Deferred Forest Assessment Report
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Foreword
Executive Summary
Outcomes of the DFA
Bibliography
Appendix 1: List of Individuals and Organisations Involved in Public Comment
Appendix 2: Details of Tenure for Study Areas
Appendix 3: Resource and Conservation Assessment Council (RACAC) Projects
Appendix 4: Detailed methods for DFA biodiversity assessment in the Northern,
Southern and Eden study areas
Appendix 5: Timber harvest planning and regulatory procedures
Appendix 6: Vegetation Modelling for the Northern Study Area
Appendix 7: Vegetation Modelling for the Eden Study Area
Appendix 8: Land Unit Reservation Area Tables
Appendix 9: Management of threatened species in New South Wales forests
Foreword
This Deferred Forest Areas Report is substantially based on a report prepared jointly by
Commonwealth and State officials. It is released following consideration by the Commonwealth
Cabinet of its position in relation to Deferred Forest Agreements and Scoping Agreements for
Regional Forest Agreements, to provide factual and analytical background to those decisions.
Because it was necessary for the Commonwealth to make its position known to New South
Wales and the community on these matters, and to allow a reasonable time for New South
Wales to make decisions in response to the Commonwealth position, this report has not been
considered and approved by the New South Wales State Cabinet. Accordingly, any view or
prospective policy, as distinct from existing policy, that is attributed to New South Wales, is
subject to any necessary consideration and approval by New South Wales, and the conclusions
of this report cannot be considered necessarily to reflect the views of New South Wales The
Commonwealth thanks New South Wales for the ready co-operation of its officers in the
preparation of the report, and the considerable resources of time, money, professional
expertise and information that it has made available.
The Report has also benefited immeasurably from the input of those in the community who
responded during the consultation period. This has enabled many inaccuracies in the
preliminary draft to be addressed, and has provided guidance to officials as they have
explained the studies that they undertook.
Finally, the Commonwealth wishes to record its appreciation of the Scientific Advisory Group
appointed by the Chief Scientist, Professor Michael Pitman OBE which provided advice on a
number of issues.
Executive Summary
Deferred Forest Assessment Process
1. The National Forest Policy Statement (NFPS) sets out broad conservation and industry goals
for the management of Australia's forests agreed between the Commonwealth, State and
Territory Governments.
2. Under the NFPS, Governments agreed to a framework and process for carrying out
comprehensive assessments of the economic, social, environmental and heritage values of
forest regions. Once completed, Comprehensive Regional Assessments (CRAs) will provide
governments with the information required to make long-term decisions about forest use and
management. It will be possible to complete a national comprehensive, adequate and
representative (or CAR) reserve system which will safeguard biodiversity, old growth,
wilderness and other natural and cultural values of forests. At the same time it will be possible
to identify the optimal use and management of areas outside the reserve system.
3. The Commonwealth and NSW governments have commenced the processes to enable them
to negotiate an agreement setting out their obligations in relation to each forest region - a
Regional Forest Agreement (RFA). Such an agreement would give industries the certainty
necessary to make the investment decisions which will underpin sustainable industry
development, besides providing a firm basis for the management of conservation through CAR
reserves and complementary off-reserve management.
4. In March 1995, the Commonwealth Government proposed a strategy to provide interim
protection for high conservation value forests in the period pending the finalisation of Regional
Forest Agreements, as well as releasing draft Commonwealth criteria for CAR reserves. Final
Commonwealth criteria were released after consideration of public comments in July 1995.
5. Deferred Forest Assessments (DFAs) evaluated current levels of reservation of old growth,
biodiversity and wilderness values and identified additional forest areas that may be required
for a (CAR) reserve system ('deferred forest areas'). Careful consideration was also given to
the preservation of reserve design options and their impact on National Estate places and
values.
6. The State's proposed logging plan, and associated conservation arrangements were then
examined to see what changes should be made to protect the ability to meet the
Commonwealth CAR reserve criteria. The Commonwealth is seeking the State's formal
agreement to restrict harvesting to those areas until an RFA is in place. Other public forests, in
the deferred forest areas, include more areas than are likely to be required for a future reserve
system. Future reserve options will not be foreclosed, if the State agrees to the
Commonwealth's proposal.
7. A Deferred Forest Agreement will set out the key obligations of the Commonwealth and
NSW Governments for management of and access to deferred forest and wood production
areas. The Agreement will also incorporate a mechanism for review of the designation of the
areas if this is necessary due to exceptional circumstances.
Criteria for determining interim protection
8. A key element of each RFA will be the establishment of a comprehensive, adequate and
representative (CAR) forest reserve system. While national reserve criteria have yet to be
agreed between the States and Commonwealth Governments, the Commonwealth has
developed criteria which were used for the DFA process. Using these criteria, the
Commonwealth aimed to ensure that sufficient suitable areas were set aside as Deferred
Forest Areas to enable the following indicative benchmarks to be met within well designed and
integrated reserves in the ensuing RFA process:
(i) a broad benchmark of 15% of the pre-1750 distribution of each forest community to be
protected within the reserve system;
(ii) retention in reserves of at least 60% of existing old growth, increasing up to 100% (where
practicable) for rare old growth; and
(iii) protection of 90%, or more wherever practicable, of areas of high quality wilderness that
exceeds minimum size thresholds.
This will ensure that it will be possible to develop well designed and integrated CAR reserves
through the ensuing RFA process.
9. Where appropriate the role of 'off-reserve management' in meeting conservation objectives
was recognised and taken into account.
10. The DFA process also sought to maximise the protection of national estate values,
threatened and rare species and the extent to which forest communities were represented
across their geographic range ('representativeness').
11. The DFA process sought to maximise conservation values while minimising the economic
and social costs.
Consultation process
12. The Draft DFA Reports were initially available for a three week period of public
consultation. This period was extended to five weeks to ensure that all interested groups and
individuals could make their submissions and to allow officials to fully consider all concerns
raised during the consultations, prior to the revision of the DFA Reports and the final decision.
Over 500 submissions were received - 217 specifically about NSW issues
13. In addition, Commonwealth and State officers conducted a series of consultations with
industry, union and conservation groups. Detailed maps and information were provided during
the consultation period.
Summary
Regions
14. Four study areas were assessed for the DFA. These study areas were Northern, Central,
Southern and Eden.
15. The total area covered by the assessments is 11.9 million ha. Of this approximately 2.1
million ha of forests are reserved and 2.19 million ha of native forest is managed by State
Forests NSW with some 68% of this estate managed for timber production.
Biodiversity
16. The Commonwealth proposed a number of biodiversity criteria in the reserve criteria
discussion paper. For the purposes of the DFA, the reservation of 15% of the pre-1750
distribution of identified land units (forest types, environmental units and vegetation types)
was used as a benchmark to protect elements of biodiversity. The reservation levels of 198
land units were assessed.
17. Of the 198 land units assessed, 142 met the Commonwealth benchmark in existing
reserves and deferred areas through their inclusion in deferred areas or a combination of
inclusion in deferred areas and protection from harvesting within the interim resource area
using the harvesting planning process.
18. Forty-four land units could not meet the Commonwealth benchmark on public land. These
types have been fully deferred by inclusion in deferred areas or through a combination of
inclusion in deferred areas and protection from harvesting within the interim resource area
using the harvesting planning process.
19. Two land units do not meet the Commonwealth benchmark on public lands and are
available for harvesting in compartments in the interim resource area. The withdrawal of these
types would lead to an unacceptable impact on industry, and the decision to allow some
logging has been made on social and economic grounds.
Old Growth Forests
20. Greater than 93% of the forest classification categories (Unlogged and Lightly Selectively
Logged), used in lieu of broad scale old growth forest mapping, is protected in the DFA. In the
Eden Management Area, greater than 90% of the old growth forest identified in an
Environmental Impact Assessment has been deferred. These reservation levels meet the
Commonwealth benchmark for old growth protection.
21. The procedures outlined in the NSW Harvesting Protocol will provide additional protection
to old growth forest. Old growth patches greater than 25 ha identified in scheduled
compartments during the harvesting planning process will be protected from logging.
Wilderness
22. The wilderness assessment was undertaken using the Commonwealth reserve criteria
benchmark of 90% or more where practicable. This benchmark was achieved in all four
regions, with percentages protected in deferred areas ranging from 96% to 99%. and an
average for the four regions of 97%.
National Estate
23. Those national estate values which are equivalent to CAR values are regionally protected in
each of the four regions assessed. Furthermore, in identifying the areas needed to met
Commonwealth biodiversity, old-growth and wilderness benchmarks, inclusion of the National
Estate was included to a significant extent in the selection of those areas. A number of other
national estate values are protected coincidentally with protection of CAR values and others
may be protected to some degree in the timer harvesting planning process, legislated
protection mechanisms and management prescriptions. However, it is possible that other
national estate values which are as yet unidentified, will be adversely affected by the proposal.
Harvesting may occur in up to 10 National Estate places and the Australian Heritage
Commission has provided statutory advice on the effects of these activities.
Threatened Species
24. Threatened species distributed in forested habitats in New South Wales have management
procedures, practices and recovery plans in place which satisfy the requirements of the
Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act 1992.
Interim Resource Areas/Social and Economic Impacts
25. As a final stage the DFA assessed the conservation criteria against the New South Wales
Schedule of Works for 1995-1996. Overlaps between areas scheduled for harvest and those
potentially required for a CAR reserve system were identified. Potential for rescheduling,
removal or inclusion of the scheduled areas was examined to minimise economic and social
impacts whilst meeting the Commonwealth reserve criteria. This was the basis used to reach
agreement on harvesting areas, and enable interim protection of values, pending finalisation of
the RFA.
Conclusion
26. In NSW sufficient options exist outside those areas identified as available to industry to
meet the requirements of the Commonwealth reserve criteria.
Outcomes of the DFA
11. Integration of Values
11.1 Interim Protection List Compartments
In early 1995, the Commonwealth sought the agreement of States to avoid harvesting of
selected coupes, considered to have some conservation value, on an individual basis. A total of
264 coupes were deferred from harvesting under that process and listed on an Interim
Protection List.
In NSW, 28 compartments on the Commonwealth's Interim Protection List will be available for
harvesting under the DFA arrangements. Coupes were released where the DFA analysis
showed that they were not required to keep CAR reserve options open. The DFA process
involved a regional analysis of the forest estate whereas the Interim Protection List process
was done on a coupe by coupe basis using the then current harvesting schedules. The DFA
process provides a better basis for decisions about areas for interim protection pending
completion of the CRA/RFA process.
12. Maps
Summary maps have been provided in A3 size for each forestry management area and are
attached to the end of this report. (Appendix 10). The scale of the maps is approximately
1:500 000. The maps show existing national parks and reserves, deferred forest on public land
and compartments scheduled as interim resource for 1995-1996. As discussed in Section 5.4,
the maps do not indicate those compartments that have been deferred on a part compartment
basis to meet the 15% reservation benchmark for some land units. The areas required for
deferral in these compartments will be identified and protected through the harvesting
planning process.
13. Structural Adjustment
The purpose of the Forest Industry Structural Adjustment Package (FISAP) is to facilitate
structural change within the native forest industry sector to accomodate changes in the
availability of the production forest resource and assist the development of a long term
ecologically and economically sustainable forest industry.
In this context, the elements of the FISAP are designed to cushion the adverse impacts on
businesses and workers employed in the native forests industry sector which have been
directly adversely affected by the outcomes of the DFAs/RFAs and to provide incentives for
businesses remaining in the industry to increase the level of value added processing.
In response to the potential impacts of the DFAs and RFAs on workers, businesses and
communities, on 3 October 1995 a paper outlining the major elements of a general assistance
package was distributed for comment, prior to developing the detail of a structural adjustment
package. A package has now been developed for the NSW situation and includes rescheduling
assistance, a labour adjustment package, restructuring assistance for native forest industry
businesses, exit assistance for businesses, community counsellors and regional adjustment
assistance.
Rescheduling Assistance for States
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This element is directed at providing assistance to States to facilitate access to native
hardwood forest coupes into which forestry operations are being rescheduled as a direct
result of the DFA and/or RFA processes.
Labour Adjustment for Employees and Self-Employed
For enterprises which intend to remain in the native hardwood forests based industry
sector but which need to retrain staff, assistance may be provided through the DEET
Training and Skills (TASK) program.
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For workers, including the self-employed, displaced from the native hardwood forests
based industry sector as a direct result of the Government's DFA and RFA decisions, a
specific Labour Adjustment Package (LAP) similar to the packages available in the passenger
motor vehicle and textile, clothing and footwear industries will be established.
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The LAP is designed to improve access to jobs outside the native hardwood forests
based industry sector for workers, including the self-employed, retrenched from that
industry sector and may include:
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vocational training generally for 52 weeks, but up to 78 weeks in special
circumstances;
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wage subsidies to employers outside the affected sector;
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relocation assistance to another area to commence a job or undertake formal
training, including travel (fares) assistance, removal expenses and legal fees for the
sale/purchase of a home, but not including compensation for the non-sale of a home; and
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LAP clients who wish to start a new enterprise outside the native hardwood
forests based industry sector may also access the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme on
the basis of individual eligibility.
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Restructuring Assistance
This element is directed at providing assistance for forest industry businesses in the
native hardwood forests based industry sector and their employees who are willing and able
to move to new value adding opportunities within the same sector or elsewhere in the forest
industries.
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Assistance measures that may be considered include:
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the DEET TASK program to reduce the loss of skilled employees;
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Commonwealth business assistance programs; and
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consultancy grants to assist firms with advice on restructuring company
operations and upgrade business management skills.
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Business Exit Assistance
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This element is directed at assisting businesses in the native hardwood forests based
industry sector to either diversify into other industries or to exit from the native hardwood
forests based industry sector.
Community and Social Adjustment
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This element is directed at providing community and social adjustment assistance and
may involve:
- providing free and confidential advice on financial and personal matters from trained
counsellors employed by local community groups (similar to the services provided for
farming communities by the Rural Counselling Service); and
- appointment of Liaison Officers to regions affected by structural adjustment in the
native hardwood forests based industry sector to promote understanding of the
assistance measures available and to facilitate take-up by those persons or businesses
who are eligible.
Regional Adjustment
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Regional adjustment assistance may be provided through existing Commonwealth
programs.
14. Deferred forest Agreement
A Deferred Forest Area Agreement (DFA) will ratify the key obligations of each Government in
respect of the outcomes of the DFA. It will include obligations for management of and access
to deferred areas and will incorporate a mechanism for review of the DFAs designated by the
agreements should this be required by exceptional circumstances.
15. Implementation of the NFPS
15.1 Development of CRAs/RFAs
It is emphasised that the Deferred Forest Assessment process provides an interim
arrangement to ensure that options for a CAR reserve system are not foreclosed by logging
activities whilst the CRA and RFA process is completed for each region.
CRAs will encompass studies covering old growth, wilderness, biodiversity, endangered
species, national estate values, world heritage values, social impacts (including community
needs and values) and economic values of the forested areas. Once complete, the CRA will
allow the development of long-term management arrangements through the negotiation of
RFAs between the Commonwealth and States, taking into account the full range of social and
economic benefits and costs of alternative forest use options.
15.1.1 Scoping Agreements
To progress the CRA/RFA process, Commonwealth and State officials have drafted Scoping
Agreements which will commit Governments to proceed to the negotiation of RFAs and to
establish processes and timetables for their completion. It is expected that RFAs will be
completed over the next one to five years, depending on the availability of data.
The Scoping Agreements specify the studies and processes which will constitute the
environmental, economic and social components of the Comprehensive Regional Assessments.
They also determine a process for the accreditation of each party's data and processes and
provide for agreement on codes of forest practice and other management arrangements for
forests within RFA boundaries.
15.2 Wood and Paper Industries Strategy
The Wood and Paper Industries Strategy will provide a basis for the future development of
both plantation and native forest-based industries. In doing so, it will complement both the
RFA process, which will determine the resource available to the native forest-based industries,
and the structural adjustment package, which will address the needs of those adversely
affected by the constraints which the RFAs will place on access to native forests.
The Strategy complements the DFA/RFA processes by creating further avenues for promoting
ecologically sustainable management of forest resources and increasing the value added to the
resource by domestic processors. In addition, it focuses on expanding and fully utilising
Australia's plantation resources, and improving regional employment and training
opportunities. It is also proposed that a Wood and Paper Industry Council, chaired by the
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology with members from industry, unions and
government, be established to progressively implement and further develop the Strategy.
15.3 Woodchip Export Licences
The DFA provides the basis for the Commonwealth to issue woodchip export licenses for 1996
with the surety that areas made available for harvesting, pending finalisation of RFAs, will not
compromise the ability to develop a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve
system and that other Commonwealth obligations are met.
The decision on export licence approvals rests with the Federal Minister for Resources who will
have regard to the outcomes of the DFA process, advice from the Federal Minister for the
Environment, Sport and Territories and from the Australian Heritage Commission in making a
determination on export licence applications for 1996.
Bibliography
Commonwealth of Australia 1995, Deferred Forest Assessments: proposal, Canberra.
Commonwealth of Australia 1995, National Forest Conservation Reserves: Commonwealth
Proposed Criteria, A Position Paper, Canberra.
Commonwealth of Australia 1995, Regional Forest Agreements: the Commonwealth
position, Canberra.
JANIS 1995, Broad Criteria for the Establishment of Comprehensive, Adequate and
Representative Forest Reserve System in Australia, Joint ANZECC-MCFFA National Forest Policy
Statement Implementation Sub-committee, Canberra.
Kirkpatrick J B & Brown M J 1991, Reservation Analysis of Tasmanian Forests, Forest and
Timber Inquiry Consultancy Series No FTC91/16, Resource Assessment Commission, Canberra.
National Forest Policy Statement, 1992, Canberra.
Thackway R. & Cresswell I D 1995, An Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia: A
Framework for Setting Priorities in the National Reserves System Cooperative Program,
Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra.
Woodgate P W, Peel W D, Ritman K T, Coram J E, Brady A, Rule A J, & Banks J C G 1994, A
Study of the Old Growth Forests of East Gippsland, Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources, Victoria.
Appendix 1: List of Individuals and Organisations Involved in Public Comment
Boral Timbers
Cape to Cape Alliance
Coffs Harbour Hardwoods Trading BRty. Ltd.
Forest-based Communities of North East New South Wales
Gisbourne Timber BRroducts
M. Webb Bros. BRty. Ltd.
Merriman's Local Aboriginal Land Council
Murrah/Mumbulla Residents' Group
BRresident, Northcliffe Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Warren Environment Group
Whian Whian Heritage & Environment Network
Mr BRhilip Achurch, Western Australia Small Business & Enterprise Assoc. Inc.
Mr R.J. Adams, Bunnings Forest BRroducts BRty. Ltd.
Mr John Adamson, Bombala & District Development Association
Ms Julie Alderson, private
Mr Brad Alfred, Davies Knox Chartered Accountants
Mr Steve Allen, The Wilderness Society - Illawarra Branch
Mr BReter Allen, private
Mr BRaul Amar, Northern Rivers Regional Economic Development Organisation Inc.
Mr Tim Anderson, private
Ms Anita BRike, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Mr T. Armstong, private
Ms Rachel Armstrong, private
Mr BRaul Arnold, Circular Head Council
B. Arnott, private
Ms BRenelope Atkinson, private
Mr Robert Atkinson, private
Mr Doug Aumann, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Ms Vanessa Badham, private
Mr Roger Bailey, New South Wales Farmers' Association
Ms Karen Bailey-Smith, Richmond Environmental Network
Dr Robert Bain, National Association of Forest Industries Ltd.
Messrs Bain, Dorber and Ms Loydell, New South Wales Forest BRroducts Association - National
Association of Forest Industries - Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Mayor J.H. Baldwin, Bombala Council
Mr Michael Baluit, private
Mr Barclay, private
Mr Allan Barden, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Mrs Irene Barnard, private
Mr Fred Benecke, New South Wales Apiarists' Association Inc.
Ms Susan Bennett, Casino Timber
Mr Julius Bertock, private
J. Bevan, private
Mr BReter Beverland, Australian Timber & Trusses BRty. Ltd.
Mr BRaul Biggs, Institute of Foresters of Australia Inc. - Western Australia Division
Mr David J. Bills, North Limited
Mr T. Bird, Forests & Forest Industry Council of Tasmania
Ms Joan Birkett, private
D. Blackwood, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Mr Gary Blackwood, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
M.A. Blackwood, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Ms Leonie Blain, Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition Inc.
Ms Leonie Blain, private
Mr Mike Blake, National BRarty of Australia - New South Wales Branch
Ms Tara Bonham, private
Ms Jessica Bowden, Clarence Environment Centre
Mr Ben Bowman, private
Ms Robyn Brake, private
Mr Linton Briggs, The Federal Council of Australian Apiarists' Association
Mr Donald Britton, Britton Bros. BRty. Ltd.
Ms April Bromfield, Ellendale Environmental Landcare Group
Mr Shaun Bromfield, private
Mr Gene L. Browder, Worsley Alumina BRty. Ltd.
Ms Jane's Brown, private
Ms Karen Brown, Tasmanian Aboriginal Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
Mr Ron Brown, private
Mr Floyd Browne, private
Mr Bruce, private
Dr Stehan Bruggisser, private
Ms Margaret Bruggisser - Atkin, private
Mr John Brumby, Leader of the Opposition - Victoria
Ms Linsey Buck, private
Ms Maggie Burke, private
Mr Buster Burton, private
Mr Tim Cadman, Native Forest Network
Mr Julian Calver, Calver, de Witt & Taylor
Dr Michael Calver, Biological Sciences - Murdoch University
Ms Edna Cameron, private
Ms Leonie Cameron, private
Mr David Cater, National BRarks Association of NSW Inc. - Hunter Branch
Mr Robert Caufreur, private
Mr Ian Chalk, Forests & Forest Industry Council of Tasmania
Mr Julian Chapple, private
Mr Barry Chipman, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Ms Megan Chisholm, private
Ms Bianca Christoff, private
Mr Simon Clark, South East Forests Conservation Council
Mr Don Clingan, private
Ms Shelley Cohn, Bendigo & District Environment Council
Dennis Cole & Faye BRollack, private
Mr Geoff Coles, BRarks & Wildlife Service - Freycinet District
C. Colli, C.O.BR Transport
C. Colli, Colli & Sons Timber & Hardware
Mr Harry Connors, Harry Connors BRty. Ltd.
Mr Roger Cook, private
Mr Steve Cook, The Big Scrub Environment Centre Inc.
Mr Bob Cooper, The Wilderness Society - Illawarra Branch
Dr Stephen Cork, CSIRO - Division of Wildlife & Ecology
Dr Alec Costin, private
Mr Cam Cox, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Mr BReter Coxhead, Launceston Environment Centre Inc.
Ms Ann Coyle, private
Ms Ruth Crago, private
A. Crawford, private
J. Crawford, private
Mr C. Crisp, private
J.W. Crooke, Queensland Sawmills BRty. Ltd.
Mr Simon Cubit, Tasmanian Traditional & Recreational Land Users Federation Inc.
Mr Alan Cummine, Australian Forest Growers
Mr Ray Curo, private
Ms Mary Cusack, Spencer Gulf Environmental Alliance Inc.
Mr Michael Daley, private
Mr Tim Daly, The Australian Workers' Union
Ms Mary Dalyell, private
Mr Craig Darlington, Conservation Council of the South East Region & Canberra
Mr John Davenport, private
Mr Richard Davis, private
Mrs Bev de Rusett, private
Ms Rose Degenhard, private
Ms Marilyn Dellapina, private
A. Delliou, Forest Rescue
Mr Tom Dennis, Northern Rivers Regional Development Board Inc.
Mr Rex Direen, Southern Forests Community Group
Mayor Cyril Dixon, Waratah-Wynyard Council
Mr Richard Donaghey, private
Ms Donna Green, private
Cr D.BR. Donnelly, Glen Innes Municipal Council
Ms Carran Doolan, private
Mr Col Dorber, Australian Logging Council Limited
Mr Col Dorber, NSW Forest BRroducts Association Ltd.
Mr Royce Dorney, Newell's Creek Sawmilling Co. BRty. Ltd.
Mr Don Driscoll, University of Western Australia - Department of Zoology
Mr John Duggan, Clarence Valley Local Government Committee
Mr John Duggan, Ulmarra Shire Council
Mr Rodger Dunn, private
Mrs BRat Durman, National BRarks Association - Macarthur Branch
B.D. Earl, Tenterfield Shire Council
Mr Steve Eckersley, Gough & Gilmour
Mr BReter Elias, private
Ms Susan Elks, Bongil Bongil National BRark Support Group
Mr BR.J.D. Ellery, Chamber of Mines and Energy of Western Australia Inc.
Ms Christine Elliott, private
Mr Max S. Elliott, private
Mr Mark Evans, private
T.S.R. & BR.J. Evans, private
Mr BRatrick Eyre, private
Mr Len Ferguson, Coastline Timbers BRty. Ltd.
Mr BReter Fisher, Boral Timber Division
Ms Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, private
Mr Jim Flaherty & Ms Jo Kelly, private
Mr Errol Fletcher, Errol Fletcher Engineering
Ms Mary Forbes, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd. - Gloucester Branch
Mr Norm Forbes, Queensland Timber Board
Mr Allan Ford, Ford Timbers
Mr Nolan Alder Fox, private
Mr T. Frith, Bridgetown Greenbushes Friends of the Forest
Ms Rhonda Froggatt, private
Mr James Fuller, private
Ms Lisa Gaul, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Mr John Gibson, private
G. & L. Gill, North East Forest Alliance
Mr Alex Gilmore, Southern Cross University
Mr Cirillo Giovanetti, Giovanetti Transport BRty. Ltd.
Mr James Gooding, private
Mr Clive Gordes, private
L.G. Gordon, L.G. Gordon BRty. Ltd.
S. Gorrell, private
Mr Alan Gray, Wombat Forest Society
Ms Liz Gray, Koala Koalition
Mr Mark Greenhill, Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union - New South Wales Branch
Mr Alan Greensill, New South Wales Logging Association
Mr Alan Greensill, private
Mr Alan Greensill, Tenterfield Logging BRty. Ltd.
Mr Denis Greensill, Greensill Bros BRty. Ltd.
Mr Barrie Griffiths, North East Forest Alliance - Hunter Region
Dr Stephen Gulliford, Beechworth Environment Group
L.G. Gunson, private
Guy, private
A. Guyer, private
Ken & Kay Gwynne, private
Mr Robert Hadler, National Farmers Federation
Hainsworth & Rattray, private
Ms Emma Hamilton, private
Graeme & Narelle Hammond, Hammond Logging BRty. Ltd.
Mr Colin Handley, private
Mr Henry Handley, private
Ms Sarah Handley, private
Mr Geoff Hannon & Ms Anne Lee, private
Mr Frank Harrison, Hastings Municipal Council
Mr Reg Hartley, private
Ms Sarah Harvey, Lower Hunter Environment Group
Mr Warren Hastings, private
Ms Susan Haworth, private
Mr Greg Heberle, private
Mr Vin Heffernan, Vin Heffernan BRty. Ltd.
Mr John Hellmers, Friends of Goonengerry Sanctuary
Mr BRaul Herbert, BRaul Herbert Timbers BRty. Ltd.
Mr John Hermans, private
Mr BRetrus Heyligers, private
Mr Simon Hickson, private
Ms Sue Higginson, private
Mr Michael Hill, Byanda Enterprises BRty. Ltd.
Mr Nicholls Hobbs, private
Mr Marshall Hodgekiss, National BRarks Association - Three Valleys Branch
Mallika Hodges, private
Holy Goat Ranch Inc., private
G. Hooper, L.T. Doland BRty. Ltd.
Mr BReter Horden, Kalang Landcare
Ms Carmen Hordern, private
Mr BRierre Horwitz, Edith Cowan University - Department of Environmental Management
Ms Antoinette Hughes, private
Ms BRatricia Hughes, private
Mr Robert M. Humphreys, Hallmark Oaks BRty. Ltd.
Ms Amanda Hunt, private
Ms Deborah Hunter, Wild Cave Tours
Mr G. Norman, Huon Victorian Association of Forest Industries
J.D. Hurley, Brown & Hurley
Ms Joan Jenkins, Greens
Ms Janelle Johnston, Drake Environment BRrotection Group
Ms Kirsty Jones, private
Ms Lusa Jones, private
M.J. Jones, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Mr Michael Jones, The National BRarks Association - Three Valleys Branch
Mr BRaul M. Jones, private
Mr Toby Jones, private
Mr Theo Jongen, private
Ms Sue Kalab, private
Mr David Kanaley, Caldera-Nightcap Ecoologically Sustainable Tourism Inc.
Mr Alastair Kay, Ulitarra Conservation Society
Ms Tania Keller, private
D.R. Kelly, Department of Resources Development
Mr Ian Kennedy, private
Mr Michael King, private
Mr Cam Kneen, Forest Industries Federation - Western Australia
Mr Ken Langley, Langley's Timber Sales BRty. Ltd.
Mr Ken Langley, Northern Rivers Sawmillers' Co-operative
Mr Keith Latham, private
Mr Geoff Law, The Wilderness Society
L. Lewis, private
Mr Geoffrey & Ms Lois Loftus-Hills, private
Mr C.R.A. Long, private
Ms Moana Love, private
Mr David Lovegrove, private
Ms Frances Lowe, private
Mr BReter Ludowici, Friends of Goonengerry Sanctuary
Mr Michael Lynch, Tasmanian Conservation Trust Inc.
Mr Sam MacFarlane, private
J. Macgregor-Skinner, private
Mr Alec Marr, National Forests Campaign Working Group
Ms Helen Martin, East Gippsland Shire Council
C.B. Mason, Fry's Creek Sawmilling Company
Mr John G. Matthews, W Tree Walks
Mr Ronald & Ms Valerie Maxwell, Friends of Mallacoota Incorporated
M.E. McDougall, Midway Wood BRroducts BRty. Ltd.
Mr Gavan McFadzean, Friends of the Earth - Fitzroy
Ms BRaula McKay, private
S.A. McKinnell, McKinnell's BRty. Ltd.
Ms Carole McKinney, Forest Discovery Tours
N.S. McLeod, Gloucester Shire Council
Mr Andrew McMaster, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd. - Circular Head Branch
Ms Ainslie McMillan, private
Mr K.A. Mendoza, private
Mr James Meredith, Urbenville BRrogress Association
Ms Isabel Merisik, private
Ms Gillian Mews, private
Mr Fritz Michelin, South East Timber Association Inc.
Ms Katherine Miles, private
Mr David Milledge, Wildlife Ecologist
Mr Ken Miller, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
R. & L. Minchin, private
Taurie Mitchell, private
A. Mitchell, private
Ms Heather Mitchell, BRublic Land Council of Victoria
Ms Catherine Moore, Braidwood Greens
Ms Kylie Moore, private
J.A. Morgan, private
Ms Marilyn Morgan, Manjimup Aboriginal Corporation
BR. Morgan, National BRarks Association of NSW Inc. - Clarence Valley Branch
R. Morgan, private
Mr Michael Moriarty, private
Associate BRrofessor Robert G.B. Morrison, private
Dr J.G. Mosley, BReak Environmental Enterprises & Conservation Centre of Australia
Mr Keith Muir, Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd.
Ms Trudi Mullett, private
Mr BReter Murphy, BRreston Environment Centre
J. Murray, South Coast Friends of the Forest
Mr Ullan Murray, private
Mr Glenn Nagy, private
Mr Michael Neville, private
Mr R.L. Newman, R.L. Newman & BRartners - For/Env.& For.BRroducts Consultants
Ms Cassie Newnes, private
Dr Raymond Nias, World Wide Fund for Nature Australia
Mr Geoff North, private
Dr I. North, private
J. North, private
Ms Melissa North, private
L.J. Notaras, J. Notaras & Sons BRty. Ltd.
S.J. Notaras, J. Notaras & Sons BRty. Ltd.
Mr R. O'Connor, Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association
Mr Michael O'Grady, private
Mr S. O'Loughlin, Slater Contracting (Eden) BRty. Ltd.
Mr BReter Olson, private
Ms Lyn Orrego, North East Forest Alliance
Ms Doreen Owens, private
Mr Winston J. Oxenbridge, private
Ms Margaret BRarkin, private
Ms Linda BRarlane, Environment Victoria Inc.
Ms Shirley BRarnaby, private
Ms Sita BRarson, North East Forest Alliance
Mr BRhil E. BRaxman, private
Ms Bridgid BRearse, private
Mr Jonathon BRedley, private
Mr Stan BRelczynski, private
E.D. BRereira, A.S. Nicholas & Sons BRty. Limited
Mr BReter Simons, private
Ms BRaula BReters, private
G. BRhillips, private
Mr Martyn BRhillips, The Coastwatchers Association Inc.
K.T. BRidcock, Big River Timbers BRty. Ltd.
R.D. BRigg, Nymboida Shire Council
Mr Trevor BRike, Bellingen Environment Centre
Mr Angus BRollock, Australian BRaper Limited
Mr Tom BRort, Nambucca Shire Council
Mr Des BRower, private
Mr BRrahara, private
Ms Kathryn BRrice, private
Ms Angela BRritchard, private
Mr Dailan BRugh, North East Forest Alliance
S.J. Quain, private
Mr Hurford, R.J. Hurford's Building Supplies BRty. Ltd.
Mr Brian Rabbitt, Kempsey Timbers BRty. Ltd.
Mr Ray Ralph, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Mr Iain Rankin, private
Mr Harry Recher, National Biodiversity Council - University of New England
Ms Jill Redwood, Concerned Residents of East Gippsland
Ms Anne Reeves, National BRarks Association of NSW Inc.
Mr Toby Reid, private
Mr John Reynolds, Victorian Chamber of Mines Inc.
Mr Andrew Ricketts, Reedy Marsh Forest Conservation Group
Ms Alison Roberts, private
Ms BRatricia Robertson, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Mr BReter Robertson, Conservation Council of Western Australia Inc.
Mr T. Rock, Culoul Sawmill
Ms Kitty Rodwell, private
Mr BReter Rodwell, Rodwell Logging Co. BRty. Ltd.
Mr Alastair Ross, Rubicon Coast & Landcare Inc.
Mr Arnold Rowlands, Tasmanian Conservation Trust
W.S. Rudd, Midway Sawmill
A.T. Russell, "Walks and Talks"
Ms Susie Russell, North East Forest Alliance
Mr David Ryan, New South Wales Division of The Institute of Foresters
Mr Leon Ryan, private
Mr BRaul Ryan, Bird Observers Club of Australia
Mr Ian Satchwell, Minerals Council of Australia
Ms Kathryn Scholes, private
A.W. & D.J. Seccombe, private
Mr R.B. Semmens, private
Ms Lyn Serventy, Leeuwin Conservation Group Inc.
Mr Shahid, private
K.BR. Sheridan, New South Wales Agriculture
Mr Charles Sherwin, Victorian National BRarks Association Inc.
Ms Trishala Shub, Mt. Roland Landcare Group Inc.
Mr BReter Simon, private
Mr Richard Sims, Upper Hunter Timbers BRty. Ltd.
Mr Graham Sinden, private
Mr Michael Slaggett, private
Mr Graham Slessar, Alcoa of Australia Limited
Mr Linden L. Sly, Sly Bros. BRty. Ltd.
Mr Colin G. Smith, private
Ms Donna Smith, private
Ms Melissa Smith, private
N.J.C. Smith, Wildlife BRreservation Society of Queensland - Capricorn Branch
Mr Ray Smith, The Council of the City of Grafton
Mr Richard Smith, private
BRhyl & Terry Smithurst, private
Mr J.C. Sparkes, Harris-Daishowa (Australia) BRty. Ltd.
Mr BReter Stace, New South Wales Agriculture
Mr Rodney Stagg, Meander Resource Management Group
Mr Robert M. Stephen, private
D.J. Stevens, private
Mr Allan Stewart, Tablelands Sawmills BRty. Ltd.
O. & A. Stokes Hughes, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Mr Stuart Sutton, private
Mr Alex Syme, Western Australian Forest Alliance
Clarice Tainsh, private
Mr John Taylor, Friends of Jane Inc.
Ms Sasha Taylor, private
Mr Stephen Taylor, private
J. Tedder, North Coast Environment Council
Mr Robin Tennant Wood, Cooma Greens
J.R. Thomas, private
W.J.T. & R.L. Thomas, private
Mr Daryl Thompson, Clarence Environment Centre
Mr Tim Thorncraft, North East Forest Alliance
Lionel E.H. & M.M. Timms, private
B.K. Tomalin, Forest BRrotection Society - Nundle Branch
Mr Glynne Tosh, private
Mr Glyyne Tosh, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Ms Trish Townsend, Forest BRrotection Society - Western Australia Branch
Mr Barry Traill, Environment Victoria Inc.
Mr Malcolm Trudgen, B.Sc. Consultant Botanist
Mr John Venturoni, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Ms Monika Wagner, private
Mr Clive Waite, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Mr Jim Walker, private
Mr Sid Walker, Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales
Ms Joy Wallace, The Summerland Greens
BRrofessor Rob Wallis, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria
Mr BReter Warrilow, private
Ms Jane Wasley, private
Mr Shane Watkins, private
Ms Edith Watters, private
D.G. Wauchope, Towamba BRrogress Association
R.J. Waugh, Thora Sawmilling BRty. Ltd.
Cr John Wearne, Shires Association of New South Wales
M. Wehr, Severn Shire Council
Mr BRatrick Weir, The BIG Forest Rally
Ms Yoona Welling, private
Mr Brian Wheeler, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd.
Mr Brett White, private
Mr Michael Whitelaw, private
Mr David Whitrow, Tasmanian Minerals Council Limited
Mr Rod Whittle, Augusta-Margaret River Friends of the Forest
Mr Geoff Wilkinson, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd - Southern Tasmanian Branch
Mr Jim Williamson, private
Mr Ishtar Wilson, private
Ms Wendy Wilton, Wilton Logging BRty. Ltd.
Mr John R. Winter, BRrospectors and Miners Association of Victoria Inc.
C. Winterlun, private
Mr Cory Woods, private
Mr Ken Woodward, private
Mr BReter Wright, Australian Conservation Foundation
Mrs Sandra Yates, Forest BRrotection Society Ltd. - Yarloop Branch
Mr T.J. Yates, Yates Bros (Stratford) BRty. Ltd.
Mrs Marnie Yeates, private
Mr Brian Young, private
Mr Dimitri Young, private
Appendix 2: Details of Tenure for Study Areas
Tenure boundaries for the Northern, Southern and Eden study areas were available as
Geographic Information System data layers. The Central study area tenure was evaluated
manually using maps. The following data layers were employed:
National Parks and Nature Reserves
Boundaries of existing national parks and nature reserves have been digitised by NPWS from
1:25 000 maps.
State Forests NSW
State forest boundaries have been digitised by SFNSW, generally from 1:25,000 scale maps.
Digitised boundaries for classes defined under the Forest Harvesting History and Management
Classification System, and as depicted on SFNSW Forest Conservation Strategy maps, were
also available. These classes are:
1. Unlogged Forest
2. Light Selectively Logged Forest
3A. Regrowth Forests (Merchantable)
3B. Regrowth Forests (Pre Merchantable)
4. Alternative Coupe Logging - Eden Management Area
5. Plantation Forests
6. Reserves and Preserves
7. Community Forests
8. Exotic Species Plantations
Vacant and Reserved Crown Land
In the Northern study area, Vacant and Reserved Crown Land was digitised from maps at
various scales provided by the (then) NSW Department of Conservation and Land
Management. In the South Coast and Eden Study Areas, Vacant and Reserved Crown Land was
digitised from 1:125 000 State Forests Project Maps.
Appendix 3: Resource and Conservation Assessment Council (RACAC) Projects
No
Project Title
Lead Agency
1
Production of Digital Terrain Maps
Dept of Land and Water
Conservation
2
Digitising of identified Wilderness Boundaries
National Parks and Wildlife
Service
3
Digitising of National Parks and Nature Reserves
National Parks and Wildlife
Service
4
Digitising of State Forest Boundaries and Forest Types
State Forests NSW
5
Old Growth Mapping Trial
National Parks and Wildlife
Service
6
SPOT Satellite Data
RACAC
7
API Mapping for Old Growth Forests on Public Lands in
eastern NSW
National Parks and Wildlife
Service
8
Data for the Assessment of Conservation Value- Northern
Area
National Parks and Wildlife
Service
9
Estimating the Irreplaceability of Forest Areas
National Parks and Wildlife
Service
10 Collection of Disturbance Data Over State Forest
State Forests NSW
11 Historic Record of Vegetation in NSW
Forest Products Association
12
Digitising State Forest Boundaries and Forest TypesWestern NSW
State Forests NSW
13
API Forest Types- Gap Areas, North, central, South and
Western Regions
State Forests NSW
14
Review Documents for Economic Analysis of the NSW
Forestry and Forest products Industry
RACAC
15 Social Impacts of Forest Assessments
RACAC
16 Wood Resource Study- Spatial Analysis
RACAC / State Forests NSW
Appendix 4: Detailed methods for DFA biodiversity assessment in the Northern,
Southern and Eden study areas
GIS analyses were conducted to assess the adequacy of the existing system of protected areas
for each study area based on the DFA biodiversity criterion. The pre-1750 area of forest types
(Northern), vegetation types (Eden), and environmental units (Southern) were estimated
using the techniques described in Section 5 of the report. For the first phase of the analysis,
the area of each type/unit was calculated assuming that, for the term of the DFA, certain
classes of land would not be logged.
For each type/ unit, the total area protected on these lands was calculated and expressed as a
percentage of the total area of the unit. For those type/units with less than 15% of their total
area protected, the additional area required to achieve 15% protection was calculated. It was
then assumed that this additional area would need to be obtained from SFNSW structure
categories 3A and 3B (regrowth), the EIS Least Sensitive Area (Eden only), Vacant, Reserved
and Leasehold Crown Land. The additional area required for each unit was therefore expressed
as a percentage of the area of that unit type available within these classes of land. The
percentage reservation requirements of forest types were then mapped throughout areas of
SFNSW structure categories 3A and 3B, the Eden Least Sensitive Area in the following classes:
0 % of available area required
1 - 19 % of available required
20 - 39 % of available area required
40 - 59 % of available area required
60 - 79 % of available area required
80 - 99 % of available area required
100 % of available area required
Vacant, Reserved and Leasehold Crown Land were also assumed to be protected where the
Crown exercises timber rights on these tenures.
SFNSW then used this information, as a map indicating reservation 'area required', to assist in
selecting compartments for the draft Schedule of Works.
Compartments scheduled for logging within State Forests in 1995/96 were then incorporated
into the analysis. In some cases this included compartments classified as SFNSW structure
categories 2 (Lightly Selectively Logged) and 7 (Community forests). It was assumed that any
compartments not listed on this schedule would not be logged in 1995/96 and these areas
were therefore added to the list of protected areas given above.
Conversely, small areas of Lightly Selectively Logged and Community forest required for
logging were removed from the listed protected areas. The total area now protected was
recalculated for each unit . For those types/units still with less than 15% protection, the
additional area required was calculated and expressed as a percentage of the area of that
forest type available within the compartments scheduled for logging. The percentage
reservation requirements of types/units were then mapped throughout the scheduled
compartments using the classes defined above.
Maps indicating percentage reservation requirements to meet the 15% of types/ units were
reviewed to identify additional compartments for deferral utilising the following process:
1. Compartments wholly comprising types/units requiring >100% reservation to meet
15% of types/units were deferred.
2. Compartments partly comprising types/units requiring >100% were assessed according
to:
i.
environmental variation (geographical distribution) of the type/unit and whether
the compartment was within an area with no, or low, current reservation;
ii.
iii.
iv.
successional stages (logging history) of the forest type and whether the
compartment had been recently logged;
reserve design, such as if the compartment was adjacent to existing reserves,
Unlogged/lightly logged forest or community forest and would be more
appropriate for reservation, and
reservation requirements of the compartment when reservation requirements
were analysed according to existing reserves, Unlogged, lightly logged and
community forests. This shows the relative importance of both scheduled and
unscheduled compartments for achieving a reserve system given the current
levels of protection. When compartments scheduled for logging were integral.
Appendix 5: Timber harvest planning and regulatory procedures
State Forests uses the following planning and regulatory procedures to ensure that timber
harvesting operations in native forests meet with forest management and environmental
protection goals and the Government's conservation policies. The harvest planning process is
supported by a framework of other procedures which are addressed by forest management
plans, codes of practice and forest management zoning policies authorised under the Forestry
Act.
There are four steps:




A pre-harvest survey for the selection of an area of forest for timber harvesting;
Preparation of a harvesting plan for the area which is approved by SFNSW and external
regulatory authorities;
Control of the timber harvesting operation according to the plan through tree marking,
and supervision of licensed logging crews working in the area, by a supervising forest officer
(SFO);
Supervision and follow up reporting on the successful completion of harvesting
operations, including site rehabilitation and regeneration of the next forest crop.
These steps are depicted in the flow chart attached and described in the following.
Pre-Logging Survey
Before any harvesting operation starts in a particular State forest area, usually called a
compartment, State Forests carries out a number of surveys. These surveys include a review
of data collected for the area and are used, in the first instance, to investigate whether the
area is available for harvesting or not. Forest areas that cannot be harvested include:






rainforest;
those areas which are included for consideration as wilderness;
areas of potential old growth forest held under moratorium from harvesting pending
assessment by the Resources and Conservation Assessment Council, a body set up by the
state government. These areas are defined by applying the Harvesting Protocol prepared
jointly by State Forests and the National Parks and Wildlife Service;
areas where protected and endangered faunal values make the issue of licences by the
National Parks and Wildlife Service unlikely;
areas where significant cultural, heritage and other sensitive values may be affected
and cannot be protected during logging;
areas which are too steep for logging, have broken topography and no prospect of
physical access, or have no commercial timber present.
Surveys on the harvestable area are carried out including:






assessment of forest types, forest stand condition and volumes of timber products likely
to be obtained from the proposed logging operation;
animal species in the area to help identify on-site habitat values;
slope and soil type data to determine the potential for soil erosion and water
pollution;
important historical and other sensitive areas which will require special measures to
protect them during the logging operation.
consideration of forest zoning and exclusion areas under State forests preferred
management priority forest zoning system;
Confirmation of existing data bases.
Harvesting Plan Preparation and Approval
A harvesting plan is prepared for each compartment proposed for harvesting.
The harvesting plan draws together information gathered from the pre-harvesting surveys and
set out the site-specific conditions to apply for the proposed timber harvesting operations.
During this preparation, the plan has to include consideration of the regulatory constraints that
may apply to the area.
For all timber harvesting operations, the plan must specify:






faunal protection conditions for protected and endangered animal species as
determined by any Licence issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) under
Section 120 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act (NPW Act);
soil and water protection conditions as determined by a licence issued by the NSW
Environment Protection Authority under Section 17 of the Pollution Control Act;
conditions which maintain compliance with the determination of an Environmental
Impact Statement prepared in accordance with Part V of the Environmental Planning and
Assessment Act (EP&A Act).
as required, the protection of aboriginal sites during logging operations, as negotiated
with Local Aboriginal Land Councils and the NPWS under Section 90 of the NPW Act;
a site-specific Environmental Impact Assessment prepared in compliance with Clause 82
of the EP&A regulation, and which addresses fauna impacts;
results following the implementation of the Harvesting Protocol.
The harvesting plan is reviewed and approved, as amended, for licensing purposes by
regulatory bodies. Some harvesting plans are also reviewed and approved by the Regulatory
and Public Information Committee (RaPIC). This committee is constituted under the provisions
of the Timber Industry (Interim Protection) Act (TI(IP)Act).
Therefore, before harvesting operations start, the harvesting plan must be approved by:




District Forester (for State Forests);
National Parks and Wildlife Service;
Environment Protection Authority (where a Pollution control Licence is held by State
Forests);
RaPIC (where required).
The approved harvesting plan is the document which indicates to State Forests supervising
staff, the logging contractor and employees, other government agencies and the public exactly
how the forest area is going to be logged.
Control of Timber Harvesting Operations
Before harvesting commences, a State Forests supervising forest officer (SFO) marks the trees
and features of the harvest area in accordance with the conditions set out in the approved
harvesting plan. For example, habitat trees are clearly marked so they are not felled, filter
strips and other drainage feature protection measures are also clearly marked, and potential
old growth resulting from the Harvesting Protocol is clearly marked to exclude harvesting.
The harvesting operation moves systematically across the area so that log extraction track
drainage and other protective measures can be put in place progressively. The operation is
supervised continually by the SFO to ensure that all plan requirements are observed.
Supervision and Reporting
The SFO and supervising marketing foresters are obliged to report and record the progress of
operations to ensure:




timely advice to NPWS of sightings of endangered species and appropriate action as laid
down in the plan to comply with the S120 NPW Act licence;
timely (fortnightly) reporting of the progress of logging and rehabilitation and
restoration works on tracks and roads as required by the Pollution Control Licence;
early notice of breaches of licence and /or plan conditions;
adequate control of timber removals and accounting of timber delivery records;
State Forests Code of Logging Practice and the harvesting plan require that at the completion
of a logging operation, the logging contractor must leave the logged forest area in a stable
condition suitable for forest regeneration.
Once the area has been inspected by the SFO and all the adequate measures to achieve this
have been met, a Clearance Certificate is issued to the contractor.
Records of logging operations are held for three years for both internal and external regulatory
agency audit purposes. In addition, a post harvesting inventory is carried out to assess
regeneration.
Appendix 6: Vegetation Modelling for the Northen Study Area
The pre-1750 distribution of forest types in north-east NSW has been estimated by NPWS
using a combination of existing forest type mapping and predictive modelling of forest types
across unmapped forests and cleared land. The work has been partly funded by the
Commonwealth Department of Environment, Sport and Territories (DEST) and has been
registered as a project with the NSW Resource and Conservation Assessment Council
(RACAC).
Data capture, modelling and areal calculation were performed using a Geographic Information
System database covering the region at a 4 ha grid cell resolution.
All available 1:25 000 forest type maps depicting forest types as defined in SFNSW Research
Note 17, were either obtained from SFNSW in digital form (as digitised polygons) or were
digitised by NPWS (as digitised 4 ha grid cells). Additional 1:25 000 (or similar scale) mapping
based on vegetation classes other than those of SFNSW Research Note 17 (eg. the ‘Royal-Milli’
mapping) were incorporated into the analysis wherever a satisfactory conversion to Research
Note 17 forest types could be achieved. Conversion tables were developed in consultation with
expert botanists and ecologists within NPWS and SFNSW. The total area for which forest type
mapping is now held in digital form is approximately 1400 000 ha.
The distribution of forest types across unmapped areas of forest and cleared land (prior to
clearing) was estimated by predictive modelling. Data extracted from existing forest type
mapping were used to derive models relating to the distribution of forest types to physical
environmental variables. These models were then used to extrapolate forest type distribution
across unmapped areas.
The forest type classification, as described in Research Note 17, is hierarchical with forest
‘types’ grouped into ‘leagues’ and leagues grouped into ‘groups’. An individual forest type can
be subdivided into ‘sub-types’, eg. type 163 split into 163a and 163b. The classification also
allows the mapping of ‘mixed types’ containing elements of two or more types or sub-types,
eg. 62/65. The predictive modelling work was conducted at the level of individual forest type.
Sub-types were grouped into their parent types. Mixed types were split equally between their
constituent types. This was achieved by assuming that, if a grid cell contained a mixed type,
the proportion of the cell covered by each of the forest types constituting this mixed type was
equal. For example, in a cell coded as 62/65 it was assumed that half the cell was 62 and the
other half 65. In a cell coded as 46/163/167/168 it was assumed that each of these four forest
types covered a quarter of the cell.
Forest types in the ‘Non-Forest and Artificial Group’ were not modelled. These are generally
types without significant tree cover (eg. heath, swamp). The forest types that were modelled
were therefore those with significant tree cover, including both forests and woodlands. The
modelling was further constrained to those types that were represented by five or more 4 ha
grid cells in the existing forest type mapping. Some very rare types known to occur in the
region were therefore excluded from the analysis. Pre-1750 distributions were estimated for a
total of 90 forest types.
Each forest type was modelled by relating the presence/absence of that forest type in the
mapped grid cells to a number of physical environmental variables held in the GIS, including
mean annual rainfall, mean annual temperature, mean annual solar radiation, wetness index,
moisture index, lithology, soil fertility, soil depth, topographic position and latitude. A logistic
regression model was fitted for each type using generalised additive modelling (GAM)
techniques. The response variable was coded as zero for cells not containing the type, one for
cells containing the type as a pure (not mixed) type and a proportion between zero and one for
cells containing the type as part of a mixed type (as explained above).
Once a model had been fitted for each forest type this model was then used to predict (or
extrapolate) the pre-European distribution of that forest type throughout the entire region. The
prediction for each 4 ha grid cell is the estimated average probability of that forest type
occurring at any point selected at random within the grid cell. For the purposes of subsequent
areal calculations this prediction was also used as a best estimate of the proportion of the grid
cell covered by that type.
Areas of natural vegetation without significant tree cover (eg. heath, swamp) were masked out
of the predicted distributions using a vegetation systems map derived from Landsat TM
imagery by NPWS. For all other grid cells, the predicted probabilities for the 90 modelled forest
types were scaled to sum to one within each cell.
Wherever actual forest type mapping was available this was used to override the predicted
forest types. Accordingly, the resulting data coverage for each forest type therefore contained
a value of zero or one (or sometimes 0.5, 0.33, 0.25 etc for mixed types) for grid cells covered
by actual forest type mapping and a probability between zero and one for all other unmapped
grid cells within the region. Areas were estimated by summing the values (for a given forest
type) within all grid cells of interest and then multiplying this sum by the area of a grid cell (4
ha).
Appendix 7: Vegetation Modelling for the Eden Study Area
A map of the pre-1750 distributions of vegetation types in the Eden study area was derived
using a combination of decision tree modelling and interpretation of aerial photographs.
The primary vegetation data consisted of lists of species, with respective cover-abundance
values, recorded within 1066 sample plots of a standard size range (0.04 - 0.1 ha). Coverabundance values conformed to a six-point Braun-Blanquet scale. Additional data recorded
from each plot included:
(i) estimates of the height and cover of each vegetation stratum;
(ii) measurements of slope, aspect and horizon azimuths;
(iii) parent material; and
(iv) qualitative notes on soil moisture, texture and depth, and disturbance history.
The sample plots provided a comprehensive coverage of the environments with an extant
cover of native vegetation, as well as the various types of land tenure in the region. Species
data were analysed with the PATN software package using methods outlined in Keith et
al 1995, and 57 vegetation types were defined.
A second vegetation coverage, differentiating major structural types of native vegetation, was
prepared by manual interpretation of 1:25 000 scale aerial photographs flown in 1963. For
small parts of the area where these were unavailable more recent photographs were used.
Mapped occurrences of various structural types were checked using the sample data and
observations gathered during field traverse. Additional occurrences of 15 vegetation classes
were prepared by classification of Landsat TM images flown in 1993 using a supervised
maximum likelihood algorithm. Training areas were identified using site data and field
experience.
Vegetation types were mapped by developing a set of decision rules. The rules related the
occurrence of each vegetation type to one or more unique combinations of environmental
parameters. Induction of rules was carried out using decision tree software (Firstmark
Technologies 1990) on a data set consisting of the samples included in the numerical
classification of vegetation. Several alternative rule sets were evaluated cartographically by
assigning grid cells to vegetation types, re-substituting samples and cross-tabulating predicted
versus observed vegetation types. Rule sets were refined iteratively by seeking alternative
rules on branches of the decision tree which showed a poor fit to the data.
Several unsampled vegetation types were identified during aerial photograph interpretation or
in the literature including estuarine wetlands, floodplain wetlands and grasslands. These were
all restricted in occurrence and marginal to the study area and some are now represented in
the region only by highly modified remnants. These additional vegetation types were included
as map units, but not described in detail.
Further validation of these models will be considered in the NSW interim assessment process.
Appendix 8: Land Unit Reservation Area Tables
Forest type reservation- Northern study area
Table 9.1a
Table 9.1a
Forest types considered rare- Northern study area
Table 9.1b
Environmental unit reservation- Southern study area
Table 9.2
Table 9.2
Vegetation type reservation- Eden study area
Table 9.3
Table 9.3
Reservation Codes
1 = Deferred on public lands to meet the Commonwealth reserve benchmark of 15% of the
pre-1750 distribution
2= Entire distribution deferred but not sufficiently distributed on public lands to meet the
Commonwealth reserve benchmark.
3= Not sufficiently distributed on public lands to meet the Commonwealth reserve benchmark
and not deferred to full extent on public lands.
Two methods of deferral have been recognised in the assessment. These are:
a= deferral by inclusion in the deferred areas
b= deferral by a combination of inclusion in deferred areas and protection from harvesting
within the interim resource area using the harvesting planning process.
All the forest types in Table 9.1b (Forest types considered rare in the Northern study area)
have a reservation code of 2b
Land Units used in assessments
Northern- forest types
Southern- environmental units
Eden- vegetation types
Appendix 9: Management of threatened species in New South Wales forests
Introduction
This report outlines the legislative mechanisms, administrative, and operational procedures in
place, and those proposed, for the protection of threatened species in forested habitats of New
South Wales.
Recognising that the preparation and formal adoption, under the ESP Act, of Recovery Plans
for species listed under the ESP Act is likely to be one of the outcomes of Regional Forest
Agreements (RFAs), The Commonwealth and NSW will continue to work cooperatively on the
preparation and implementation of Recovery Plans for NSW forest species. A similar approach
has been agreed between the Commonwealth and the other States.
The words endangered, threatened, and vulnerable are used in this report in both a generic
and specific sense. Under both Commonwealth and NSW legislation these words have a
specific legal definition. To avoid confusion, where used in relation to the definition in a
particular Act, these words are capitalised.
Legislative Mechanisms
i) Commonwealth Endangered Species Protection Act 1992 (ESP Act)
The Commonwealth Government, through the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, is
responsible for the administration of the ESP Act. The Act has schedules of nationally
Vulnerable and Endangered species, and Endangered ecological communities, and requires
that these are taken into account in all Commonwealth actions and decisions.
The aims of the Act are achieved through a link to the Commonwealth Environment Protection
(Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 (EP(IP) Act). The EP(IP) Act considers any action which could
threaten with extinction or significantly impede the recovery of a listed species or community
to be environmentally significant in terms of the Act and thus requires environmental impact
assessment.
The export of woodchips from New South Wales requires a Commonwealth decision to issue a
licence under the Export Control Act 1982 and the Commonwealth is required to consider listed
species and communities in issuing those licences. To date, this has been effected by the
inclusion of conditions in woodchip export licences which provide for the protection of species
and communities listed under the ESP Act and by the assessment of individual proposals.
ii) New South Wales National Parks & Wildlife Act 1974 (NP&W Act)
The agency with prime responsibility for the conservation of flora and fauna in NSW is the NSW
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Under the National Parks & Wildlife Act 1974
(NP&W Act), the Director-General has a statutory responsibility for, inter alia, the protection
and management of native flora and fauna in NSW. The NPWS serves this responsibility by
providing advice to the consent and determining authorities, and the public, on any action
which may impact on flora and fauna. Protected Fauna is defined in the NP&W Act as all native
mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, excluding the dingo, and some locally unprotected
species. No fish or invertebrates are currently included under the responsibilities of the NPWS.
iii) New South Wales Endangered Fauna (Interim Protection) Act 1991 (EF(IP) Act)
The primary legislative tool for the protection of endangered fauna in NSW is the Endangered
Fauna (Interim Protection) Act 1991 (EF(IP) Act) (as amended). The objectives of this act are
to;
'(a) provide urgently an objective scientific evaluation of the conservation status of fauna in
New South Wales;
(b) divide species of fauna into endangered, protected and unprotected species;
(c) ensure endangered species of fauna are only harmed with the informed consent of the
Director-General of the NPWS;
(d) - (e)(deal with administrative matters);
(f) relax the prohibition upon harming protected fauna where consents and approvals have
been issued under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979;
(g) ensure in the future such consents and approvals are not given for activities without the
impact of the activities on protected fauna being examined;
(h) give the Director-General of the NPWS and the Minister an emergency power to stop work
where protected fauna is at significant risk;
(i) (deals with the list of unprotected fauna);
(j) give interim protection to fauna and existing use rights to developers of land and public
authorities pending the enactment of an endangered species law.'
The EF(IP) Act relates to, and is administered purely on fauna management grounds. The
EF(IP) Act does not require consideration of other heritage values such as flora, old growth
forest, wilderness values, or aboriginal sites, for which the NPWS is solely or partly
responsible.
The EF(IP) Act required revision of Schedule 12 (Endangered Fauna) of the NP&W Act. This
schedule classifies fauna in New South Wales as either;
Part 1 Threatened: 37 species of mammals (27 extinct in NSW), 32 species of birds (12 extinct
in NSW), four species of reptiles (one extinct in NSW), and four species of amphibians listed.
Part 2 Vulnerable and Rare: 40 species of mammals, 78 species of birds, 23 species of reptiles,
and 15 species of amphibians listed. ; or
Part 3 Marine Mammals.
Section 120 of the NP&W Act requires a licence from the Director-General for action likely to
'take or kill' endangered fauna. The definition of 'take or kill' includes 'significant modification
of' habitat of the fauna which is likely to adversely affect its essential behavioural patterns. An
application for s.120 licence must be accompanied by a fauna Impact Statement (FIS).
The EF(IP) Act also allows the Minister for the Environment or the Director-General of NPW to
issue a stop work order if an action is about to place protected fauna at risk. A stop work order
cannot be issued for areas listed in Schedule 4 of the Timber Industry (Interim Protection) Act
1992.
The application of the EF(IP) Act has been a rapidly evolving process, and procedures are still
being developed to ensure the intentions of the Act are being met with respect to scientific and
legal assessments and administration.
iv) Timber Industry (Interim Protection) Act 1992 (TI(IP) Act)
The Timber Industry (Interim Protection) Act (TI(IP) Act) sets the framework for forestry
licensing, including the order of working. The TI(IP) Act (as amended) sets out schedules
which classify the forest areas listed, into:
Schedule 1: "Substantial areas of old growth forests on which no logging operations may be
carried out until an EIS is obtained". These are listed by compartment or part State Forest;
Schedule 2: "Land subject to proposals under section 7 of the Wilderness Act also subject to
moratorium on logging operations";
Schedule 4: "Other forest areas in which logging operations may be carried out pending
obtaining of an EIS". Schedule 4 lists Management Areas and gives a timetable for completion
of EISs.
v) Forestry Act 1916
SFNSW is responsible under the Forestry Act 1916 and other relevant legislation and policies
for the management of State forests and other Crown-timber lands in New South Wales. EISs
are prepared for forestry Management Areas to assess the environmental impacts of proposed
forestry activities (refer to discussion of EP&A and TI(IP) Acts). EISs for forestry activities must
be approved by the Minister for Planning.
vi) Environmental Impact Statements
Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) are prepared under both Commonwealth and State
legislation. EISs are prepared under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection (Impact of
Proposals) Act 1974 (EP(IP) Act) for proposals where there is a Commonwealth action or
decision involved, and where the proposal is deemed to be environmentally significant. EISs
are also prepared under NSW legislation under the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act
1979 .
Commonwealth EISs prepared for forestry operations
For private property targeted pre-logging surveys of flora and fauna listed under the ESP Act
are required on a case by case basis. Fauna Impact Statements prepared under the NSW
EF(IP) Act are considered adequate for the fauna component. A survey by a person with
appropriate botanical expertise is generally required for flora.
For state forest areas, ANCA has an agreement with SFNSW as follows. For threatened fauna
the s.120 licensing process (which includes preparation of an FIS) is considered adequate to
meet ESP Act requirements. For threatened flora reports are completed in advance of EISs for
most Management Areas. Where flora reports have identified populations of ESP Act listed
species these species are excluded from harvesting.
For areas where flora reports have not been prepared, a schedule of targeted surveys is
implemented. This schedule identifies those species and forest types for which pre-logging
surveys are required in compartments scheduled for silvicultural thinning. Surveys are
conducted by personnel familiar with identification of the targeted species and at times of the
year when identification is practicable. Species for which surveys are not considered necessary
are identified to ANCA by SFNSW in accordance with the following criteria:
If there are no State Forests within the known geographic range of the species the species can
be excluded from survey;
If there are State Forests within the known geographic range of the species, but they do not
contain suitable habitat, the species can be excluded from survey;
If a species has very specific habitat requirements, and that habitat is excluded from logging
by management prescription, the species can be excluded from survey.
These agreed arrangements apply only until a State EIS is finalised for the relevant
Management Area/s.
Two Commonwealth EISs have been prepared for forestry operations in NSW to date: one for
Harris Daishowa Australia Pty Ltd and one for Sawmillers Exports Pty Ltd (SEPL).
The results of the SEPL EIS are a number of licence conditions which specifically relate to the
ESP Act have been included in the current woodchip export licence???. These conditions give
ANCA a role in the approval of harvesting of woodchips from private property and the approval
of harvesting of woodchips from state forests in the N/E NSW subject to silvicultural thinning.
NSW EISs prepared for forestry operations
Under the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act), any activity on any land
in NSW which is likely to cause a significant impact on the environment must include an
assessment of those impacts (an EIS) for consideration by the authority who approves such an
activity. In deciding whether there is likely to be a significant impact on the environment of
endangered fauna , section 4A of the EP&A Act regulations specify the matters to be
considered - the 'seven point test of significance'. The seven points to be considered are:
(a) the extent of modification or removal of habitat in relation to the same habitat type in the
locality;
(b) the sensitivity of the species of fauna to removal or modification of habitat;
(c) the time required to regenerate critical habitat, namely the whole or part of the habitat
which is essential for survival of the species of fauna;
(d) the effect on the ability of the fauna population to recover, including interactions between
the subject land and adjacent habitat that may influence the population beyond the area
proposed for the development activities;
(e) any proposal to ameliorate the impact;
(f) whether the land is currently being assessed for wilderness by the Director-General of
National Parks and Wildlife under the Wilderness Act 1987;
(g) any adverse effect on the survival of that species or its populations.
The TI(IP) Act amended the application of the EP&A Act to forestry operations, such that
SFNSW were required to prepare EISs for all SFNSW Management Areas listed on Schedule 4
of the TI(IP) Act according to the specified timetable. This timetable has not been met, and
SFNSW are currently working to a revised timetable (Table 1).
Table 1: Draft Timetable for State Forest EIS production
EIS (under TI(IP)
Act)
Estimated commencement of EIS/FIS exhibition
Dorrigo (3 year)
December 1995
Tenterfield
October 1995
Gloucester/Chichester
November 1995
Urunga/Coffs Harbour
December 1995
Urbenville
December 1995
Walcha/Nundle/Styx
River
December 1995
Queanbeyan/Badja
December 1995
Casino
December 1995
Murwillumbah
August 1996
Morisset
December 1995
Glen Innes
exhibited and determined
Wingham
exhibited and determined
Kempsey/Wauchope
exhibited and determined
Grafton
exhibited
Eden
exhibited
vii) Licences to 'take or kill' endangered fauna (s.120 Licences)
Given the large number of endangered fauna which occur throughout the Crown timber
production forests, it is inevitable that in many situations endangered fauna will be 'taken' as a
result of forestry activities. Section 120 of the NP&W Act requires a licence from the DirectorGeneral of the NPWS for any action which is likely to 'take or kill' endangered fauna anywhere
in the State. The definition of 'take or kill' includes "significant modification of the habitat of
the fauna which is likely to adversely affect its essential behavioural patterns'. Any application
for a s.120 licence must be accompanied by a Fauna Impact Statement (FIS).
Given the length of time required to prepare a FIS, when the EF(IP) Act was enacted General
s.120 licences were issued to enable forestry activities to continue in 46 Management Areas
across the State pending the preparation of FISs. The NPWS issued these licences in 1992 to
allow the logging of a number of compartments in each Management Area (MA). Under the
EF(IP) Act, General s.120 licences issued prior to 28 February 1992 (gazettal of the revised
Schedule 12) were exempt from the requirement for SFNSW to prepare an FIS. Subsequently
variations to each licence were assessed and issued by the NPWS on a compartment by
compartment basis pending the issue of general licences under the EF(IP) Act.
SFNSW Harvesting Plans
To enable the NPWS to make an informed decision on whether to issue the variation, and
therefore allow the taking or killing of endangered fauna, SFNSW are required to provide the
NPWS with a detailed Harvesting Plan for each compartment. In addition, in situations where
particular fauna species of concern are likely to occur and further information is needed, the
NPWS requests SFNSW to undertake species specific surveys using an agreed methodology.
Each Harvesting Plan must:
describe the operation;
describe the forest types and habitats present;
indicate what endangered species are known or likely to occur within the compartment;
specify compliance with Part V of the EP&A Act; and
detail all proposed impact mitigation prescriptions.
In addition, the NPWS undertakes database searches for Schedule 12 records, assesses the
appropriateness and adequacy of the proposed mitigation measures, seeks external advice if
necessary, and modifies or issues additional mitigation measures. If endangered fauna are
likely to be affected, the licence is in general issued with prescriptions to mitigate the impacts
or refused.
Harvesting Plans are based on site inspection, pre-logging surveys (in most cases), existing
vegetation maps, and mapping of NPWS fauna prescriptions as they apply to that particular
compartment. The Forest Conservation Unit of the NPWS are developing a manual of standard
fauna prescriptions for use in forestry operations.
Pre-logging surveys and habitat assessment
In some SFNSW Districts pre-logging fauna surveys at the compartment level are undertaken
routinely, eg. Bulahdelah, Eden (called Rapid Coupe Surveys). The NPWS have prepared a
Draft Proforma for Pre-logging Habitat Assessment and Survey to improve consistency in
formats and standards. Establishing detailed guidelines for undertaking small scale fauna
surveys is a priority for the NPWS Forest Conservation Unit over the next 12 months.
Habitat Assessment of endangered fauna habitats in old growth compartments is undertaken
for a number of MAs where this has been a condition of the Minister for Planning's
Determination of the EIS, the NPWS's General Licence, or where the MA is operating under
these conditions in anticipation of an EIS being finalised.
The Regulatory and Public Information Committee (RaPIC) was set up under the Timber
Industry (Interim Protection) Amendment Act 1994 to determine compartments to be logged
and the sites of roads, prior to SFNSW obtaining an EIS for those compartments, or before the
Minister makes a determination. SFNSW is required to submit a proposed logging and roading
plan to the committee at least 40 days in advance (exempted under certain circumstances
such as wet weather). For each assessment the NPWS prepares a review of the conservation
value of the compartment, including Schedule 12 endangered fauna records, Rare or
Threatened Australian Plant (ROTAP) species, inadequately-conserved forest types (according
to NPWS analysis), and Aboriginal sites.
viii) Future Legislation
The current endangered species legislation in NSW does not consider the conservation of
endangered flora and this is generally recognised as an issue needing to be addressed. Both
the EF(IP) Act and the TI(IP) Act are due to expire later this year (31 December 1995
respectively). The Government is currently preparing comprehensive endangered species
legislation. Such legislation is likely to include the listing of endangered fish, invertebrates,
plants, and ecological communities, and give a statutory imperative to the preparation of
Recovery Plans.
One of the objectives of the draft National Strategy for Species and Ecological Communities
Threatened with Extinction is the implementation of complementary legislation across all
relevant jurisdictions.
Planning Mechanisms
i) SFNSW Management Areas
SFNSW prepare management plans for each forestry Management Area (MA) in NSW.
Management plans are revised approximately every 10 years and include public consultation.
Plans do not routinely contain discussion of management of endangered species in the MA.
The primary mechanism for consideration of impacts of forestry operations on the environment
is the EIS prepared for a Management Area. EISs detail the type, intensity, and distribution of
logging operations and areas to be excluded for conservation reasons. For example, in the
Eden MA a joint strategy between SFNSW and the NPWS was developed to confine harvesting
to a group of compartments known as the Least Sensitive Area (LSA). This area was defined
using environmental constraints, in particular moratorium areas for particular Schedule 12
fauna, the Tantawangalo catchment, and proposed additions to the NPWS estate. EISs are
placed on public exhibition for comment
ii) The Preferred Management Priority classification system
SFNSW also set aside flora reserves, forest preserves, and other reserves under their Preferred
Management Priority classification system (PMP). The PMP system is a map-based forest land
use classification system which describes the priority use or emphasis of particular areas of
forest. Areas within state forests are considered and allocated broad categories which signify
SFNSW's intention for management. The PMP system is reviewed and modified to
accommodate changes in planning goals. The initial classification is made by the District
Forester, reviewed by the Regional Planning Manager, and approved by the Regional General
Manager.
The PMP system classifies forests as:
PMP 1- Indigenous Forestry Use
PMP 1.1 Multiple-use Native Forest- managed for timber production, catchment protection,
wildlife habitat, recreation, scenic protection, grazing, and bee-keeping,
PMP 1.2 Undeveloped Native Forest- native forest which will have low or non-existent timber
production,
PMP 1.3 Preserved Native Forest- areas with known unique, rare, or uncommon biological
values which have been reserved, or
PMP 1.4 Native Species Plantation- areas established and managed as plantations of native
species.
PMP 2- Exotic Forestry Use; or
PMP 3- Non-forestry Use.
The third tier of the PMP system classifies multiple use native forest (by far the greatest area
in State forests of all Management Areas) into eight further categories. One of these may be
used specifically for the protection of endangered flora and fauna (PMP 1.1.7 - Special
Emphasis Flora and/or Fauna Protection). The major use of this category is for planning and
implementation of wildlife corridors and typically these are connected riparian strips.
Riparian protection strips (referred to as either filter, protection, or buffer strips) are
implemented in all management areas in the state as required under erosion guidelines and
Pollution Control Licence requirements.
iii) Species Management Plans
Species management plans have been jointly developed between SFNSW, NPWS, fauna
experts and the community for two Schedule 12 birds: the Superb Parrot and the Regent
Parrot (neither of which are considered nationally endangered), and are in the process of being
developed for the Long-footed Potoroo and Koala in the Eden MA (the former is considered
nationally endangered). Discussions between SFNSW and the NPWS have proposed one
nationally Endangered species, the Hastings River Mouse, and a number of Schedule 12
species for future development of joint Management Plans.
iv) Private Land- State Environmental Planning Policies
On private land the major planning controls are State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs),
mapping of Protected Lands under the Soil Conservation Act 1938, and leasehold
administration under the Western Lands Act 1901.
Decisions about land use developments and activities are made within the context of SEPPs,
which deal with environmental issues where a State-wide application of policy is necessary and
the Minister for Planning considers the need significant enough to do so. SEPPs which are
relevant to the protection of nationally endangered forest fauna and flora are: SEPP 14 Coastal
Wetlands, SEPP 26 Littoral Rainforests, SEPP 44 Koala Habitat Protection, and SEPP 46
Protection and Management of Native Vegetation. The Protection and Management of Native
Vegetation SEPP does not apply to forestry areas as declared under the Forestry Act 1916.
A SEPP may apply to the whole State or parts of the State. as explained in the following
examples.
SEPP 14 Coastal Wetlands and SEPP 26 Littoral Rainforests contain the policies and maps of
the areas to which they apply. The policies list activities which cannot be conducted in the
areas identified in the maps except with the consent of the local council, and the concurrence
of the Director-General of the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, or by the Minister for
Planning in the case of a development in a wetland.
SEPP 44 Koala Habitat Protection has a list of Local Government Areas (LGAs) where any
development or activity which is likely to affect potential koala habitat must be assessed
according to particular procedures. This initially involves an assessment of whether an area is
potential koala habitat. If suitable habitat is identified surveys must be undertaken and if core
koala habitat is identified (within the definition contained in the SEPP) a koala management
plan must be prepared.
SEPP 46 Protection and Management of Native Vegetation has a schedule of 133 LGAs in which
any proposal (with some exceptions as listed) for clearing of native vegetation requires the
approval of the Director-General of the Department of Land and Water Conservation, and the
concurrence of the Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife.
Research
Considerable research and survey is being undertaken in forestry areas throughout NSW both
by the NPWS and SFNSW. NPWS projects include the North East Forests Biodiversity Survey,
National Resources Assessment Council research in north-east NSW, and Western Region
Biodiversity Survey. There is also a proposed regional biodiversity survey of the South East
Forests. SFNSW projects include surveys for EISs for specific fauna, eg. Koala, Long-footed
Potoroo.
Databases of endangered flora and fauna maintained by the NPWS are routinely used in
assessing the likely impact of proposed forestry activities. SFNSW has access to the NPWS
fauna database and is currently developing a flora and fauna database. SFNSW have also
implemented a geographic information system (GIS) which will be integrated with the flora and
fauna database.
Recovery Plans
Recovery Plans are the principal means outlined under the Commonwealth ESP Act for
addressing species conservation requirements. Recovery Plans provide for the research and
management actions necessary to stop the decline and support the recovery of endangered
species within their natural habitat to maximise the chances of long-term survival.
For species listed under the ESP Act occurring on Commonwealth tenures, the Commonwealth
must prepare a Recovery Plan within prescribed time limits. Where a species distribution
extends into State tenures, the Commonwealth must seek the cooperation of the State with a
view to joint preparation of a Recovery Plan. For species that do not occur on Commonwealth
tenures the Commonwealth may adopt a Recovery Plan prepared by a State agency.
In NSW, one fauna and 25 flora Recovery Plans have been prepared for forest species
listed on the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992. Draft Recovery Plans for a further 10
fauna and three flora specie are in place.
In addition, Recovery Plans are in the research phase for two forest mammal species, five
forest amphibian species (one plan only), and one forest reptile species. Recovery Plans are
also in production for another four nationally threatened forest species, and others have been
prepared for NSW listed forest species that do not occur on the Commonwealth list.
NSW will continue to work cooperatively with the Commonwealth on the preparation and
implementation of Recovery Plans for NSW forest species. It is expected that the proposed
NSW endangered species legislation will include a provision for Recovery Planning, and the
NPWS has recently increased the number of staff allocated to this area. Thus the production
and implementation of Recovery Plans in NSW is expected to increase in the near future. Until
Recovery Plans are prepared, surveys and specific management prescriptions are being
implemented as outlined in this document to assist the conservation of endangered forest
species in NSW.
Commonwealth Listed Species present in NSW forests
Commonwealth listed species in forested habitats are listed below and described in the
following text.
Species
common name
status
Maccullochella ikei
Clarence River cod
endangered
Prototroctes maraena
Australian grayling
vulnerable
Litoria spenceri
spotted tree frog
endangered
Hoplocephalus bungaroides
broad-headed snake
endangered
Dasyornis brachypterus
eastern bristlebird
vulnerable
Erythrotriorchis radiatus
red goshawk
vulnerable
Lathamus discolor
swift parrot
vulnerable
Leipoa ocellata
malleefowl
endangered
Psittaculirostris diopthalma
coxeni
Coxen's fig-parrot
endangered
Turnix melanogaster
black-breasted buttonquail
vulnerable
Xanthomyza phrygia
regent honeyeater
endangered
Potorous longipes
long-footed potoroo
endangered
Petrogale penicillata
brush-tailed rock
wallaby
vulnerable
Pseudomys pilligaensis
Pilliga mouse
vulnerable
Pseudomys oralis
Hastings River mouse
endangered
Dasyurus viverrinus
eastern quoll
vulnerable
Species Descriptions:
Clarence River Cod (Maccullochella ikei)
Range and habitat: Drainage's in the Grafton Management Area are the habitat of the
endangered Eastern Freshwater Cod or Clarence River Cod (Maccullochella ikei). It occupies
clear rocky streams, with most natural populations occurring in the Nymboida and Mann Rivers
of the Clarence River drainage. Fingerlings have been stocked into the Richmond and Clarence
River drainage's.
Threats and Management: The distribution and abundance has dramatically declined since
European settlement and the reasons for its decline include habitat degradation through loss of
riparian native vegetation and increased catchment erosion and siltation. Although overall fish
populations may not be affected by forestry operations, individuals may be and monitoring
would be required to determine this. No management actions are currently implemented
specifically for this species.
Australian Grayling (Prototroctes maraena)
Range and habitat: P. maraena occurs in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, although it is now
patchily distributed across its former range.
Threats and Management: The Action Plan for Australian Fishes gives one of the reasons for
decline of the species as extensive stream siltation from accelerated catchment erosion due to
agriculture and forestry practices. No management actions are currently implemented
specifically for this species.
Spotted Tree Frog Litoria spenceri
Range and habitat: L. spenceri has been recorded from only one locality (Kosciusko National
Park) in NSW. The range extends only marginally into NSW and is largely conserved in
National Park.
Threats and Management: No recovery plan is in place in NSW, however the Victorian
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have prepared a draft Action Statement for
the species, and are undertaking a survey of the NSW site.
Broad-headed Snake Hoplocephalus bungaroides
Range and habitat: H. bungaroides occurs in sclerophyll forests of the central coast to as far
south as Nowra. From late autumn to early spring, Inhabits westerly and north-westerly facing
rock outcrops. During summer individuals may disperse distances in excess of 500m to utilise
tree hollows.
Threats and Management: The Recovery Plan is currently in the research phase. The species
is being managed by applying prescriptions to compartments with known records.
Eastern Bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus
Range and habitat: D. brachypterus occurs in two widely separated regions in NSW-northeastern and south-eastern. Major populations in the north are found in the Border Ranges,
Boonoo Boonoo National Park, and Whian Whian State Forest. The northern populations have
declined dramatically in recent years, possibly due to habitat clearance and too frequent fire
regimes. Major populations in southern NSW occur in Barren Grounds and Jervis Bay Nature
Reserves, and Budderoo National Park. Optimum habitat in the north is eucalypt forest with a
tussock grass understorey located close to rainforest, while in the south they are found in
heath adjacent to tall heath or woodland. Most territories are subject to periodic firing and
contain a creek or gully.
Threats and Management: D. brachypterus is vulnerable due to poor dispersal ability, small
size, low fecundity, and isolated populations. There is no Recovery Plan in preparation. The
Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage have made a proposal to develop a
Recovery Plan.
Red Goshawk Erythrotriorchis radiatus
Range and habitat: E. radiatus has been recorded in north-eastern coastal and sub-coastal
NSW, where populations appear to have declined dramatically. Previously known as a scarce
breeding resident north of the Hunter River, it now appears unlikely to breed in NSW, with only
occasional records north of the Clarence River. In NSW, the recorded habitat is woodland, open
forest, riparian forest, wetlands, and rainforest ecotone. Dependent on old growth riparian
eucalypt and melaleuca forest for breeding habitat. Home range size is between 5, 000 and
10,000 ha. This species is known from very few reserves in the State, and none of these are
thought to contain viable populations.
Threats and Management: The primary threatening processes to E. radiatus are thought to
be clearing, logging, burning, and overgrazing of habitat. There is no Recovery Plan in
preparation in NSW.
Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor - vulnerable
Range and habitat: During summer L. discolor migrates to Tasmania to breed. Outside the
breeding season, populations migrate to mainland Australia and are widely dispersed. The
main wintering range is in southern Victoria, but the species is widespread in eastern and
central NSW. Habitat preferences include Eucalypt forest and woodland, although inland they
are confined to timbered watercourses on major river systems. On the mainland they wander
nomadically in search of food, which is correlated with flowering flushes.
Threats and Management: A Recovery Plan (research phase) is being implemented in
Tasmania. There is no Recovery Plan in preparation in NSW. It is proposed that a National
Recovery Plan be written next year, with the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service as the lead
agency.
Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata - endangered
Range and habitat: L. ocellata is now restricted to the semi-arid rangelands of south-western
and central NSW, from the Pilliga to Griffith. The main habitat type is mallee (multi-stemmed
Eucalypt species), and includes Red Ironbark forests, Cypress woodland, and Mulga shrubland.
Approximately 20% of the population occurs in remnant Mallee patches in NSW, with most
west of the Lachlan River. Records are known from Jimberoo, Stackpoole, Blue Mallee, Pilliga
east, Goonoo, Pilliga West, Yarrobil, Southern Pilliga, and Kolkibertoo State Forests. Essential
habitat requirements are abundant leaf litter thus recently burnt areas are unsuitable. A dense
canopy is also preferred.
Threats and Management: Threatening processes include clearing, inappropriate fire
regimes, predation, road construction and may include logging and harvesting of broombrush.
A Recovery Plan is in preparation. This species is currently managed in state forest by
prescription.
Coxen's Fig-parrot Psittaculirostris diopthalma coxeni
Range and habitat: The distinctive P. diopthalma coxeni occurs in far northern NSW and
south-eastern Qld. It has disappeared from much of its former range and is now confined to
north of the Richmond River, where it has been recorded from Beaury, Mebbin, and Whian
Whian, and Richmond River State Forests, as well as specific locations in the Casino, Kyogle,
Lever's Plateau, Murwillumbah, and Lismore areas. The optimal habitat is sub-tropical
rainforest, but it now occurs mainly in dry rainforest and cool sub-tropical rainforest as a result
of loss of its preferred habitat. Nesting occurs in tree hollows, and thus P.d. coxeni prefers
areas where rainforests adjoin sclerophyll forests and tree hollows are more abundant. The
main food is Ficus seeds. Populations migrate from low to high altitudes in the warmer months
to forage and breed.
Threats and Management: The majority of preferred habitat has been cleared for
agriculture. Protection relies on the absence of logging in lowland sub-tropical rainforest.
Rainforest edges also require protection. No Recovery Plan is in place, although there is a
Recovery Team convened by Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage, on which
NSW NPWS is represented. A Recovery Plan will not become a priority task of the Recovery
Team, until a confirmed record of the species is obtained.
Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster
Range and habitat: T. melanogaster is patchily distributed in coastal and sub-coastal districts
of far north-eastern NSW: the Urbenville and Murwillumbah Management Areas, the Nightcap
and Border Ranges National Parks, and Whian Whian, Mebbin, and Beaury State Forests.
Recorded using dry rainforest, Spotted Gum forest, and the margins of sub-tropical rainforest,
where there is a very dense canopy. One of Australia's most poorly known birds. Its total
population is estimated as fewer than 2000 individuals. The current distribution is less than 1%
of its original area, mainly due to clearing of its habitat and the resulting increased
susceptibility to predation.
Threats and Management: Logging, frequent burning, and grazing are considered to be
significant threats. There is no Recovery Plan for this species. A draft Recovery Plan has been
prepared for the species in Queensland, and the Recovery Team now includes a NSW NPWS
representative. It is expected that the final Recovery Plan will encompass NSW.
Regent Honeyeater Xanthomyza phrygia
Range and habitat: X. phrygia is known from various localities in dry open forest and
woodland on the inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range in the Forbes, Mudgee, Pilliga,
Bathurst, Holbrook, Grafton, and Bulahdelah Management Areas. Within this range distribution
is patchy, and it inhabits a narrow suite of box/ironbark associations. Preference is for more
fertile sites, such as river flats and lower slopes, and most of these areas have been cleared in
the past, leaving isolated remnants. X. phrygia is nectivorous, and has specialised dietary
preferences, preferring four eucalypt species, red ironbark, white and yellow box, and yellow
gum.
Threats and Management: Main threats result from further fragmentation of habitat
resulting from clearing and competition from honeybees. There is a draft Recovery Plan in
NSW, and site specific prescriptions for State Forests have been implemented for
compartments with records.
Long-footed Potoroo Potorous longipes
Range and habitat: P. longipes has a very restricted distribution, occurring only in East
Gippsland, Victoria, and in an area of less than 1,000 ha in the Eden MA in NSW. It has been
recorded definitely at five sites, and probably at another five in Bondi State Forest from hair
samples. Known habitat in NSW is damp sclerophyll, wet sclerophyll, and rainforest, usually
with dense understorey interspersed with bare ground, and with rich friable soils. Only a small
amount of suitable forest is found in the Eden MA.
Threats and Management: Detailed interim management actions have been implemented in
NSW as follows.
Harvesting is excluded from the Potoroo Management Zone (PMZ) which consists of a series of
2 km radius management areas around all site records, with boundaries extended to
watercourses and ridge lines, and a 1 km wide corridor connecting these management areas to
the forests of Victoria. The PMZ has a total areas of 14,000 ha, of which 9,000 ha occurs within
state forest. Logging and roading activities will not occur within the PMZ during the period for
which the current EIS is applicable. A fire management strategy is being implemented in the
PMZ.
At present, the PMZ is surrounded by a Mandatory Survey Zone, which extends for 2 km from
the boundary of the PMZ. Within this zone all logging coupes are to be surveyed prior to
logging. All proposed harvesting areas occurring within the area predicted to be climatically
suitable for P. longipes, but outside the Mandatory Survey Zone, with appropriate forest types
are also to be surveyed. Finally, all coupes within 3 km of a fox scat record and 4.8km of a dog
scat record are also to be surveyed. Management of areas outside the PMZ may be subject to
a review during the course of the DFA.
The Recovery Planning for this species is currently in the research phase. There is a national
Recovery Team on which both SFNSW and NPWS are represented, and a Recovery Plan is
expected to be completed by June 1996.
Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby Petrogale penicillata
Range and habitat: Although P. penicillata has a broad distribution across NSW, it has
become extinct in many parts of its former range, and the remaining populations are isolated.
Occurs along the Great Dividing Range, now particularly to the east of the divide in north-east
NSW. Favours rugged, rocky areas in open woodland and dry open forest, and north-facing
dissected rock outcrops with numerous ledges and caves, located in sub-coastal and inland
sclerophyll forests. Individuals usually feed in adjacent grasslands and river flats, and have
home ranges of about 15 ha.
Threats and Management: Threats are considered to be primarily fox predation, and
competition for food resources from feral goats. There is a Recovery Plan prepared in Victoria
which includes the south-east of NSW, and the NPWS Environmental Survey and Research
Branch is currently undertaking a major research project on the status of this species and
impacts of predation.
Pilliga Mouse Pseudomys pilligaensis
Range and habitat: P. pilligaensis has a very restricted distribution, and is known only from
the Pilliga Scrub near Narrabri in western NSW. It has been recorded in mixed
Cypress/Eucalypt forest and woodland, in Merriwindi and Pilliga State Forests. This species is
poorly known.
Threats and Management: There is no Recovery Plan in place.
Hastings River Mouse Pseudomys oralis
Range and habitat: P.oralis has disappeared from much of its former range and is now
known from a number of State Forests between Billilimbra State Forest (Casino/Tenterfield
MAs) and Mt Royal SF (Mt Royal/Chichester MAs), and from only one National Park
(Werrikimbe). There is only one site in NSW known to have more than ten individuals. The
known habitat is in tall open Eucalypt forest with a floristically rich and structurally complex
groundcover. This species is managed by prescription in State Forests.
Management: There is a Recovery Team and the project is currently in the Research Phase.
Eastern Quoll Dasyurus viverrinus
Range and habitat: Once ranging over much of south-eastern Australia, there have been no
confirmed sightings of D. viverrinus on the Australian mainland since the 1960s. There have
been a number of unconfirmed sightings on the NSW north coast, but recent surveys by the
NPWS have failed to detect this species. It is therefore not considered further here.
ESP Act listed plants which occur in New South Wales
Acacia bynoeana - Acacia pubescens
Acacia riccii - Arthraxon hispidus
Acacia riccii - Arthraxon hispidus
Asperula asthenes - Bosistoa transversa
Bossiaea oligosperma - Calotis glanulosa
Calotis moorei - Cynanchum elegans
Darwinia biflora - Diuris sheaffiana
Diuris venosa - Eucalyptus camfieldii
Eucalyptus glaucina - Eucalyptus parvifolia
Eucalyptus pulverulenta - Gentiana baeuerlenii
Gentiana bredboensis - Grevillia shiressii
Grevillia wilkinsonii - Isoglossa eranthemoides
Isopogon fletcheri - Marsdenia longiloba
Melaleuca groveana - Persoonia glaucescens
Persoonia marginata - Pomaderris brunnea
Pomaderris cotoneaster - Prostanthera discolour
Prostanthera stricta - Rhaphidospora bonneyana
Rulingia procumbens - Stemmacanthas australis
Stipa metatoris - Tasmannia purpurascens
Tetratheca glandulosa - Zieria adenophora
Zieria baeueurlenii - Zieria prostrata
Zieria tuberculate