Environmental regulator to examine greater protection for large old trees in East Gippsland

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is examining ways to adjust Victoria’s forest management framework to increase safeguards for large old trees, while providing greater certainty for the timber industry around harvesting operations.

DELWP Land Management Policy Executive Director Peter Beaumont said a recent review of the state’s regulatory framework for native forestry also identified issues with the definition used for a category of forest known as Cool Temperate Mixed Forest.

The findings follow DELWP’s investigation into allegations made by the Goongerah Environment Centre that VicForests had breached timber harvesting regulations at a forestry coupe near Bendoc earlier this year.

The investigation found no breaches of the current regulations, but a subsequent Departmental review of the management framework concluded that the rules may require adjustment in order to reflect community expectations and ensure appropriate management of important environmental values.

“We are always looking to improve our approach and achieve the important balance between environmental protection and a productive timber industry,” Mr Beaumont said.

“Our review of the current regulatory documents identified some ambiguity in the definition of Cool Temperate Mixed Forest which has the potential to cause interpretation issues and confusion.

“We also found protection measures for large old trees vary significantly across the state, and there is no specific protection required for large old trees in East Gippsland,” Mr Beaumont said

Mr Beaumont said an independent consultant had been engaged to provide a third-party assessment of DELWP’s forest management framework review.

“The consultant found that the Department had accurately identified inadequacies of the current framework and that preliminary recommendations were reasonable,” Mr Beaumont said.

“The consultant made one additional recommendation, to establish clear prescriptions around how non-target tree species should be protected during harvesting operations. This would further minimise the impacts of harvesting on the surrounding environment.”

DELWP will now work with VicForests, industry stakeholders and the community to work out the best way to implement the recommendations of these reports.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is examining ways to adjust Victoria’s forest management framework to increase safeguards for large old trees, while providing greater certainty for the timber industry around harvesting operations.

DELWP Land Management Policy Executive Director Peter Beaumont said a recent review of the state’s regulatory framework for native forestry also identified issues with the definition used for a category of forest known as Cool Temperate Mixed Forest.

The findings follow DELWP’s investigation into allegations made by the Goongerah Environment Centre that VicForests had breached timber harvesting regulations at a forestry coupe near Bendoc earlier this year.

The investigation found no breaches of the current regulations, but a subsequent Departmental review of the management framework concluded that the rules may require adjustment in order to reflect community expectations and ensure appropriate management of important environmental values.

“We are always looking to improve our approach and achieve the important balance between environmental protection and a productive timber industry,” Mr Beaumont said.

“Our review of the current regulatory documents identified some ambiguity in the definition of Cool Temperate Mixed Forest which has the potential to cause interpretation issues and confusion.

“We also found protection measures for large old trees vary significantly across the state, and there is no specific protection required for large old trees in East Gippsland,” Mr Beaumont said

Mr Beaumont said an independent consultant had been engaged to provide a third-party assessment of DELWP’s forest management framework review.

“The consultant found that the Department had accurately identified inadequacies of the current framework and that preliminary recommendations were reasonable,” Mr Beaumont said.

“The consultant made one additional recommendation, to establish clear prescriptions around how non-target tree species should be protected during harvesting operations. This would further minimise the impacts of harvesting on the surrounding environment.”

DELWP will now work with VicForests, industry stakeholders and the community to work out the best way to implement the recommendations of these reports.