Elsewhere in the world, regions take 30 to 50 years to recover from bush fires, but here they are the first stage of new life, with tree fronds forming within a couple of weeks.

BBC: The perfect trip: New South Wales

Pine, the most commonly farmed tree in the U.S., reaches pulp stage in 10 to 14 years, is ready for saw mills near age 20, and by age 25 to 27 is fully mature and usable for framing lumber, plywood and telephone poles.

WSJ: Wealthy Investors Discover Timberland