Contributing to the conservation of biodiversity through the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Contributing to the conservation

• f biodiversity through the

Tasmanian forest practices system

Sarah Munks and Dydee Mann

Tasmania’s independent forest regulator administering the Forest Practices Act

• Advising • Researching • Monitoring • Enforcing

Three tiered conservation approach

Permanent native forest estate ‘Off-reserve’ management actions Comprehensive, Adequate, Representative (CAR) reserve system

Caleana major

CAR Reserves Core ranges: Invertebrates (blue) Core ranges: Vertebrates (green) Raptor nests Threatened plant records Threatened forest communities

8.8. Biodiversity Forest practices will be conducted in a manner that recognises and complements the contribution of the reserve system to the maintenance of biological diversity, ecological function and evolutionary processes through the maintenance

• f viable breeding populations and

habitat for all species.

Guiding P Policy f for t the operation o

• f the Forest

Pract ctice ces Co Code ( de (established under the Forest Practices Act 1985)

The Biodiversity Evaluation: A ‘Risk Assessment’ Process

• 1. Identification of the value – databases and survey
• 2. Consideration of disturbance risk
• 3. Assess significance of the impact
• 4. Decision on ways to mitigate the impact

Identification of the value - Planning tools

On-ground survey - vegetation community, species and habitat

Landscape level management actions

Native forest

• nly

Plantation Formal reserve Informal reserve Simsons range Roads

Coupe level management actions

The Code – threatened species and communities

D3.3 ‘Threatened species and threatened native vegetation communities will be managed in accordance with procedures agreed between the FPA and DPIPWE. The agreed procedures will include the development of endorsed management prescriptions through consultation among landowners, FPOs and specialists within the FPA and DPIPWE.’

Threatened communities and species

• 39 threatened vegetation communities (listed on State and/or

C’wealth Acts)

• 113 threatened fauna (out of 240 listed on State and C’wealth Acts)
• 349 threatened flora (out of 500 listed species)

Brunonia australis Diuris palustris

Decision support systems- Threatened Fauna Adviser

“The code is more what you’d call ‘guidelines’ than actual rules.” (Hector Barbossa)

Duty of care provision of the Code – A ‘line in the sand’

The Biodiversity Landscape Planning Guideline – Property/forest block plans?

A guideline which can be used to develop landscape scale strategic plans (e.g. whole of property, forest blocks on public land).

Training

Research and Effectiveness Monitoring Program

From Science to Practice…

Publications Planning tools

Cawthen, L, Munks, S, Richardon, A and Nicol, SC 2009. EMR 10 (2), 155-157.* Koch, AJ; Munks, SA and Driscoll DA 2008, WR 35: 727–746.* Koch AJ, Wapstra M, and Munks, SA 2009, TBR 33, 4-9.* Koch, AJ, Munks, SA, and Woehler, EJ 2009. AJZ, 56: 323–349.* Munks, SA, Koch, AJ and Wapstra, M 2009, FEM 258: 516-524. Koch, A.J., Baker, S., 2011. Biodiversity and Conservation 20, 1089-1101. Flynn, EM, Jones, SM, Jones, ME, Jordan, GJ and Munks, SA 2011, Wildlife Research, 2011, 38, pp 13–29. Cawthen and Munks, 2011. WR

Case study..

Devils in plantations

Norske skog identified caves in use July 2014 and contacted FPA for advice

FPA’s initial investigation of cave

Evidence of a maternal devil den!

Full pouch Empty pouch

Design of devil-specific site management

Consultation between Norske skog/FPA/species experts

Recommendations including:

• 1. Prevent collapse of the cave
• Machinery exclusion on cave area
• Directional felling of trees away from cave
• No replanting of pines within 10m of cave
• 2. Protect occupants
• No harvesting until devil young have dispersed
• Speed limit within 100m
• No dogs on site

Ongoing monitoring…

10 20 30 40 50 60 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14 Nov-14 Dec-14 Jan-15 Feb-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15 Nov-15 Dec-15 Feral Cat Rat Spotted tail Quoll Echidna Pademelon Brushtail Possum Eastern Quoll Wombat Tasmanian Devil

Pre-harvest - 2014 and 2015

4 Number of individuals 4 3 4 4 5 7 3 5 4 5 4 9

10 20 30 40 50 60 Jan-16 Feb-16 Mar-16 Apr-16 May-16 Jun-16 Jul-16 Aug-16 Sep-16 Oct-16 Nov-16 Bennetts Wallaby Feral Cat Rat Spotted tail Quoll Echidna Pademelon Brushtail Possum Eastern Quoll Wombat Tasmanian Devil

2 4 1 4 5 5 5 6 5

Post-harvest 2016

HARVESTING OF DEN SITE HARVESTING NEARBY

Number of individuals 4 2

Post harvest – devils move back in

Summary

• The Tasmanian Forest Practices System contributes to

conservation of biodiversity values in areas outside

• f formal reserves
• The Code requires that during the preparation of

Forest Practices Plans the proposed operational area must be assessed to determine the presence of biodiversity values at risk.

• If following the required planning process the risk to a

biodiversity value is identified as high, management prescriptions (eg.,‘buffer zones’) are applied and are mandatory.

• Targeted, risk-based approach and actions to reduce

impacts delivered at multiple spatial scales

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strengths
• Applies across all land tenures
• Scientists, planners and forest managers work together
• Planning tools and training – explanatory ‘creep’/streamlining
• Commitment to research, monitoring, review and continual

improvement

• Weaknesses
• Lack of knowledge on impact of forest practices
• Communication with general public
• Lack of clarity and conflicting legislative requirements
• Clearance and conversion – Ag developments
• No state forest policy or clear overarching objectives
• Need more effectiveness monitoring – Do actions work?

Thanks and questions?