Australian Rainforest Woods describes 141 of the most significant Australian rainforest trees and their wood. The introductory sections draw the reader into an understanding of the botanical, evolutionary, environmental, historical and international significance of this beautiful but finite Australian resource. The main section examines the species and their wood with photographs, botanical descriptions and a summary of the characteristics of the wood. A section on wood identification includes fundamental information on tree growth and wood structure, as well as images of the basic characteristics. With more than 900 colour images, this is the most comprehensive guide ever written on Australian rainforest woods, both for the amateur and the professional wood enthusiast. It is the first time that macrophotographs of the wood have been shown in association with a physical description of wood characteristics, which will aid identification. This technique was developed by Jean-Claude Cerre, France, and his macrophotographs are included in the book.

Australian Forest Woods describes about 130 of the most significant Australian forest trees and their wood. The introductory sections introduce the reader to the uniqueness and usefulness of forest trees. The book examines the forest tree species and their wood with photographs, botanical descriptions and a summary of the characteristics of the wood. A section on wood identification includes fundamental information on tree growth and wood structure. With over 900 images, this is the most comprehensive guide ever written on Australian forest woods, both for the amateur and the professional wood enthusiast. Macrophotographs of the wood are shown in association with a physical description of wood characteristics, which will aid identification. This technique was developed by Jean-Claude Cerre, France, and his macrophotographs are included in the book.

A critical evaluation of the ecological hypotheses proposed to explain the distribution of Australian rainforests.

Australian Forest Woods describes about 130 of the most significant Australian forest trees and their wood. The introductory sections introduce the reader to the uniqueness and usefulness of forest trees. The book examines the forest tree species and their wood with photographs, botanical descriptions and a summary of the characteristics of the wood. A section on wood identification includes fundamental information on tree growth and wood structure. With over 900 images, this is the most comprehensive guide ever written on Australian forest woods, both for the amateur and the professional wood enthusiast. Macrophotographs of the wood are shown in association with a physical description of wood characteristics, which will aid identification. This technique was developed by Jean-Claude Cerre, France, and his macrophotographs are included in the book.

Once the dominant vegetation type of the entire continent, the Australian rainforests have shrunk over many millions of years to their present limited size. However the forests and their history continue to hold valuable lessons for biogeographers and environmentalists. This book gives a general account of the Australian rainforests: their composition and location, and how their present distribution has evolved. The author's aim is to provide a broad, biogeographical framework that will enable new information to be considered in a global perspective. The book concludes with a historical account of human interaction with the rainforest from late Pleistocene times to the 1980s. Biogeographers, botanists, and ecologists at all levels will find this to be a rich source of information and an inspiration for continuing efforts to conserve existing rainforests around the world.

Australia has many different types of forests, and each has its own fascinating animals and plants. Forests are the lungs of our planet, and Australia's forests include the descendants of ancient plant and animal life that is found nowhere else on Earth. The forests have been important for the welfare of Indigenous Australians for thousands of years. Since colonisation, the timbers from forests have contributed to the expansion of settlement and the growth in Australia's economy. Discover the threats to Australia's forests, and find out what can be done to keep them healthy, so that they are still there well into the future.