History of harvesting timber, WA

Native timber has been protected in the state of Western Australia for over 130 years. The State government introduced legislation that required those in the fledgling timber industry to obtain a licence in order to legally fell timber.

In the late 1800’s, forested land was generally seen as being wasted land. Trees were considered unnecessary and the land should be cleared and used more productively for farming. Despite there being real evidence that WA forests were being over-harvested and exploited, it was some time before any real action was taken. Indeed it was not until the early 1900’s that forest conservation became a reality and the management of forests was legislated by the State parliament of the day.

It was during the early 1900’s that professional foresters started to have a voice that was heard. Many of them already knew the need for the comprehensive and structured management of WA’s native forests. While we might know all about eco-systems and soil quality in 2015, these were factors that were generally unheard of in 1910! It was only professional foresters who understood the importance of protecting water catchments, ensuring soil conservation and maintaining the valuable and delicate eco-systems that existed in the old-growth native forests. Forests were starting to be seen and understood as much more than just trees.

WA Timber Products is proud to sustainably harvest timber WA-wide only from state-managed forests.