DEPI Home > Forests > Managing Our Forests > Who manages Forests > State Forests

Land was set aside for timber production purposes in 1869. Initially this was to ensure a steady, cheap supply of timber for the mining industry. This was just the beginning of an awareness of the need to use and protect the forests of Victoria. Agricultural clearing, the 1920s depression, World War I and II soldier settlement and the post-World War II housing boom all impacted upon the forests. Today, 3.4 million hectares of forest is reserved in State forests for timber production, recreation and conservation purposes.

State forests are managed by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) via three main pieces of legislation: Forests Act 1958; Conservation, Forests and Land Act 1987; and Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004. These Acts, and other related regulations, codes of practice and management plans, aim to balance the impact of forest-based activities on all forest values and to create ecological sustainable development.

State forests:

• protect biodiversity, cultural heritage and landscape values
• provide opportunities for public recreation and education
• protect water catchments
• provide timber products on a sustainable basis
• provide non-timber products such as honey, stone and gravel.

DEPI aims to increase awareness and understanding of forest values through community and stakeholder participation in forest management.