pheasant, rabbit or hare.
RegenerationGrowing new trees through natural seedfall, sowing seeds or planting seedlings. Regeneration happens after harvesting (felling), fire or other causes have removed all or some of the upper forest canopy (known as the overstorey). Source: Forest Management Plan 2024
Regeneration burnA planned fire which involves strategically lighting a high-intensity fire (either from a helicopter or by hand) in a particular area of harvested (felled) forest for the purpose of regenerating the forest.- Regrowth forestYounger native forest with smaller trees. These forests are created because of either natural or human changes in the landscape.
Relative humidityThe amount of moisture in the air as a percentage of the amount the air can actually hold. Source: Bureau of Meterology
SawlogLogs of suitable size and quality for milling into sawn timber, veneer, poles or sleepers.
SawmillA factory where sawlogs are sawn into boards.- SenescenceThe deterioration of a tree with age, often visible by a dead top/ canopy and/or dead limbs.
- SilvicultureScientific management of forest operations in public production forests to support ecological and sustainable outcomes.
Softwood plantationA plantation comprised of coniferous or cone-bearing trees (for example, pine trees). Typically produces softer timber. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024- Special species timberUnique timber species native to Tasmania, including blackwood, myrtle, celery-top pine, sassafras, Huon pine and silver wattle.
StakeholderAny person, group or organisation that is affected by or interested in the operations of Sustainable Timber Tasmania. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024- Sustainable yieldThe level of commercial timber that can be harvested (felled) from a forest without impacting its long-term productivity. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024
- Tasmanian Government Forestry InitiativesFinancial investments by the Tasmanian Government into forestry, including an investment of $10 million over five year in an On-Island Processing Program to support more domestic processing of wood products. Source: Department of Natural Resources and the Environment Tasmania
- ThinningHarvesting (felling) some trees in an area (typically plantation or native regrowth forest) to both: produce forest products allow smaller trees to grow. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024
Three Year Wood Production PlanA document about planned harvesting (felling). Required under the Forest Practices Act 1985 by businesses intending to harvest more than 100,000 tonnes of forest products a year. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024
Total comprehensive incomeAn accounting term which broadly describes a figure which represents the combined net income and other comprehensive income of a company.- Veneer logA log for producing veneer, by slicing, for panel products. Source: Forest Management Plan 2024
- WoodchipsAre small pieces of wood created by mechanically chipping or shredding logs, branches, or other wood waste from pulpwood and harvesting residues.
