Sustainable Timber Tasmania has changed its giant tree policy to include 4 metre diameter trees

Amid campaigning by environmentalists, Sustainable Timber Tasmania has tweaked the way it classifies giant trees. What the policy change means >>

Visitors to the Huon Valley's Grove of Giants experience what it's like to be up a 60m tree during a recent open day hosted by the Tree Projects

More big trees could be protected from logging in Tasmania under a change to Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s definition of giant trees.

STT will now consider trees of 4 metres in diameter to be classified as giants, down from the previous minimum diameter of 5 metres.

Conservationists the Tree Projects have cautiously welcomed the change, saying it could save thousands of trees, while the bob Brown Foundation has labelled it “spin”.

STT general manager conservation and land management Suzette Weeding said stakeholder feedback was considered during a recent review of the Giant Tree Policy.

“Sustainable Timber Tasmania actively searches for live giant trees in areas of forest planned for harvest. All giant trees identified during these searches of harvest areas are protected and not cut down,” Ms Weeding said.

“As part of a standard review process, Sustainable Timber Tasmania reviewed and updated its Giant Tree Policy in February 2024.

“The policy has broadened its definition of giant trees to now include a diameter threshold. The policy defines giant trees as live trees that are wider than 4m in diameter.”

Centurion in the Huon Valley is Tasmania's tallest tree and is located in public production forest. Picture: Sustainable Timber Tasmania.

Diameter is measured at breast height approximately 1.3m above ground level on uphill side.

Giant tree height and volume definitions remain unchanged in the giant tree policy.

Environment group the Tree Projects has been lobbying STT for years to expand its definition giant trees to include trees of 4 metres in diameter.

Scientists from the Tree Projects travel Tasmania documenting and showcasing big trees under threat from logging, in sites such as the Huon Valley’s Grove of Giants.

Jennifer Sanger of the Tree Projects said there were potentially thousands of 4 metre diameter trees within logging areas which may now be protected.

“While 4 metres in diameter is a vast improvement on what the policy was before that, it would be great if we could see it go a lot further. There are still trees 3.5 metres in diameter for instance that do have a lot of value as well,” Dr Sanger said.

“We still strongly advocate for no native forest logging. When you look at it from a climate perspective, the biggest decision Tasmania can make is to protect native forests.”

The Tree Projects founders Jennifer Sanger and Steve Pearce

Bob Brown Foundation campaign manager Jenny Weber said the policy was “PR spin”.

“Forestry Tasmania is a logging agency that operates under its own rule book. A Giant Tree Policy is an internal rule, nothing is legally binding about this policy. It is not protection for precious trees until they are taken away from Forestry Tasmania’s management. Precious native forests with centuries old trees are currently under the logging control of an agency dedicated to a relentless logging and burning regime,” she said.

“Any Giant Tree altered policy is a distraction from their systematic destruction.”

Originally published as Sustainable Timber Tasmania has changed its giant tree policy to include 4 metre diameter trees