Ecological sensitivity of Australian rainforests to selective logging

Horne and Hickey (1991) raised some matters which may warrant further clarification. Although about 50% of the rainforest between Cooktown and Ingham in north Queensland is reserved as State Forest or Timber Reserve, it should not be assumed that all of this area is managed for timber production. In 1988 most of this area was inscribed on the World Heritage List and further logging was banned. Prior to this, a gross area of about 20% (of total rainforest area or 40% of SF & TR) was selectively logged. Within this gross area, about 4% (of the total or 20% of gross logged area) was contained in buffer strips, etc. and was not actually logged over.