| Wombat State Forest Victoria | |
|---|---|
 Entering the Wombat State Forest, south of Blackwood | |
  Wombat State Forest | |
| Nearest town or city | Daylesford (formerly Wombat) |
| Coordinates | 37°27′S 144°17′E / 37.450°S 144.283°E |
| Established | 1871 |
| Area | 700 km2 (270.3 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Department of Sustainability and Environment |
The Wombat State Forest (locally: Bullarook) is located 50 kilometres (31 mi) west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, between Woodend and Daylesford, at the Great Dividing Range. The forest is approximately 70,000 hectares (170,000 acres) in size and sits upon Ordovician or Cenozoic sediments. The Bullarook Wombat State Forest was proclaimed in 1871.[1]
The only initiative in Australia to introduce community forestry, within the internationally understood context, is in the Wombat State Forest.[2] It is managed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.[3] The management plan covers several areas such as firewood and other products; protection of water supplies; conservation of biodiversity; and conservation of landscape. Other areas of importance include cultural heritage, research, education, tourism, recreation, mineral exploration, mining, and grazing.[4]
On 24 June 2021, the Andrews State Government, following extensive review and recommendation, declerated that the Wombat State Forest would be added to the National Park register, providing it with additional protections. The proposed amalgamation of the nearby Lerderderg State Park and the Wombat State Forest would create the new Wombat-Lerderderg National Park providing it the highest protections against logging whilst maintaining sustainable ecotourism and protections for wildlife and the environment. The process is expected to be completed by 2030. [5]
- ^ Taylor, Angela (1998). A forester's log: the story of John La Gerche and the Ballarat-Creswick State Forest, 1882-1897. Melbourne University Publish. pp. 168–. ISBN 978-0-522-84839-7. Retrieved 29 January 2011.
- ^ McDermott, Constance; Cashore, Benjamin; Kanowski, Peter (1 May 2009). Global Environmental Forest Policies: An International Comparison. Earthscan. pp. 256–. ISBN 978-1-84407-590-4. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ Glover, Darryl (August 2003). "The Wombat Forest Drive". Forests (FS0007). ISSN 1440-2262.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Visitors2010was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "BREAKING NEWS: Milestone for nature protection as Andrews Government announces new national parks". 24 June 2021.