Review of Code Rainforest Buffers

The size of rainforest buffers is currently determined by the 1996 Code of Forest Practice for Timber Production.

In 2005 a review of this Code began.

In Febuary 2006 a draft revised Code of Forest Practices(pdf report) was released with recommendeds about rainforest buffers sizes.

However in June 2006, the Victorian government decided to defer finalising these proposed changes to the Code until after the November 2006 state election and allow areas that the draft Code say should be protected to be logged. See the owl story for more details.

Despite this the Code review is still an opportunity to fix many of the problems within the existing Code.

VRN has contributed to the Code review process.

Much of the work VRN does is very technical as it deals with complex government planning processes. VRN has listed some of these technical issues in a submission to the Governments Code review process. Key points are in red.

Note: This stuff is a bit boring but necessary if you are trying to change the way government manages public land.

1. Code link to Rainforest Action Statement

VRN agrees with the Code proposal to list prescriptions for rainforest protection in the proposed statewide Rainforest Action Statement. This will apply for both public land and private land (note: private land prescriptions not mandatory).

However VRN has one major reservation. That reservation being that the fundamental Code review process of 'transparency' must be maintained. The final Rainforest Action Statement must not be released before the Code is released to Parliament. Both the Code and final Rainforest Action Statement must be released at the same time in Parliament.

The intent of the Conservation Forests and Lands Act, Section 36 'Incorporated material to be table' is for documents such as the rainforest Action Statement be made publicly available (but without the final approval of the Director General) when the Code is tabled in Parliament. This will enable any outstanding issues within the Rainforest Action Statement to be addressed as the Code goes though the parliamentary process.

2. Independent Inquiry for RSOS.

An independent review is required to determine the management and protection levels of all rainforest Sites of Significance.

This is one of the most pressing rainforest issues. See more

The final intended management action in the proposed Rainforest Action Statement must be re-worded to say:

This independent and transparent planning and management process needs to be conducted to determine what 'appropriate buffers' are required for all rainforest sites of significance in State Forest. Until this independent review is completed all logging should be halted within RSOS.

The independent review would:

The rainforest Action Statement must set a deadline for such an independent inquiry to occur. VRN believes this should be started within the first six months of 2007.

3. Buffers for all small rainforest stands

All small patches of rainforest under 0.4 ha must have buffer protection.

a) In all stands of rainforest, regardless of size, where Nothofagus exceeds 20% canopy there should be a 60 metre buffer to protect against myrtle wilt. This needs to be made clear to ensure there is no ambiguity within the Code.

b) There must be "appropriate buffers" for all stands of rainforest to comply with the mandatory action outlined in the 1996 Code and on page 40 of the draft Code which states:

Rainforest stands in Victoria must not be harvested. Rainforest stands must be protected from the impacts of harvesting through the use of appropriate buffers to maintain microclimatic conditions and protect from disease and disturbance.

4. Mixed forest aggregation issues

Often mixed forest occurs adjacent to pure stands of rainforest. However if the mixed forests are less than 1 ha in size then buffers will not apply. There needs to be recognition of the total of both these rainforest types rather than looking at the rainforests and mixed forests in isolation.

Hence there needs to be an aggregation rule which recognises that in some areas mixed forests and rainforest are a combined unit and need to be adequately protected. (Note: not to be confused with eco-tone surrounding rainforest, mixed forest is not the ecotone area but a distinct forest type.)

a) If a combination of rainforest and mixed forest make up 1ha then the the combined area should be protected and a buffer applied.

b) All mixed forests around rainforest stands of 0.2 ha or larger must be protected.

5. Central Highlands mixed forest mapping

The Intended Management Action within the rainforest Action Statement must provide a fixed time line to get the mapping completed for Central Highlands mixed forest.