stewardship report2010 –11

The estimated final value of wood products produced in Tasmania from state forest timber in 2010/11 was $585 million. This contribution to the economy supports small businesses and skilled employment throughout the state’s regional communities. Biodiversity .

Honey production Plantations Special Eucalypt timbers forests sustaining biodiversity and habitat m message from reporting structure and scope corporate governance STATEMENT and future generations our purpose our organisation the year at a glance reportcard 2010/11 sustaining jobs for current contents anaging director Financial performance Old growth forests . Threatened species, communities andhabitats . system . Reserve Wood products Non-wood products and services . Non-wood andservices products Native forests . . Sustainable yield. OF CORPORATE . . . the chairm ...... INTENT. . an and

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. 12 20 17 15 14 12 20 34 34 31 30 28 28 25 23 9 8 7 6 5 5 4 2 Research . Certification Water quality M CONTENTS LISTAPPENDIX 2SUSTAINABLE FOREST Fire Sustainable Forest Manage ment Policy water and healthy forests sustaining carbonstores, clean air, C Global Reporting Initiative stewardship sustaining science-based community access and heritage sustaining safety, ontent Index ANAGEMENT Business system developments . . Resource information . Organisational . capacity Legal compliance . Community engagement . Aboriginal andhistoric cultural heritage Health andsafety . Adventure Forests . Weeds, pestsanddiseases. Water, soilsandgeodiversity . Air quality Carbon andclimate change. Use ofpesticides Forest . healthsurveillance andgeodiversity . Soil Fuel andchemicalspills. . . DATA TABLES . . . .

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35 59 53 45 64 63 57 57 55 55 54 53 49 49 48 46 41 41 41 39 39 38 35 43 43 43 years to come, beusedfor valuable suchasfurniture. products sawlogs. issuccessful, thetrial If timbersuchasthismay also, in determine whethertheywere suitablefor useashighquality by Britton’s undertaken trial Timber andForestry Tasmania to logs. 2010/11, theselogswere During usedinacollaborative hereis pictured withplantation-grown Eucalyptus nitens Dion McKenzie, DivisionofForest Research andDevelopment, greater reliance onplantation timberto meetresource demand. are planningfor lessavailability ofnative forest timberanda as furniture andjoinery. However, headinginto thefuture, we source of Tasmanian wood usessuch for products high-end Front cover: Native forest timbershave, until now, beenthekey Published 2011 October ISSN 08184797 ABN 91628769359 [email protected] forestrytas.com.au (03) 62358203 TasmaniaHobart, 7001 GPO Box 207 Forestry Tasmania Tourism 1300720507 enquiries: 1800FOREST General enquiries: C ontact us: ontact investment processing. indomesticvalue-added demand for Tasmanian eucalyptandattract ofourlong-term planto build strategy ispart peelerlogsin2010/11. structural This export We continued to grow for Chinesemarkets our

1 STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 CONTENTS report card 2010/11 Sustaining biological diversity Sustaining jobs for current and habitat and future generations This is an overview of our performance for 2010/11 ✗✗ Good progress continues to be made in the ✗✗ We recorded an operating loss of $12.09 million during as measured against the objectives and aims of our development of alternatives to clearfelling, with partial a challenging trading year. Sustainability Charter. It also includes performance logging, including variable retention, contributing to ✓✓ We recorded an upturn in sales revenue to against our corporate objectives, which are as follows: 75 per cent (1,020 hectares) of the total old growth area $156.5 million, compared with $135 million the harvested (1,370 hectares). However, we did not fully • embrace science to achieve best practice environmental previous year, partly as a result of increased forest achieve the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement product sales. stewardship and maintain Australian Forestry Standard target to achieve non-clearfell silviculture in a minimum Certification; of 80 per cent of the annual old growth harvest area ✓✓ We paid suppliers, contractors and employees by this year, due to the uncertainties in the operating $174 million with payments to contractors • create long-term business and employment environment. We aim to achieve the target in 2011/12. increasing from $80.6 million in 2009/10 to $94.4 opportunities for the community by managing the million in 2010/11. ✓✓ Partial harvesting continues to make up an increasingly forests for multiple use and encouraging downstream large amount of the total area of forest harvested. ✓✓ The estimated final value of wood products produced processing; In 2010/11 we harvested a total of 10,300 hectares, in Tasmania from state forest timber was $585 million. of which 6,980 (67 per cent) was partially harvested ✓✓ We supplied 196,702 cubic metres of high quality • achieve positive financial returns through sound, and 3,370 (33 per cent) was clearfelled. sawlog to our customers. This volume is well within the ethical business practice; and ✓✓ We undertook seven research projects that specifically sustainable production level. covered threatened species of flora and fauna. • build community trust through honest dialogue. ✓✓ We supplied 14,477 cubic metres of special timbers ✓ sawlog to our customers, consistent with our Special ✓✓ Positive performance as based on progress against ✓ Audits showed all 27 authorised activities in forest reserves delivered good social and environmental Timbers Strategy. our targets and indicators outcomes. ✓✓ Of the 7,820 hectares of native forest regenerated, ✗✗ Target not met; more effort is required to improve ✓✓ We added five new giant trees to the Giant Tree Register 88 per cent (6,880 hectares) met the prescribed our performance and launched a new giant trees website standard, which is above our benchmark of 85 per cent. (gianttrees.com.au). ✓✓ In a sample of 69 harvested areas, we achieved the ✓✓ We harmonised our data management systems standard of less than five merchantable tonnes of for threatened species records with those of other post-harvest residue per hectare in each coupe. agencies, streamlining our assessment processes and enabling better strategic planning. ✓✓ The effectiveness of our Forest Management System was greatly enhanced through rationalising and simplifying document management procedures. ✓✓ We developed a range of initiatives to facilitate strategic planning for threatened species, including tools for ensuring long-term retention of mature forest at the We invested over $4 million in forest research coupe-context scale and assisted the Forest Practices during 2010/11. Authority as it developed a suite of new planning tools. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Ecological Research site. andvegetationof carbon at the Warra Long Term that willprovide data ontheatmospheric exchange and secured fundingto flux buildacarbon tower amount stocks anddynamicsofcarbon instate forests, We continued aresearch program onthelocation, of oursmokemanagement strategy. dueto program therestrictions planned burns partly However, we were unableto fullyimplement our to smoke from operations ourburning decreased. improve andthenumberofcomplaints attributable smokemanagementOur strategies continued to litres spray ofherbicide mixdistributed over concentrates. Onespillwas recorded, of50–100 There were nomajorspillagesoffuelorchemical spray equipment. several hectares, causedby acontractor’s broken litre) butstillled to areview ofprocedures. waterbelow standards drinking (30micrograms per Metsulfuron-methyl inawaterway. The level was well (0.5microgramsone minordetection perlitre) of waterways resulting from ouroperations. There was There were ofchemicals in nomajordetections harvested forests.harvested We sowed approximately 150millionseedsto regrow Sustaining carbonstores, cleanair, water andhealthyforests

✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✓ Service Obligation to fundeducational programs.Service Education Foundation ofourCommunity aspart We provided $214,000insponsorshipto theForest Tasmania-Southern Cross Community Assist. to organisations andindividuals undertheForestry under agreements madeintheprevious financial year We provided approximately $80,000insponsorship meetings withstakeholders. staff Our attended 357 community forums and measure of8. Frequency of9.5againstourperformance Rate We Lost recorded anunsatisfactory Time Injury areas affected by storm damage. We were unableto restore access to somerecreational community accessandheritage Sustaining safety,

✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Section 41oftheForestSection Practices Act 1985. No notices were issuedto Forestry Tasmania under rating of3.5. benchmark performance Forest Practices Authority. This result is above ourown audits ofourForest Practices Plans by conducted the represents an ‘above sound’ result intheexternal We rating achieved score aperformance of3.8,which and lednumerous fielddays. Ecological Research site, hosted ninelunchtime talks presentations, maintained the Warra Long Term and 25peer-reviewed papers, made15conference researchOur staffauthored 45 technical reports to Workplace Standards satisfaction. Merchandiser site, whichwere subsequently addressed to several minorissuesat theHuon Wood Centre the One notice was issuedto Forestry Tasmania under We invested $4,030,000inforest research. has now been addressed. related to ourcontractor management system, which The auditidentified onemajornon-conformance audit. followingcertification astringent external We retained ourAustralian Forestry Standard . This related Workplace Act 1998.This HealthandSafety science-based stewardship science-based Sustaining

3 STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 report card 2010/11 the year at a glance

Year at a glance 2011 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 Forest estate (’000 hectares) at 30 June Total state forest (includes forest reserves)1 1,492 1,490 1,490 Total forest reserves 222 222 222 Total plantations2 107 107 109 Area certified to Australian Forestry Standard3 1,439 1,439 1,441

Forest areas established (’000 hectares)4 Native forest regenerated 11.3 9.2 8.1 Hardwood plantations established (includes replanting) 3.2 1.4 0.7 Softwood plantations established (including replanting) 1.3 1 0.9

Native forest area harvested (’000 hectares)4 Clearfell, selective harvesting and thinning5,6 12.4 8.7 10.5

Wood production Hardwood – high quality sawlog (m3) 245,154 210,538 196,702 Hardwood – sawlog, veneer and peeler – all grades (m3) 522,600 559,888 691,103 Hardwood – pulpwood (tonnes) 2,005,450 1,388,986 1,376,554 Hardwood – plantation pulpwood (tonnes) 135,550 179,495 171,205

3 Softwood – sawlog (m ) 231,100 252,298 269,985 Minister for Energy and Resources Bryan Green and Managing Director Bob Gordon Softwood – pulpwood (tonnes) 223,220 276,206 353,092 at the opening of the new Island Specialty Timbers outlet in Smithton. Special timbers sawlog (m3) 12,497 12,887 14,477

Fire management services Number of fires attended 49 65 36 Area of state forest burnt (hectares) 5,277 6,461 375 Cost of suppression (current values $’000) 1,219 3,701 133

Roads Constructed (kilometres) 128 109 104

Employment Lost time injury frequency rate 12.5 8. 6 9.5 Operating revenues per employee ($’000) na7 312 415 Notes: 1. Excludes Crown land (Buckland Military Training Area) managed by Forestry Tasmania. Earnings before interest and tax per employee ($’000) na (49) (64) 2. Figures exclude plantation areas harvested but not yet replanted and former plantations which are now managed for Wood production per employee (tonnes) na 5,179 6,750 recreation within Forest Reserves. Includes all plantations in state forests and Forestry Tasmania managed plantations on other land tenures. 3. This area excludes some leases over state forest, and joint venture and leasehold plantations that are not managed by Finance ($’000) 7, 8 Forestry Tasmania, but may be separately certified. 4. Figures are for operations which were completed during the 2010/11 financial year. Return on assets na 0.70% 1.20% 5. Thinning includes both commercial and non-commercial thinning. Operating revenue (including interest) na 160,119 175,968 6. This data covers forests managed by Forestry Tasmania; it excludes so Forestry Tasmania wood plantation harvesting managed by TPPL and Norske Skog on state forest. Operating expenditure before costs of non-commercial zones na (161,323) (179,307) 7. Changes in reporting format relating to treatment of unfunded superannuation liability are reflected in 2010–11 and Profit (loss) after tax, before other items7 na (12,261) (12,090) 2010–09 statistics. Comparisons prior to 2010–09 are not available. 8. Full details of the financial statements are provided in Appendix 1. our our our our as of 1 July 2011, four district officesas of1July2011,four around thestate. district 30 June2011. We have and, aheadoffice inHobart 350 full-timeequivalent staffand975 contractors at We are agovernment businessenterprise, employing for andrecreation. conservation available for wood withtherest production, beingsetaside Less thanhalfofstate forest is land(706,000hectares) contains approximately 39percent of Tasmania’s forests. of state forest onpubliclandwithinthestate. This land Tasmania withthestewardship ofthe1.5millionhectares Forestry Tasmania isentrusted by theParliament of and services for thisand futureand services generations. source ofsustainabletimberandotherforest products Tasmania’s state forests willbeagloballytrusted Ourvision organisation purpose

timber was $585millionin2010/11. economy ofwood produced products from state forest paper products. The estimated final value to the Tasmanian into sawn timber, peeledveneer, rotary andpulp pulpwood were from harvested state forests for processing 2010/11,threeIn millioncubicmetres ofsawlog and employment for Tasmanians.employment tobest practice create long-term wealth and benefit,optimum community using environmental Forestry Tasmania manages state forests for Our mission

• • • • • Our values (includes Buck Land useonareasmanagedby (includes Buckland Military Military Training(includes Buckland Area) L and useonareas managedby Forestry We thinkbefore we act. We are proud ofwhowe are andwhat we do. We dowhat we say we willdo. We getthingsdone. We care for peopleandtheirenvironment. 33% 3% Special timberzones plantation Softwood Native forest outsidewood areas production Hardwood plantation Native forest available for wood production Reserves Informal Forest Reserves Native forestavailableforwoodproduction Informal Reserves Forest Reserves Special timberzones Softwood plantation Native forestoutsidewoodproductionareas Hardwood plantation land M 6% 19% ilitar y 15% Tr aining Area). Fo 4% 20% restr T asmania y T asmania

5 The year at a glance, OUR STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 ORGANISATION & OUR PURPOSE Statement of corporate intent: business overview

Forestry Tasmania’s fundamental statutory responsibility is other softwood plantation and hardwood plantation joint For our full Statement of Corporate intent, see Appendix 1: to manage 1.5 million hectares of state forest, representing ventures, e.g. with Plantation Platform Tasmania, Gunns Financial Statements. 22 per cent of Tasmania’s total land area and 39 per cent Limited (“Gunns”) and Norske Skog; of its forested land area. Its main undertaking is the (b) ownership of Newood Holdings Pty Ltd, established to sustainable management of Tasmania’s state forests to develop new forest industry infrastructure at the Huon and optimise community benefit, including the sustainable Smithton Wood Centres; production and delivery of forest products and services, the facilitation of new forest-based industries, the conservation (c) ownership of Adventure Forests brand and portfolio of natural and cultural heritage values and the provision of of commercial tourism properties, Tahune AirWalk and education, recreation and tourism services. Maydena Adventure Hub, are wholly owned by Forestry Tasmania, Hollybank Treetops Adventure is 50 per cent This responsibility is delivered through the following key owned by Forestry Tasmania and Tarkine Forest Adventures activities: is leased to a private operator; and (a) management of native forests, hardwood plantations (d) ownership of Forest Technical Services, providing and softwood plantations, including the planning, conduct, external consultancy services based on Forestry Tasmania’s monitoring and review of operations to access, assess, international reputation as a leader in forest research, establish, tend, protect, monitor, conserve and/or harvest forest assessment, forest management and forest product forests; and development. (b) supply of forest products and services under negotiated Forestry Tasmania’s underlying ethos is sustainability contracts to businesses in Tasmania, elsewhere in Australia and stewardship. Its forest management activities are and overseas. certified under the internationally recognised Australian In addition to its main undertakings, and the key activities Forestry Standard. Forestry Tasmania operates under that support them, Forestry Tasmania engages in the specified criteria, in relation to its targets for environmental, following other activities: economic and social sustainability. These criteria are published in Forestry Tasmania’s Sustainability Charter. (a) 50 per cent part ownership of the Taswood Growers Forestry Tasmania reports its performance against each of softwood joint venture, comprising a 70-year forestry these criteria in its annual Stewardship Report. right over 45,000 hectares of radiata pine plantations on state forest, with GMO Renewable Resources owning the other 50 per cent share, and part ownership of various Statement corporate of intent: business overview business in thevariablesusedvaluation model. This value from canfluctuate year to year due to changes the Australian Accounting Standard AASB 141Agriculture. Calculations ofthevalue ofourforest estate comply with more detailedinformation onourforest estate evaluation. See ‘Sustaining jobsfor current andfuture generations’ for Standards.the InternationalFinancial Reporting Standards, theGovernment BusinessEnterprises and Act addition,theycomply withtheAustralianIn Accounting accurately thefinancialpositionof reflect Forestry Tasmania. audited by the Tasmanian Audit and Office wereto found The financial statementswere included inthis report non-executive directors issetby government. the Government BusinessEnterprises Act. Remuneration for legislation future appointments willbeinaccordance with Business Enterprises Act 1995.As aresult ofrecent changesin and theirresponsibilities are outlinedintheGovernment been appointed inaccordance withtheForestry Act 1920 All(the Stakeholdercurrent Minister). directors have and Resources (thePortfolio andthe Minister) Treasurer the Shareholder Ministers, whoare for theMinister Energy Forestry Tasmania’s Board ofDirectors isresponsible to government businessenterprise, As afully state-owned goals andmonitoring management performance. andbusinessaffairs, settingmanagement performance This includes setting strategic overseeing direction, financial for theoverall corporate governance oftheorganisation. The Board ofDirectors ofForestry Tasmania isresponsible corporate governance

Geoff Geoff Coffey –FCPA, ACIS ACIM,GAICD, Dip FP. Hampton –BEc (Hons) Miles Tas, FCPA, FCIS,FAICD. Humphrey JElliott –BScFor ANU, DipAgricEnt Syd, PhD Syd. SecInstAust. Deborah Radford –BEc LaTrobe, GradDipFin&Inv For (Hons)ANU, FAICD. (Chairman)Adrian (BusStudies) Lond, –MSc Kloeden BSc N Board ofDirectors 2010/11 the Occupational HealthandSafety Standard (AS4801). Environmental Standard Management (AS/NZS 14001);and standards: theAustralian Forestry Standard (AS4708); the is independently audited againstthree certification sustainableforest Our management performance on-executive D Geoff Geoff Coffey, Radford. Deborah Kloeden, Adrian Absent: Humphrey Elliott. Forestry Tasmania’s Board ofDirectors. L-R Hampton, Gordon, Bob Miles

irectors

S LGordon –BSc, MIFA,Robert MAICD. D Managing DVD). see Appendix 1–Financial statements (ontheattached review andManagingDirector’sperformance statements, committees, legislative compliance, andpolicy board For fullinformation aboutcorporate governance, board –BCom,Sue Shoobridge FCPA, FAICD. ecretary to theB ecretary

irector oard oard

7 Statement of corporate intent: STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 business overview reporting structure and scope

This Stewardship Report combines reporting against the The Stewardship Report covers all the processes and The 2010/11 financial statements and the sustainable forest objectives and aims in our Sustainability Charter with our activities involved in the management of state forests. management data underpinning this report are available as annual financial report to provide a comprehensive analysis This includes forest land management, road establishment appendices on the DVD accompanying this report, and may of our economic, environmental and social performance. and maintenance, plantation and native forest timber also be downloaded from forestrytas.com.au establishment and maintenance, timber harvesting Information in this report provides a summary of our and sales, and tourism and recreation management Read more about the Global Reporting Initiative at: performance for the 2011/11 financial year. Footnotes are and development. Where Forestry Tasmania is a joint globalreporting.org used to clarify data collected on a calendar year basis. venture partner, for example, in Taswood Growers (joint Our Sustainability Charter, launched in November 2008, venture between Forestry Tasmania and GMO Renewable provides a 10-year framework for the sustainable Resources), Forestry Tasmania’s share of the contribution or management of Tasmania’s state forests. Accordingly, benefits is specified. it also provides the structure to this report. The ‘year at a glance’ section provides a quick reference We expect areas of interest will change over time and the to some of this year’s statistics. The ‘report card’ section content of the Stewardship Report will be modified year to provides a snapshot of our overall performance, showing year to ensure the document remains useful and relevant the areas where we have been successful in improving our to our stakeholders. However, the data tables used in this performance and acknowledging those areas where more report will continue to be provided in future years, so that focus and improvement is required. This is as measured long-term trends become apparent over time. against our sustainable forest management objectives and In addition to reporting against the Sustainability Charter, our corporate objectives. this year we have again chosen to report against the The majority of the data used in this report have been G3 Global Reporting Initiative sustainability reporting obtained through internal data sources such as our forest guidelines. These voluntary guidelines are recognised operations database (an in-house asset management throughout the world. Through the self-assessment process, system) and through the overlaying of spatial information this report fulfils application level ‘C’ of the Global Reporting using our geographical information systems. The remaining Initiative guidelines. data have been obtained from external sources such as the The Global Reporting Initiative content index is available Forest Practices Authority and the Department of Primary at the end of this report and shows the Global Reporting Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Initiative indicators against which we have reported, and where this information can be found. message in two rotary veneer mills.in two rotary Centres and, ultimately, Ta Ann’s investment saw thedevelopment oftheHuonandSmithton Wood Forestry Growth Plan 2000s, ofthe1990sandearly which 2011, theForestry Innovation Plan isthesuccessor to the processing to value-added Tasmania. LaunchedinAugust investment2010/11 was to buildaplanto further in bring As foreshadowed amajorarea offocus inourlastreport, for timbers, aswell from asthearisings that harvest. metres ofveneer logand12,500cubicmetres ofspecial of at least155,000cubicmetres ofsawlog, 265,000cubic are planningaheadfor afuture annualresource availability Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement, butwe We through are thefullimplications stillworking ofthe formarkets engineered wood products. strong strategic positionthat willcapitaliseonemerging restructure, we aheadtoindustry create are looking a those that complain aboutchange. So, intheface ofthe capitalise on,changeintheirbusinessenvironments –not Truly resilient enterprises are thosethat understand, and small –notleast, Forestry Tasmania. that agreement conferred businesses, onforestry large and Forests Intergovernmental Agreement, andthetransitions bycharacterised thenegotiations over the Tasmanian trading year asoneofgreat was, change. ofcourse, It stakeholders willallundoubtedly remember the2010/11 Forestry Tasmania’s Board, management, employees and f ro

the chair m the have beenclassedaspulpwood. create from newproducts timberthat would otherwise Growth Plan, we identified abetter way to dobusiness: to technologies that addvalue to ourbusiness. theForestry In Forestry Tasmania hasalways adopter beenanearly ofnew energy suchastorrefied wood and wood pellets. suchaslaminatedproducts veneer lumber, andrenewable silviculture, peeledveneers, rotary engineered wood way forward isto investment attract innewplantation andsawmilling residuesof harvesting aswoodchips. The sawn andtheundifferentiated timberproduction exports expand ourvisionto encompass farmore thantraditional to andthrive, survive, intoindustry thefuture, we needto wood products. It’s now clearthat for the Tasmanian forest Tasmania into aregional hubrenowned for state-of-the-art The buildinginMelbourne. apartment Delta multimillion-dollar create carbon-neutral buildings, suchasGrocon’s seeing innovative developers to usingtheseproducts grow to mediumterm. over Already, theshort we are wood andrenewable products energy ispredicted to At thesametime, consumer demandfor engineered more plantation timber. resource mixthat comprises lessnative forest timberand Intergovernmental Agreement, it’s realistic to planfor a that, whatever area isfinalisedunderthe ofnewreserves intheforestthe recent uncertainty sector. recognises It The Forestry Innovation avisionto transform Plan articulates Forestry Innovation from Plan creates opportunity m an and m an and

anaging director issues that flowed from theprevious year’s downturn. managing ourbusinessthrough thefinancialandpolitical course,Of ourotherkeyarea offocus in 2010/11hasbeen produced instead ofwoodchips. justasweveneers areharvest, now seeinghigh-quality andjobsfrom products ofour the arisings value-added experiment. that It’swilldeliver policy anindustry-leading with theForestry Growth Plan, thisnewstrategy isno to follow Ta Ann’s lead. As we have already demonstrated Hopefully theForestry Innovation Plan willencourage others amount ofsawlogs now available for processing. under theIntergovernmental Agreement: the almosttwice 265,000 cubicmetres oftimbernow classedasveneer logs applications.construction That regrowth timberisthesame as woodchips, into valuable veneers for andother flooring processesIt regrowth timber, whichwas formerly exported and indoingso, created 138jobsfor Tasmanian people. millions ofdollarsinourstate’s timberprocessing sector, As aresult ofourvision, Ta Ann hadtheconfidence to invest

9 corporate governance, STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 REPORTING STRUCTURE AND SCOPE message from the chairman and managing director

Our operating environment was shaped by a number of However, the year also saw a corresponding rise in be without Forestry Tasmania. When the wider economic complexities, including the: expenses, led by higher transport costs, from $161.323 contribution of the contractors and processors that depend million in 2009/10 to $179.307 million in 2010/11. on our timber is considered, the cumulative value of wood • decision of our largest customer, Gunns Limited, to exit products from state forest in 2010/11 was $585 million. value-adding from native forest harvesting and to close Responding to the operating environment, we continued In other words, any suggestion that Forestry Tasmania is its export woodchip mills; implementing tight cost-control measures during the being subsidised by the taxpayer is clearly a myth. reporting period. We reduced the number of forestry • Statement of Principles negotiations and Tasmanian districts around the state from five to four by merging The Auditor-General’s report, which was as comprehensive Forests Intergovernmental Agreement process; Mersey District with the operations of Murchison and Bass, as it was independent, took over three years to complete. • ongoing effects of the Global Financial Crisis; effective 1 July 2011. It covered every aspect of our business: our provision of wood and non-wood products, our financial performance • high Australian dollar; and Overall, we set the goal of reducing the workforce across since corporatisation, and our statutory compliance. • Japanese earthquake and tsunami of March 2011. the organisation to 350 full-time equivalent employees Amongst its key findings were: (excluding Adventure Forests staff), through redundancies, Of these issues, the one that had the most detrimental early retirement and natural attrition. • Of the $223 million received in State and Australian effect on our operating result was the closure of the government funding during the audit period, Triabunna woodchip mill. Triabunna was essential These measures contained our operating loss to $12 million. $211 million was compensation for productive infrastructure to the forest industry and, until the change to We forecast an improvement in our financial result for forests transferred into reserves during the Regional our new business model under the Forestry Innovation Plan 2011/12. Forest Agreement and Tasmanian Community Forest is accomplished, it’s essential that we have access to export The 2010/11 reporting period also saw a reduction in Agreement. As the Auditor-General clearly noted, these facilities for harvesting residues. the value of our total assets, down from $296 million the funds were not an operating subsidy. However, as this Nevertheless, we spent much of 2010/11 seeking new previous year to $206 million. The valuation, conducted compensation was invested in plantation development customers for our structural-quality peeler logs in China by independent valuer James W Sewall, concluded that for which would we not see a return for at least 20 years, and, partly as a result of this, recorded an increase in the uncertainties over resource supply created by the we must question whether these funds were sufficient revenue to $175.968 million, up from $160.119 million the Intergovernmental Agreement process had reduced the compensation for foregone profit. previous year. This export trade underpins the development value of our biological asset – the standing timber – by • Since 1998, we have foregone revenue of of new markets and products under the Forestry Innovation around 30 per cent, or $90 million. $30–$40 million in Community Service Obligations Plan, as these customers are using our pulp logs to Our financial result for 2010/11 should be viewed in not funded by government. This finding provided manufacture veneers and engineered wood products. the context of our wider contribution to the Tasmanian credible evidence in support of our application, lodged Future prospects for sales to China are good, and exports economy. An independent and comprehensive review of subsequent to the reporting period, for government of whole logs will continue until we can attract further our business by the Auditor-General found Tasmania was funding of our Community Service Obligations into investment in value-added processing to Tasmania. $111 million better off with Forestry Tasmania than it would the future. government-appointed consultants URS/Deloitte. of anindependent review ofouroperations by The 2010/11trading year alsosaw thecommencement • • • encouragement thesechallenging during times. Premier and Greenand Deputy for Bryan theirsupport forLara GiddingsandMinister Energy andResources We thankourshareholder ministers, Premier and Treasurer Innovation Plan. foster thebusinessconfidence to implement theForestry strategically, to inChina,andto grow markets ourexport and, withit,more agreater certainty to plan capacity We lookforward to 2011/12asayear that willbring which brought basis. newchallengesonanalmostweekly The 2010/11 trading was period oneofconstant change, calendar year. which isduefor completion at the end ofthe2011 Forestry Tasmania iscooperating fullywiththereview, tostructure managethenewoperating environment. conditions,market andwillrecommend thebestbusiness Tasmania ofreduced resource availability andchanged The review willexamine thelikelyeffectson Forestry operating revenues, since corporatisation. and assets, including$189millionfrom ourown We have invested more than$414millioninplantations thisperiod.dividends during We have paid$136millioningovernment taxes and corporatisation amounts to $201million. Forestry Tasmania’s operating profit since

Managing Director GordonBob Chairman Adrian Kloeden

Download the planat forestrytas.com.au such asthese. products Tasmania of into aregional hub renowned for excellence instate-of-the-art engineered wood products. The Forestry Innovation Plan isourvisionto transform is processing aswoodchips timberthat was formerlyinto exported veneers for Steve Whiteley, Operations, veneer GeneralManager millinChinathat inarotary

11 message from the chairman STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 and managing director sustaining biodiversity and habitat

Managing biological diversity is a key part of our role, as All reserves are zoned for protection under our reserves on state forests form an important component Management Decision Classification system. of Tasmania’s reserve system. We also ensure old growth Formal reserves have been proclaimed by Parliament. forest, rare communities and habitats and threatened While the informal reserve system is also used to maintain species are maintained outside reserves. Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative reserve values identified in the Regional Forest Agreement, its Science informs us that not all values can be represented physical configuration may be adjusted to meet forest in any one part of the forest estate at a particular time. management requirements, provided the overall level of Our aim, therefore, is to ensure that these values are protection of reserve values is maintained. maintained across the landscape and various forest age classes. Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative reserves provide security for species that might otherwise be Reserve system disadvantaged by production forestry. They provide In state forests the Comprehensive, Adequate and continuity of habitat and, for many plants and animals, Representative reserve system is made up of formal re-colonisation sources. In this sense, Comprehensive, reserves (known as forest reserves) and informal reserves. Adequate and Representative reserves have ecological ‘influence’ over the surrounding production forest, with the level of influence proportional to the distance from the reserve to the production forest. Area protected in state forest

Land classification state forest1 area (ha) 2006/07 2007/08 5 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 (%) SF area at 30/06/11 Forest reserves 222,200 222,200 222,100 221,900 221,900 14.7% Informal reserves 292,400 295,600 298,000 299,100 300,500 19.9% Outside wood production areas 2, 3 292,000 295,500 306,900 278,000 282,800 18.7% Non-production total 4 806,600 813,400 827,000 799,000 807,300 53.4%

Notes: 1. Area includes Buckland Military Training Area managed by Forestry Tasmania. 2. Areas currently not part of the wood resource due to such factors as non-commercial forest, excessive slope, streamside reserves, inaccessibility, etc. 3. Reduction since 2008/09 is as a result of assigning areas to Special Timbers Zones. 4. Figures in total row are not the sum of the columns but the rounded actual totals. Percentages based on actual areas. 5. Some figures amended to include reserved plantations within reserves, rather than production forest.

Veronica Tyquin, Planning Branch. assessment process. to easilytrack andmanagethestate forest activity advent ofacentral staffare database, now district able works, andhow to gainbenefitfrom it. With this year’s staff as to how the state assessment process forest activity managers, liaisonofficers community andfieldoperations staff.by district There is greater awareness amongproperty thepastyear,Over theprocess hasbeenwidelyadopted state forest landandmeetlegislated requirements. alsoensures that anyIt on occurring proposed activities canbemitigatednegative or avoided. effectsoftheactivity needs canbeassessedandconsidered, andthat potential soil, water stakeholdervalues andheritage), operational natural andcultural values (such asflora, fauna,geology/ The state forest assessment process ensures activity that in somecases, scientific research. ofvisitor facilities,construction newbeekeepingsites and, recreational events through to communication towers, assessment process.activity range from These activities forest system, practices are assessedusingourstate forest inforestActivities reserves, andthosenotcovered by the S production. 19 percent that liesoutside areas identified for timber Adequate andRepresentative system reserve andanother 35percentincluding nearly withintheComprehensive, managed for theprotection ofenvironmental values, 53percentOver ofthestate forest estate isprimarily tate assessments forest activity

Permits onstate forest, activities arecollection issuedfor mostlyofplant third party • Note: (N S the Reserve Management Code Management ofPractice.the Reserve assessment process to inaccordance managereserves with ofourobligation state forestreserves, as part activity onstateconducted forest assessments for forest activity The theauditsthat have tablebelow reports been the careful choice oflocation for clubevents. recreational after us inlooking areas, for instance through to findbetter ways to engagethesestakeholdersinassisting better environmental outcomes, agoalfor theyear aheadis andmotocrossdriving events. As we continue to pursue use ofstate forest for recreation, active suchasfour-wheel by ourmonitoring andauditingprogram, arose through ofourbiggestmanagement challenges,Some highlighted Total Other Recreation events Water infrastructure andutility andrelatedRoads infrastructure Tourism infrastructure Fuel burns reduction Type of Activity tate assessment forest auditsinforest activity reserves on-harvest relatedon-harvest covered activities by anassessment 2010/11) specimens for research purposes. 2007/08 11 0 1 2 1 2 5 2008/09 11 9 0 0 1 1 0 2009/10 27 2 9 2 3 7 4 activity onnatural orcultural heritage.activity and manageany potentially negative effectsofthe assessment process, activity by whichstaffidentify Wrest Point, fallwithinthescope ofthestate forest Recreational events onstate forest, suchas Targa 2010/11 27 5 4 1 5 4 8

13 sustaining biodiversity STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 and habitat sustaining biodiversity and habitat

Protecting Geoconservation Values In May 2011, the Australian Cave and Karst Management Biodiversity Association held its annual conference in Ulverstone. Geoconservation values come in a variety of forms, We ensure the integrity of biodiversity in state forests A highlight of the week was a visit to Tarkine Forest including small outcrops, extensive landforms and through maintaining our permanent native forest estate, Adventures at Dismal Swamp, a polje or large sinkhole underground karst. Karst topography (chiefly in limestone continuing our part of the Comprehensive, Adequate in limestone country near Togari in the far north-west country) can be cryptic, because the water that forms its and Representative reserve system, and applying and of Tasmania. As part of their visit, the delegates attended characteristic surface features can flow underground for adhering to the Forest Practices Code. The maintenance a presentation that outlined how the outstanding considerable distances. This makes karst difficult to map, but geoconservation values of Dismal Swamp had been of a permanent forest estate means that 95 per cent of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology is helping maintained and showcased as Forestry Tasmania native forest as mapped in 1996 is to be maintained as us to identify subtle karst features present on the surface, developed the site’s tourism infrastructure in the native forest on a statewide basis. This objective is achieved which can enable the extent of the subterranean system to early 2000s. The presentation highlighted the ways in through Tasmania’s permanent native forest estate policy be identified and mapped in our Geographic Information which innovative design allowed geoconservation values and is given effect by the Forest Practices Authority through System. LiDAR is an innovative technology that uses lasers, to be protected while making the site accessible for the Forest Practices Plans. Forestry Tasmania has its own, more fired from a light plane, to measure distance to objects. It public to explore safely. stringent guidelines for maintaining its permanent native generates accurate information on ground shape and forest forest estate. These prohibit broad-scale conversion of structure, which is used to produce maps of the forest. native vegetation in state forest. This mapping enables us to further assess these We use the Management Decision Classification system geoconservation values using the Tasmanian Geoconservation Database, the Karst Atlas and field to assist us in managing biodiversity values across state inspections. The tools available for finer-scale assessments forests. Under this system, land is divided into management have been rather limited until recently, but the integration zones according to its availability for wood production. of the Tasmanian Geoconservation Database into the Management zones help balance competing demands Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and across the forest estate. They make it easier to prioritise Environment’s Natural Values Atlas will now provide us with management objectives and enable areas with particular access to more detailed information. values to be identified and managed to protect, maintain and enhance these values. Under the Forest Practices Code, geoconservation values such as karst are protected by excluding machinery from Through this system, all land is initially classified in sensitive areas, and by avoiding changes to surface drainage The Australian Cave and Karst Management primary zones according to whether it is to be managed Association visited Tarkine Forest Adventures at and infiltration that might otherwise lead to sedimentation for production or protection. A second tier of Special Dismal Swamp this year. Their field trip included a and erosion. The same protection measures are used for presentation that highlighted how the outstanding Management Zones is then used to define and indicate managing non-forestry related activities on state forest as geoconservation values of the sinkhole had been both where management for special values is needed. well, including the development of infrastructure for tourism. protected and showcased as part of the tourism attraction. A Areas managed for each ofthese biodiversity values canoverlap. • 3. 2. 1. Notes: searches undertaken as part ofouroperational planning. aspart searches undertaken At thelocallevel, we identify threatened speciesthrough species instate forests. plans for themanagement ofthreatened flora andfauna Parks,Industries, Water andEnvironment, we develop strategic ofPrimary Threatened oftheDepartment SpeciesSection with specialistsfrom theForest Practices andthe Authority strategic andlocallevel. At thestrategic level, together species andapplymanagement prescriptions at boththe We are inthemanagement ofthreatened alsopro-active the Regional Forest Agreement. includes viableexamples ofall50forest outlinedin types The statewide offormal network andinformal reserves species legislation andtheForest Practices System. Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement, threatened in accordance withtheRegional Forest Agreement andthe We managethreatened species, communities andhabitats and habitats Threatened communities species, Fauna Biodiversity spines Area managed(ha) Flora Wildlife habitat strips reas managedfor ofbiodiversity additionalprotection values instate forests classification review. The area in2007/08includedsome erroneous polygons. These were removed ofamanagement decision in2008/09aspart values. run asseparate queries, which showed inwildlife about30,000 hectares that habitat alsohave infact strips otherspecific fauna any wildlife habitatthat strips alsohadotherfaunavalues were notcounted for thosefaunavalues. From 2008/09they were Change inmethodology. Previously wildlife habitatwere strips from simply subtracted total faunaarea, butthisthenmeant that Military AreaTraining includesBuckland Area managedby Forestry Tasmania. 2006/07 201,700 385,900 60,600 71,600

2007/08 201,500 399,600 63,100 72,600

threatened speciesonstate forest. and the Parks, Industries, ofPrimary Threatened at theDepartment SpeciesSection Water andEnvironment onmanaging planning tools upto date. This hasgreatly improved efficiency, andassisted ourdiscussionswith Forest Practices Authority to theAtlas, andwe draw newrecords from theAtlas into ourown information systems onaregular basisto keepour Forestry Tasmania now derives allflora andfaunadata from theNatural Values Atlas. We add foresters’ fieldobservations raptor database that iscurrently beingdeveloped. contains data from that anumberofalliedprojects are addedto theAtlas asrequired, suchastheweeds database, anda central data foronnative repository observational species, includingthreatened species. The Natural Values Atlas also Parks, Industries, ofPrimary administered by theDepartment Water andEnvironment, to become therecognised statewide threatened speciesdata management systems. This lengthy andinvolved process hasenabledtheNatural Values Atlas, the Forest Parks, Industries, ofPrimary Practices andtheDepartment Authority Water andEnvironment onharmonising agendas, suchasthoseinthe Tasmanian resource management sector. This year, Forestry Tasmania collaborated with As technology improves itisbecoming increasingly to share practical information amongagencieswithoverlapping Harmonising conservation data: theNatural 2008/09 201,800 386,800 92,900 71,900 1 388,100 2009/10 80,900 20,100 71,700 3 2

2010/11 201,100 389,800 72,600 81,300 V alues A tlas under development. Photo: Penny Sangster. incorporated into theNatural Values Atlas, iscurrently eagle fledgling.Sea A raptor database, which willbe

15 sustaining biodiversity STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 and habitat sustaining biodiversity and habitat

Developing procedures for planning Cessation of harvesting sphagnum moss on state forest landscape-level conservation In 2009, alpine sphagnum bogs and associated fens were listed as endangered vegetation communities under the Commonwealth Environmental Forestry operations normally take place within individual Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This listing included the sphagnum peatland community on state forest. Accordingly, Forestry harvesting areas (coupes), in accordance with Forest Tasmania reviewed and then rescinded the last remaining harvesting contract for sphagnum moss on state forest at a location in the Central Practices Plans. Yet in state forest they usually form part Highlands known as Bradys (Black Bobs) Bog. of a broader schedule of operations that are planned This site had been under contract to one harvesting operator since about 1975. The operator had developed low-impact harvesting practices that for a particular three-year period (or longer) across the kept the vegetation community in relatively good health over that time, through the use of a rail track and cart system that minimised ground landscape. Many conservation issues, such as threatened disturbance and moss compaction. species, are evident at this larger scale. For instance, the home range of a single masked owl may encompass However, over the past ten years, the growth rate and health of the moss bed had declined. Following an assessment of the bog in 2003 when hundreds of hectares of forest; swift parrot may nest in the contract was due for renewal, the allowable harvesting quota was reduced in order to realign the sustainable yield with the lower growth rates mature forest several kilometres from the blue gums in and to allow the health of the sphagnum community to recover. However, at the time of the next contract renewal, in 2008, illegal moss harvesting which they forage; and the effects of forest harvesting at by someone other than the contractor, was reported as having caused extensive damage to the integrity and health of the moss beds. Damage the head of a catchment on water-flows may be evident had increased further at the time of the most recent assessment following the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act listing. lower down in the catchment where threatened native In the view of the independent expert on sphagnum communities who was part of the assessment team, the health of the bog had continued fish and crayfish may live. As our knowledge of threatened to deteriorate despite the low-impact harvesting practices that had been applied. The bog had dried out, resulting in a stark change in species species ecology increases and planning tools become composition, with an increase in other plant species such as Empodisma minus colonising the harvested areas from adjacent rush and sedge more sophisticated, we intend to progressively implement thickets. In some areas the once-extensive moss beds were becoming islands of moss among expanses of Empodisma. landscape-level planning that we expect will deliver These concerns were discussed with the contractor, and the contract terminated. Forestry Tasmania deployed a hidden camera in an attempt to better outcomes for both forestry and conservation catch the illegal harvesters, but the camera was discovered and was stolen, presumably by the illegal harvesters. Nevertheless, Forestry Tasmania across the estate. staff continue to monitor the site.

While the end of legal harvesting has afforded some protection for the bog, illegal harvesting is still causing damage despite our concerted efforts to catch the perpetrators. Perhaps the solution will come from those further along the supply chain. Conservation would be the winner if nurseries, bonsai clubs and other customers only bought legally supplied sphagnum moss, and if they persuaded the industry to invest in chain-of-custody tracking and certification akin to the systems adopted by the forest products sector.

Harvesting of sphagnum moss on state forest ceased in 2010/11, in response to the Australian Government’s listing of this vegetation community as endangered. alternative optionssuchasadopting variableretention harvesting to ofmature increase theproportion forest habitat retained for long-term retention. Zones, ofareas forest of coupe ofunharvested andre-zoning boundaries orachievable for withsome re-shaping long-term retention. thosecaseswhere In lessthan20percent oftheforest area orsetaside, isreserved the managermay consider woodthree-year planfor production theyears 2010/11to 2012/13,showed that inallbutahandfulof thesealong-term retention target withincoupes ofat least20percent was found to beeither already achieved withexisting SpecialManagement forest landscapesofthissize already have at least 20percent oftheforest setasidefor area protection ofstreams eitherpermanently reserved, orotherwise andotherspecialvalues. For example, arecent analysis ofall203coupes inMurchison District’s 1 of judgement. this may guideus, ultimately thechoice oftarget isamatter researchthree-year forests. inthesouthern project While through ofthisthinking, thevalidity exploring alarge-scale, compared to permanentlycleared land. We are currently such anobstacleto speciesmovement and recolonisation grows back)andbecausetheregenerating forest isnot they canbeconsidered (becausetheforest temporary are likelyto belessdrastic (seefigure), notleastbecause continuously forested ofharvesting landscapestheimpacts as whenforest isconverted to agricultural land.more In in landscapesthat have beenpermanently altered, such However, mostresearch habitat losshasbeenconducted habitat loss, beyond whichmajorecological changesensue. athresholdloss; somestudiesdetect at about70percent ondependent specieswithincreasing of impact habitat it shouldbeapplied.general, In there isanescalating level long-term retention target andthespatial scaleat which give someguidance inthedevelopment ofanestate-wide set asidefor long-term retention. can Ecological theory ofacoupe andmay thatin thevicinity be isunharvested Systems, ofnative identifies themetric proportion forest metric. Using Geographic Information a coupe-context One approach that we are istheapplication exploring of

We have beenexperimenting withalong-term retention target, whereby 20percent offorest ofitwhichisstate coupe forest) view from (ortheproportion ina400-hectare aharvesting willbeassigned to long-term retention. ofourcommercial Most 1

Ecological value (per ecosystem type) improved outcomes conservation inthesecircumstances. applied to coupe planningseemslikelyto deliver much planningtool that awell-devised mayImplementing be time, buttheytakenoaccount oflong-term retention. point in ofthelandscapeat aparticular parts particular that may limiting theamount occur ofharvesting in dispersal. Coupe dispersalprescriptions are aimedat presentingreservation, challengesfor maintaining coupe forestconstrained becauseofadditionallarge-scale Native isbecoming forestry increasingly geographically that ofthelandscape isunmanaged proportion changes inecological value withchangesinthe A conceptual ecological thresholds relating curve that isunmanaged. changes intheproportionoflandscape relating changesinecologicalvaluewith A conceptualecologicalthresholdscurve 0 01 22 55 % unmanaged 0 100 old growth forest area in Tasmania. baseline mapping, this represents 0.74percent ofthetotal forests since 30June2001is9,120hectares. Basedon1996 clearfelled. The total ofoldgrowth forest instate clearfelled techniques (25percent) and340hectares was non-clearfell area, (75percent) 1,030hectares using was harvested this methods)was 1,370hectares. Of and non-clearfell area ofoldgrowth in2010/11(usingclearfell harvested for sawlogs. sustainingthesupplyofhighquality The total forest isvital isavailable andthisportion for harvesting ofoldgrowth addition,asmallproportion instate In in Tasmania.tenures hectares, ofoldgrowth forest isprotected across allland values.conservation Seventy-nine percent, oronemillion ofoldgrowthhectares forests instate forest for reserves and itisouraimto maintain aminimumof250,000 Within Tasmania, oldgrowth occurs across alllandtenures environmentally, sociallyandeconomically to Tasmania. of disturbance are now negligible. They are important Old growth forests are mature forests inwhichtheeffects Old growth forests

17 sustaining biodiversity STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 and habitat sustaining biodiversity and habitat

The Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement set a target This year saw the successful completion of the research to use non-clearfell silviculture in a minimum of 80 per program on Alternatives to Clearfelling in Old Growth Forests, cent of the annual old growth harvest area on public land, which was funded under the Tasmanian Community Forest subject to confirmation that appropriate progress was being Agreement. The $2 million program commenced in 2006 to made across a full range of ecological, social and economic identify, commission and report on research into alternatives objectives. to clearfelling old growth forests on public land in Tasmania. Old growth harvesting (clearfell and partial). Old growth harvesting (clearfell and partial) In Tasmania’s tall old growth forests, the main silvicultural

1600 80% alternative to clearfelling has been the development of 1400 70% variable retention silviculture. The research program has 1200 60% provided assurance that the variable retention technique A small proportion of old growth forest is currently available a) 1000 50% can be safely and effectively implemented in old growth for harvesting and is vital for the supply of valuable wood (h 800 40% products such as sawlogs and special species timbers. ea forests and is supported by science, validated by Ar 600 30% Variable retention silviculture is now carried out in the peer-reviewed papers and summarised in a major report 400 20% majority of old growth harvesting areas. We aim to fully meet titled A New Silviculture for Tasmania’s Public Forests 200 10% the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement target to use (available at forestrytas.com.au). non-clearfell silviculture in a minimum of 80 per cent of the 0 0% 2006/0722007/08 008/09 2009/10 2010/11 annual old growth harvest area on public land, by 2011/12. The variable retention technique aligns well with

Clearfell Partial harvesting % partial harvest international best practice and Forestry Tasmania believes it now has a capacity, within operational, economic and safety Old growth harvesting (clearfell and partial) constraints, to undertake around 1,000 hectares of variable retention harvesting on state forest annually. Harvest year 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 Old growth clearfelled (ha) 780 690 810 580 340 The current priority is to meet the Tasmanian Community Cumulative area of clearfell from 2001 (ha) 6,700 7,390 8,200 8,780 9,120 Forest Agreement target to use non-clearfell silviculture in Cumulative clearfell as per cent of total OG in Tas a minimum of 80 per cent of the annual old growth harvest 0.55% 0.60% 0.67% 0.72% 0.74% (ha) area on public land. The graph shows that good progress Old growth partial harvesting (ha) 690 1,420 1,460 740 1,020 has been made (75 per cent) towards this target, although Total old growth harvesting (ha) 1,470 2,120 2,270 1,320 1,370 uncertainties around markets, including those resulting from the Statement of Principles process, and the need to rapidly Notes: • Figures are rounded actual totals. reschedule harvest areas to meet contractual obligations to • Harvested areas for last 5 years, but cumulative totals since 2001. customers, meant that the target was not fully achieved in • Area includes Buckland Military Training Area managed by Forestry Tasmania. 2010/11. We aim to achieve the target in 2011/12. trees tend to occur where: locations where thesetrees were growing, we found that tall tall. analysing By thebioclimatic andterrain data for the Tasmania,in north-east we found 388 trees over 74metres may grow. astudyarea In comprising some450,000hectares height ineucalyptsto where helpuspredict thefuture giants explore theenvironmental that foster characteristics extreme We recently usedLiDAR withclimatic andterrain data to Centurion, forests, inthesouthern usingLiDAR imagery. flowering plant, a99.6-metre tallEucalyptus regnans, named technology. stafffirstspotted Our the world’s known tallest new standsofgiant trees have usingthis beendetected helps inthemanagement ofstate forests, andseveral andvegetationaspect offer unprecedented that accuracy Information System mappingfor terrain, drainage, slope, increased itsuse ofLiDAR. LiDAR-derived Geographic For thepastfew years, Forestry Tasmania hasprogressively least 85metres in height or280cubicmetres involume. In Tasmania, Forestry Tasmania protects allsuchtrees at flowering plants, whichare allinthegenusEucalyptus. Australia ishometoSouth-eastern theworld’s tallest LiDAR andthegiants biodiversity benefit. estate, to retain oldgrowth elements where theydeliver most retention across thecommercial harvesting native forest more valuable to implement upto ofvariable 1,000hectares than overly focussing ondefinedold growth It mayforest. be ways ofimplementing variableretention harvesting,rather thelongerterm thereIn may bemore ecologically beneficial

• • not too dry (because too-frequent fires not too dry would prevent trees infrequent fires would allow rainforest to dominate), and regimes. This ‘Goldilocks’ zone isnottoo wet (because a ‘sweet spot’ inthelandscape, related perhaps to wildfire the analysis suggested that talleucalypttrees may occupy high rates amongtalleucalypts. ofstem breakages Overall, predominant westerly cause winds, whichonotheraspects providealso bebecausetheseaspects protection from the thewinter; itmay during levels ofinsolation, particularly may beassociatedeast aspects withhigherthanaverage growth ofgiant trees. The association witheastto North- of higherelevations are indeedmore favourable for the that thecooler temperatures andhigherrainfall typical inthevalleys.and harvesting However, itisalsopossible lower elevations simplybecauseofhistorical clearing ispossiblethat talltrees mayIt belesscommon at • • • T of14millimetres. period driest is about1,300millimetres, meanfor withaweekly the oflowperiods rainfall. The optimalmeanannualrainfall R above sealevel). T T 20 degrees). T is1.3°Celsius.period Celsius andtheoptimalmeanminimumincoldest maximum temperature is20.3° inthewarmestperiod emperature isstrongly seasonal. The optimalmean he elevation ishigh(optimallyabout490metres eastto North-east. istypically he aspect he terrain steeply sloping(meanangleof istypically ainfall ismoderately highandseasonal, including

caters notonly for today’s giants, butfor tomorrow’s too. will beinabetter positionto ensure that ourmanagement for giant trees across Tasmania. With we thisknowledge gain abetter understandingofwhat conditions are optimal state forest estate, we theanalysis willextend accordingly to study area. Once theLiDAR data isavailable for theentire historical land-usepatternsTasmanian ofthenorth-east ofthesteep topography,be anartefact highrainfall and The environmental envelope above described may inpart giants. to support orfire-prone be too dry the landscapethat might otherwise asrefugiatend to serve from droughtof andfires inparts steep slopes may indicate anassociation withgullies, which reaching theirfull height potential). The relationship with the 99.6-metre tallCenturion Tree, usingLiDAR data. stands ofgiant trees, includingthe standcontaining Forestry Tasmania staffhave found several new

19 sustaining biodiversity STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 and habitat sustaining jobs for current and future generations

Financial performance • the Statement of Principles negotiations and Tasmanian Financial performance Forests Intergovernmental Agreement process;

Under Tasmanian legislation, Forestry Tasmania’s business • the ongoing effects of the Global Financial Crisis; model includes both commercial and non-commercial • the high Australian dollar; and objectives. We perform and fund a range of community • the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of March 2011. services, including the management of significant areas of forest for which we receive no commercial return. Forestry The most significant of these issues, in terms of the effect Tasmania also operates with a number of commercial on our trading position, was the closure of the Triabunna constraints, such as the need to manage production woodchip mill. The mill was critical infrastructure to the forests on long rotations that aim to ensure a long-term industry. To retain a viable sawlog industry it is essential sustainable forest industry. These policies affect our that we retain export facilities for harvesting and processing profitability and so it is appropriate to assess our financial residues, at least until such time as we can attract new performance with reference to these issues. investment in domestic value-added processing.

The Financial Statements for 2010/11 (Appendix 1) provide full details of the financial performance of Forestry Tasmania.

Markets

The forest industry in Tasmania and Forestry Tasmania experienced significant challenges in 2010/11. The uncertainties in the operating environment equally affected Forestry Tasmania, our customers, and most other businesses operating in the forestry sector in Tasmania.

The difficult trading conditions arose as a result of a number of complex issues:

• a decision by our largest customer, Gunns Limited, to exit value-adding from native forest harvesting and to close its export woodchip mills;

Timber processing, Exeter Sawmill. Forestry I state from asfaraway asNew Zealand. local partner, Forestry Tasmania hopesto have itsfirstpilotplant preparing pellets for thedomesticheating market’s peakwinter season. These pelletswill replace pelletsbrought into the demand for wood pelletsandbriquettes for homeheating. Pellets andbriquettes offer atruly renewable andgas.In heating alternativea collaboration with that ischeaperthanelectricity applications. othercountries around In theworld, for example, are JapanandKorea, beingmade similarefforts to offset coalusagein power plants. Within Tasmania,there isanincreasing to aneffort combat global warming, in2012.In early Europe hasmoved towards wood pellets to replace coal inpower generation and for domesticandinstitutional heating and cooling andprocessing to makebetter aneffort useofharvesting In residues, a we arewood pelletmill, alsoplanning withalocalpartner,to start asapilotproject at theHuon Wood Centre peeled veneer iscurrently inhighdemand, asthestrength ofourlocallygrown characteristics eucalyptshelpoverseas millsto plywood produce stronger, more valuable panels. Ta Ann’s current plants at theHuonandCircular Head Wood centres. Currently, theselogsare eitherprocessed into woodchips orsent overseas processing. for peelingandfurther Rotary themeantime,In we inafeasibility havepeeled veneer studyfor millat Scottsdale. arotary beenaleadparticipant The potential millwould usealower specification oflogs, notsuitable for raising awareness ofourproducts, andbuildingdemandfor ofthequality them,inAustralian China. andoverseas –particularly markets Forestry Tasmania woodchips willcontinue andwholelogsuntil we to export canto investment attract inwood processing in Tasmania. focus Our to mediumterm over ison theshort resistance. timeandresourceproduction recovery. They are now asmore specifytheuseofwood widelyusedinbuildingconstruction, planningauthorities for storage carbon andearthquake These are products already inhighdemandinternational markets. Engineered wood are products strong andversatile, andmuchmore efficient to produce than sawn timber, inboth employment for to processing skilled severalInvestment substantial willalsobring opportunities invalue-added Tasmanian regional centres. torrefied wood and wood pellets. We have identified anumberoflocations around thestate with existinginfrastructure that couldbe transformed into processing sites forthese products. The future ofthe Tasmanian peeledveneers, suchasrotary liesinproducts forest laminated veneer lumber, industry cross-laminated lumber, andrenewable energy intheform of alternatives. The visionoftheForestry Innovation Plan isto transform Tasmania wood products, innovative into aregional silviculture, hubrenowned andcarbon-neutral energy for state-of-the-art • • • ofthedomesticenvironment ofinternational andourobservations knowledge markets Our tell trends usthekeyforest inthefuture willbe: industry planning aheadfor woodchips. beyond thesechanges, ourtraditional mix ofsawn by product identifyingtimber andexport opportunities We have predicted thechangesinourcustomer baseforchangesof2010/11were sometime, ofcourse althoughtheindustry more rapid thanexpected. we Nevertheless, have been Forestry Tasmania’s response to thechangesinouroperating environment intheForestry isarticulated Innovation inAugust Plan period , launchedsubsequent to2011. thereporting changing consumer demandfor engineered wood products. more plantation timbercoming onstream, asoursawlog plantings mature andnewprojects, suchas Trees onFarms, are implemented; and less native forest timberavailable for processing, asthearea increases ofreserves underthe Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement; nnovation Plan

21 sustaining jobs for current STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 and future generations sustaining jobs for current and future generations

Profitability results, they reflect the commercial constraints on land The majority of funds were expended on capital programs. imposed by the Forestry Act. These movements have been However, in compliance with Australian accounting Forestry Tasmania made an operating loss after tax before taken through the income statement as required, leading standards, the funds received for the completion of these other items for 2010/11 of $12.09 million, which was a to an overall reported comprehensive loss for the year of programs are taken to profit and appear on the face of the slight improvement on the previous year’s result. $129 million. The changes in valuation of the forest assets income statement and are split between income for capital The treatment of movements in the superannuation are shown in the diagram below: and for operating activities. This accounting treatment liability was changed from previous years to be consistent will continue while Forestry Tasmania is undertaking Forest assets valuation with that of other state-owned entities. In previous Forest assets valuation. commitments under the Tasmanian Community periods, the total movement in the superannuation 600 Forest Agreement. liability was presented as a non-operating item. However, 500 for the year ended 30 June 2011, this was changed to Community Service Obligations 400 disclose the interest component within finance costs, the In addition to deriving economic returns from wood employer service cost within employee expenses and the 300 production activities, Forestry Tasmania is responsible for expected return on plan assets within other operating 200 a range of activities to maintain the non-commercial values items. The previous period has also been restated in of state forests. These are referred to as Community Service Value ($ million) 100 accordance with the same classifications, to provide Obligations and include the following: relative comparisons. 0 • conservation of flora, fauna, land forms and Forestry Tasmania’s operating loss for 2010/11 reflects the -1 00 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 cultural heritage; challenging market conditions, in particular, the closure of Tourism infrastructure • management of forest reserves for conservation; the Triabunna woodchip mill. Roads and structures Net finance costs were $9.2 million and the cost of • the provision and maintenance of forest roads Standing timber managing non-commercial forest zones (forest reserves and other facilities for public access; and Forest reserves and special timbers and the Special Timbers Zone) was $5.3 million. • provision of public information and education An operating loss of $3.3 million resulted from general Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement programs. forest operations. In May 2005, the Tasmanian and Australian Governments Forestry Tasmania incurs significant costs in performing In 2010/11, we again commissioned an independent signed the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement. these obligations. Unlike other public forest managers valuation of our forest assets by James W Sewall, a US- Forestry Tasmania is a recipient of funds for specific in Australia, Forestry Tasmania’s costs for Community based firm with specific expertise in the valuation of forest projects within the agreement. In 2010/11, $11.212 million Service Obligations have not been separately funded since assets, including Australasian forests. was spent on projects associated with the establishing, 1998. From that time, they have been funded from our This review resulted in a further decrease in the value of fertilising, pruning and thinning of hardwood plantations, commercial activities. These costs are included in deriving the biological assets (standing timber) and, while these forest management activities such as variable retention the annual profit from the commercial operations of the movements have no impact on operational cash or profit silviculture, recovery and marketing of special timbers and business, and should be excluded when assessing the various research related tasks. purely commercial performance of our business. minimum quantity of300,000cubic metresminimum quantity ofhigh quality Under theForestry Act, we are required to makeavailable a sawlogs.availability ofhighquality are managedonlongrotations to ensure themaximum supply oftimber. ournative Both forests andplantations We managestate forests to provide along-term sustainable L have notbeenseparately identified. intimately integrated withproductive forest lands, andcosts are incurred asoutlinedabove. These landsare more Obligations forharvest, whichsimilarCommunity Service informal forest andotherareas reserves unavailable for set asidefrom commercial forest including production, Forestry Tasmania managesadditionalareas ofland managing theseforest areas was $5.3millionin2010/11. and fire control, as well as weed management. The cost of tracks, picnicareas andrelated infrastructure, pest, disease incurs costs for providing publicaccess roads, walking oftheresponsibility for thisland,part Forestry Tasmania the Special Timbers Strategy released 2010 during areas (covering which are 77,300hectares), managedunder andpredominantlyincluding theblackwood rainforest oftheSpecial andthemajority hectares); Timbers Zone, formallyreserves gazetted undertheForestry (222,200 Act Obligations. Community Service They includeforest managing categories two non-commercial oflandas Forestry Tasmania separately costs incurred for reports under consideration. Obligations, andthisapplication iscurrently Service the Portfolio for Minister fundingoftheseCommunity Forestry Tasmania madeformal application thisyear to ong-term sustainablesupplyoftimber 2 ). As ).As

managed for special timbersbutwhere aninitialcommercial isplanned. harvest 2 value ofeachproduct, was $585 million. This underpins based onthebestavailable information onrecovery and Tasmania from logs suppliedfrom state forest in2010/11, The estimated final value of producedwood products in Wood products be transparent ofthesecommercial inthereporting issues. andemployment.growth inlocalindustry We continue to longer term issuessuchasecological and sustainability that we financial aimto with returns balance short-term ofsustainableforestprinciples management, whichmeans However, ourbusinessismanagedaccording to the cycle, andthusaffectsour return. harvesting significantly thelengthof commercial extends For example, ourfocus onproducing sawlog high quality is constrained financial performance by theseissues. to business, to deliver ourcapacity afullycommercial standardsWhen judgedbycurrently theshort-term applied operations andconstraints onresource availability. Forest Agreement, have alsoaddedadditionalcosts to our retention underthe harvesting Tasmanian Community requirements,Other suchas theintroduction ofvariable Forests Intergovernmental Agreement. cubic metres of specialtimbersunderthe Tasmanian sawlog, 265,000cubicmetres ofveneer log, and12,500 resource availability ofat least155,000cubicmetres of year). We are alsoplanningaheadfor apossiblereduced difficult trading conditions(suchasthose experienced this suppliedmayquantity drop below thisamount under sawlog andveneer logannually, althoughtheactual

This ofwet doesnotinclude 18,600hectares eucalyptforests also

and softwood plantations producedand softwood 911,000tonnes. wood, hardwood plantations produced 171,000tonnes in 2010/11,native forests produced 2.068milliontonnes of Using thisasabasisfor overall from production state forests Tasmania includes 100 percent production. of thesoftwood of wood generated products from state forest, Forestry However, asameansofaccounting for thetotal volume from the saleofsoftwood GMOpartnership. Forestry Tasmania accruing 50percent oftherevenue from Financial isbasedon data inthisreport performance estatethe softwood instate forests. Tasmania eachhave of 50percent ofthemajority equity venture inwhichGMORenewableResources andForestry private land. joint Onesucharrangement isthesoftwood forests; inplantations andjoint established on equity companies; inplantations joint establishedinstate equity and range from theleaseofstate forest to otherforest venture arrangements. considerably The terms ofthesevary Forestry Tasmania isalsoinvolved ofjoint inavariety accounted for some$32million. in payments to staff, contractors andsuppliers– wages contributionOur to theeconomy included$183million from $1.2billion to $1.6billion. by sourcesreported includingtheForestry ranges CRC to the sector manufacturing product Tasmanian economy, the annualcontribution madeby thewood andpaper

23 sustaining jobs for current STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 and future generations sustaining jobs for current and future generations

Auditor-General findsT asmanian economy is $111 million better off each year with ForestryT asmania Wood quality

The Tasmanian Auditor-General this year completed a comprehensive and independent review of Forestry Tasmania, finding As a result of the lower availability of logs from mature that at a base level, we contribute $111 million to Gross State Product annually. native forests, and the increased proportion that will be supplied from plantation and regrowth forests, This is our direct contribution to the economy, and should be regarded as a starting point for determining the overall the average size of sawlogs will decrease over time. benefit to state growth that we deliver. The figure was calculated using conservative modelling that did not take into Sawlog characteristics will also change. These factors account the downstream processing of wood products from Tasmanian state forests. This includes the contribution of will require the processing industry to transition to new harvesting contractors, sawmills, veneer mills and woodchip mills, which could not continue to operate in the absence of technologies over the next five to ten years. wood from state forest. When this wider contribution is taken into account, the value of wood products produced from Tasmanian state forest timber in 2010/11 was $585 million. The two indicators used to monitor these changes and to provide the processing sector with an indication of the The Auditor-General also found we had foregone revenue of $30–$40 million in unfunded Community Service Obligations, rate of change in wood quality over time are log diameter and that funds received from government have been compensation for loss of productive assets, not operating subsidies. (a well-recognised proxy for sawn timber recovery and The net effect to Forestry Tasmania of government agreements to reserve more land has been a 27 per cent reduction in therefore value) and the percentage of non-seasoning our productive assets and a 90 per cent increase in the formal and informal reserves we have had to manage on a non- species3 in the sawlog supply. This year’s data shows a slight commercial basis. increase in the average quality of eucalypt sawlogs supplied. The log diameter data shows a decline in the percentage Of the $223 million received in State and Australian government funding during this period, $211 million was compensation of logs less than 65 centimetres in diameter, with a for productive forest transferred into reserves, not operating subsidy. This compensation was used by Forestry Tasmania to commensurate increase across the two larger diameter invest in plantation development to offset the losses of productive forest assets. However, plantations are developed over classes. It also shows a small reduction in the percentage of the long-term, and do not generate a return on investment for around 20 years. sawlogs supplied from non-seasoning species. The review also found we had: PPercentageercentage of of eucalypt eucalypt category category 1 and1 and 3 sawlogs 3 sawlogs by fourby • made $201 million in operating profits since corporatisation; logfour diameter log diameter classes classes sold over sold the over past the five past years eight years.

• paid $99 million in government taxes and dividends since corporatisation; and 100 19% 22% 25% 20% 21% 80 • had invested more than $414 million in assets and plantations, including $189 million from revenue generated 24% 24% 23% 26% from operations. 60 24%

Per cent 40 We have already responded to some of the Auditor-General’s recommendations, for example, by appointing independent 43% 42% 46% 43% 45% valuers, Sewall, to determine an integrated value of the total forest estate. This valuation will create a clearer picture of our 20 14% financial performance and return on assets in future years. 0 13% 8% 11% 8% 2006/072007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 % <45 cm % 45<65 cm % 65<85 cm % >85 cm Per cent 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 eight years. Percentage ofnon-seasoningspeciessoldoverthepast appearance grade products. grade products, whereas theseasoningspeciesmay beusedto make 3 • • of wood volumes andvalues ismaximised. These are: We have two main processes inplace to ensure therecovery available aspeelerlogs, pulpwood andfuelwood. sawlogs andveneer,high quality withtheremainder being areas ofcraftwood, through specialtimbers, theselection We maximisetheuseofallfelled trees from harvested P past five years P

Non-seasoning speciesare predominantly usedto makeconstruction ercentage soldover ofnon-seasoningspecies the roduct recoveryroduct 2006/0 harvesting operations.harvesting merchantable ontheforest wood beingleft floorafter efficient removal of forest and toquantify products post-logging residue assessments to ensure the misclassified aspulpwood; and the presence ofany sawlogs that may have been pulpwood auditsat millsandlandings to determine 7 2007/ 08 % non- seas 2008/0 oni 92 ng sp ec ie 009/ s 10

2 010/ 11

3. 2. 1. Notes: E production areasproduction sampled. merchantable tonnes was perhectare achieved inallthe areas.in 69harvested The standard oflessthanfive 2010/11,we loggingIn conducted residue assessments over thepreceding three years). sawlog thisyear (compared withtheaverage of0.1percent (0.09 percent) of pulpwood consisted ofmisclassified tonnes, indicating that aslightly lower proportion was lessthanthepreceding three years’ average of1,920 per cent, theestimated recoverable volume (1,418tonnes) the total audited. Basedonasample size ofjustundereight segregation, with110tonnes ofsawlogs recovered out of from theseaudits showed animprovement inlog had beenmisclassifiedassawlogs.Information collected classified aspulpwood to determine whetherany wood This year, we auditson120,063tonnes conducted ofwood Product Group High quality sawlog andveneer quality (m High Low sawlog (m quality Peeler log(m Plantation pulpwood (t) Native forest pulpwood (t) Total arisings ucalypt wooducalypt production Arisings includepulpwoodArisings (t),peeler(m Tasmania (2007). Potential supplylevel from sawlog ofarisings supplyis2,800,000tonnes, the sustainableyieldofhighquality based onForestry Tasmanian State forest, ReviewNo. 3.is320,000m The indicative sustainableyieldlevel isbasedonForestry Tasmania eucalyptsawlog supplyfrom (2007)Sustainable highquality 3 2, 3 ) 3 ) 3 ) 1 3 ) and low quality sawlog) andlow (m quality 3 perannum.

2,525,825 2,136,687 2006/07 307,088 211,197 126,163

51,778 3 ). Onegreen tonne metric isapproximately equalto 1m supply level of2.8 milliontonnes. the five-year average yield arisings wasbelow thepotential yield remained within thesustainedyieldstrategy, while the depressed sawlog market. The five-year average sawlog sawlog andveneer,of highquality whichwas indicative of 2010/11weIn produced atotal of 196,702cubicmetres Clause 77oftheRegional Forest Agreement. management approach isrequired by theForestry and Act 300,000 cubicmetres eucalyptsawlog. ofhighquality This in state forests to maintain asustainablesupplyofat least potential over agiven timeperiod. We manageharvesting estate doesnot exceed itsproductive andregenerative is that thevolume from oftimber harvested theforest A vitalprerequisite for sustainableforest management Sustainable yield 2,704,257 2,230,874 2007/08 303,951 209,590 176,703 87,090 2,405,944 2,005,448 2008/09 245,154 208,334 135,549 56,613 1,905,479 1,388,986 2009/10 210,538 299,101 179,495 37,897 2,027,682 1,376,554 2010/11 196,702 431,391 171,205 48,532 3 .

25 sustaining jobs for current STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 and future generations sustaining jobs for current and future generations

ProductionProduction of of high high quality quality sawlog sawlog and and veneer. veneer TreTrendsnds inin land land use use for fo areasr areas managed manage byd byForestry Forestr Tasmaniay Tasmania

400,000 700,000 350,000 600,000 300,000 500,000 250,000 400,000 200,000 300,000 150,000 200,000 Volume (m) 100,000 100,000 50,000 0 Forest Informal Native forest Special Hardwood Softwood Native forest 0 reserves reserves outside wood timbers plantation plantation available 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 production zone for wood 5 year average areas production

Indicative sustainable yield level 2006/072007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 Volume To maintain the ongoing supply of timber, a sufficient area Setting the scene for the next wood review of production forest is required. Only 47 per cent of the ArisingsArisings production production levels levels againstagainst potential supplysupply level level. Maintaining the productive capacity of the forest is one 1.5 million-hectare state forest estate is available for wood 3,500,000 of Forestry Tasmania’s key criteria for sustainable forest production. This area comprises native eucalypt forest management. This criterion is most relevant when discussing 3,000,000 (499,500 hectares, or 33 per cent), the Special Timbers Zone high quality eucalypt sawlog supply. We model and monitor 2,500,000 (97,800 hectares, or 6 per cent) and plantations (108,400 2,000,000 hectares, or 7 per cent). The remaining area (53 per cent) this sawlog supply to ensure harvesting is consistent with the long-term productive capacity of Tasmania’s state forests. 1,500,000 comprises formal and informal reserves and other areas outside production forests. Volume (tonne) 1,000,000 The 1997 Regional Forest Agreement requires us to review 500,000 Since 2000/01, the area available for native forest wood our sustained yield calculation for high quality eucalypt production (including the Special Timbers Zone) has been 0 sawlog supply every five years. The fourth such review, 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 reduced by 16 per cent or 111,700 hectares. The majority is due in 2012. of this decrease has resulted from the implementation of NF pulpwood Peeler additional reserves under the Tasmanian Community Eucalypt plantation pulpwood Low quality sawlog Each review involves the major components of resource Forest Agreement. However, the conversion of a portion of 5 year average Indicative sustainable level estimation, which are the areas of various forest types, native forest to plantation has also contributed. Ongoing yields of log products, and a forest management strategy. decreases also occur due to the reservation of forest from To estimate sawlog supply from the forest, we use forest wood production during pre-harvest planning to protect inventory, future growth estimates and historical harvest conservation values. records. At each review since 1997, we have identified the the 2011/12financial year. considerationplan for by the governments further in early to work withthesignatories to develop animplementation appointed anindependent facilitator, AC, BillKelty Mr and management of Tasmania’s forest resources and jointly andsustainabledevelopment balancing theconservation welcomed thestatement asapositive step towards of Principles. The Australian and Tasmanian governments nor Forestry Tasmania, were signatories to theStatement Neither theAustralian nor Tasmanian governments, period. reporting and Tasmanian governments signed subsequent to the Intergovernmental Agreement, whichtheAustralian Principles. thisledto turn, ledto the In Tasmanian Forests to thesigning ofthe Tasmanian Forests Statement of and Environmental Organisations Non-Government led 2010,discussionsbetween theforest October In industry to anagreement E in 2012. eucalypt sawlog supplywillbemodelledandreported our resource information systems inJuly2011,highquality sustained yieldcalculation in2010/11.Basedonaviewfrom We commenced preparations for review thenext ofour old growth forest, thusreducing sawlog supply. the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement more reserved from amaturing plantation resource. For example, in2005 available for wood andincreased production, contribution usually associated inthearea withareduction ofnative forest significant changes to sawlog supply. These changesare valuation ofwood resource scenarios relevant to T asmanian Forests S tatement ofP rinciples to lead rinciples to lead

the period inwhichcurrentthe period supplycontracts willapply. from 2031to 2050. twentyThe first years broadly equated to from publiclandover from two periods: 2011until 2030and The focus oftheevaluation was onnative forest wood supply negotiating possibilities. information to helpinform transitions and However, thescenarios were provided to generate were notnecessarily theirpositionsonpreferred outcomes. were created. The signatories indicated that thesescenarios which reflected the wood supplyifnoadditional reserves scenarios wereBoth compared againstabasecase, • • for scenarios: two distinct inrelationof theprinciples to wood supply, particularly Forests Statement ofPrinciples to evaluate thefeasibility to the signatories to services the consultancy Tasmanian of2010/11Forestry thelatter In part Tasmania provided year ofspecialtimbers. per year ofpeelerbilletsand12,500cubicmetres per per year sawlog, ofhighquality 265,000cubicmetres as150,000cubicmetres This position was articulated minimum positionfor from products native forests. sufficient native forest tomeetthe processing industry’s Government Organisation campaigns, butretained of significant Environmental contemporary Non- hectares, andincludedareas that were thesubject withinatotaladditional reserves proposal of140,350 scenario that proposed of 60,630hectares an industry isalready and reserved); of whichone-third (withinatotalhectares proposal of572,000hectares, scenario that proposed of351,600 additionalreserves an Environmental Organisation Non-Government

supply could notbeoffset from othersources. intherequiredThe 8percent specialtimbers shortfall the specialtimbersrequirement oftheprocessing industry. sawlog, 100percent ofthepeelerbilletand92percent of volumes until 2030represented more thantheminimum forestproduction areas inthefirstperiod. These average year ofspecialtimberscould beproduced from remaining metres peryear ofpeelerbilletsand11,500metres per cubic metres peryear sawlog, ofhighquality 265,000cubic scenario,Under theindustry itwas estimated 199,000 requirement oftheprocessing industry. of thepeelerbilletand54percent ofthespecialtimbers 2030 represented 78percent ofthesawlog, 72percent forest areas inthefirstperiod. These average volumes until timbers could beproduced from remaining production peeler billetsand6,700cubicmetres peryear ofspecial sawlog,of highquality 191,000cubicmetres peryear of scenario, itwas estimated 117,000cubicmetres peryear Under theEnvironmental Organisation Non-Government future wood supplycontracts. to includethemin 2030,andthereafter isopportunity sawlogs willbeavailable from plantations onstate forests meeting thesize specifications eucalypt for highquality interim, significant volumes ofeucalypt plantation logs and veneer from eucalyptplantations are resolved inthe technical of difficulties withthe sawn timber production and veneer from eucalyptplantations. Assuming that the were notconfident to produce oftheirability sawn timber to logsfrom native forest over becausethey thisperiod signatories insisted The theywould industry require access

27 sustaining jobs for current STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 and future generations sustaining jobs for current and future generations

The processing industry stated no minimum requirement Native forests To ensure high quality native forest regeneration, we actively for pulpwood, but the sale of native forest pulpwood Of the 706,000 hectares available for wood production, the maintain a native forest quality standards process. This associated with sawlog and peeler sales is a key majority (597,000 hectares) is native forest. This area provides process enables the timely, effective and accurate monitoring requirement for the financial viability of harvesting the majority of the high quality eucalypt sawlogs and veneer and reporting of silvicultural operations in native forests. operations and for regeneration after harvesting, logs, peeler logs and pulpwood as well as special timbers from The process uses goals, targets, standards and performance particularly in wet eucalypt forests. non-eucalypt species. indicators to determine the success of regeneration operations. An annual quality standards review is held to There is a negligible supply of high quality sawlogs Eucalypt forests discuss issues of concern relating to silvicultural operations, available from eucalypt plantations prior to 2016. to ensure a constructive approach to improving practices, Although not deemed suitable by the native forest We aim to ensure that productivity in state forests is always and to provide a forum for exchange of information and processing industry, eucalypt plantations, wholly or partly maintained. In order to achieve this, forest regeneration ideas. The following information represents a summary of the owned by Forestry Tasmania, could yield an average of practices are constantly monitored and reviewed. information collated from this process. about 28,000 cubic metres per year of high quality eucalypt Successful eucalypt regeneration generally requires: sawlogs from 2016 to 2020, increasing to an average of • effective site preparation by fire or by mechanical Site preparation 82,000 cubic metres per year from 2021 to 2030. disturbance to create receptive seedbeds; Site preparation has a significant impact on the success From 2031–2050, there will be a significant increase in • an adequate supply of high quality seed; and of regeneration. Site preparation techniques include high sawlog supply from eucalypt plantations to an average • freedom from heavy frosts, drought and excessive or low intensity burning, mechanical loosening of the soil of 157,000 cubic metres per year. There will also be a large damage by insects and browsing animals. or excavator heaping and subsequent burning of logging supply of peeler billets, at an average of 617,000 cubic slash. In some cases the disturbance caused by harvesting metres per year, available from these plantations. produces sufficient seedbed for adequate regeneration. However, the willingness and capacity of the current sawlog and domestic peeler processing industries to The quality standard for clearfelled areas is that receptive process and market plantation wood is still uncertain. seedbed is created over at least two-thirds of the area to be regenerated. In partially harvested areas, the quality This preliminary evaluation of the wood resources available under Environmental Non-Government Organisation and standard is that receptive seedbed is created over at least industry scenarios provided a basis for further detailed one-third of the area to be regenerated, with less than exploration of wood supply scenarios. The report may be 10 per cent scorching of retained stems, and the downloaded from forestrytas.com.au achievement of an acceptable level of fire protection.

In 2010/11, we assessed 6,316 hectares of native forest (1,824 hectares of clearfelled area and 4,493 hectares of The majority of our wood production forests are native forests. These forests supply high quality partially harvested area) against these standards. sawlogs, veneer logs, peeler logs, pulpwood and special timbers. • • nativeharvested areas into three categories: Forestry Tasmania classifiesthesource ofseedsown onto S acceptable level offuelmanagement was not reached. coupes didnotmeetthestandardharvested becausean the standard as aresult ofpoorburns. Eleven partially respectively.harvest areas didnotmeet clearfelled Nine of 90percent and 89percent andpartial for clearfell standard.quality This compares withthefive-year average areas respectivelyharvest achieved thesite preparation and78percentA total of 86 percent ofpartial ofclearfell than the five-year than the five-year average of of57per cent. A shortage seed provenance standard. quality This is10percent higher total (67percent) of1,432hectares of thisarea achieved the 2010/11,weIn sowed witheucalyptseed. 2,150hectares A matched to forest type. cent on-site seedwiththeremainder beingin-zone seed areaharvested shouldberegenerated withat least10per The seedprovenance standard quality isthat each • eed andsowing in area.nominated harvesting The seedzones are detailed seedisfromIn-zone thesameseedzone asthe from asimilararea immediately adjacent to it. On-site from seed iscollected area theharvested or the leastpreferred seedsource. zone ofthe nominated area. from theharvesting This is from seediscollected Out-of-zone outsidetheseed component. indicator, in-zone seeddoesnotincludethe on-site seed seed andsowing . For oftheperformance thepurposes Native Forest Silviculture Technical BulletinNo. 1 Eucalypt

on the five-year on thefive-year average of93per cent but exceeds our in 88percent inthisarea. This isadecrease of5percent success, andwe achieved therequired standard stocking reached therelevant agefor regeneration reporting ofnative 2010/11,7,820 hectares In forest regeneration methodology for regeneration success monitoring. This approach complies withtherecommended national standard thatminimum stocking needsto beachieved. surveys. For eachforestundertaking type, there isaset five years old.Regeneration success isdetermined by and Huonpineforest coupes theyare are after reported they are three years old. Swamp blackwood, rainforest Regeneration success ofeucalypt areas after is reported Regeneration success meeting thestandard. sowing were themainreason for 20percent ofthearea not conditions andlackofavailable helicopters for aerial less thanthefive-year average of94per cent. Poor weather sownstandard area. in80per cent oftheartificially This is of successful regeneration. 2010/11,we In achieved this sowing belessthan21days. This ensures thebestchance the delay between site preparation completion andartificial standardThe quality for sowing operations requires that zone andfour percent seed. out-of-zone the five-year average of42per cent on-site, 54per cent in- two percent out-of-zone. than This isabetter performance which 51percent was on-site, and47percent in-zone and 2010/11,weIn sowed ofeucalyptseed, 2,427kilograms of desired standard. on-site seed was themainreason for notachievingthe

% Area met standard 100% 20% 40% 60% 80% Native forestregenerationsuccesssummary. Native forest regeneration success summary trophy.Gilbert-Cunningham the eighth year that Forestry Tasmania haspresented the in regrowing native forests following harvesting. This was trophy, whichrecognises theachievement ofexcellence was awardedHuon District theGilbert-Cunningham Under thisyear’s native forests standards quality program, improve inthenearfuture. further seedlingrecruitment, islikelyto for andstocking further remaining onthese areas willcontinue to provide seed silviculture. harvest Mature standing trees using partial Seventeen ofthesecoupes were forests that were logged and usefulfor wood at production areduced rate. or retained trees to beconsidered asecologically stocked mammals. All theseareas contained sufficient regeneration insufficient natural seed-falland browsing by native were poorregeneration dueto burns awet autumn, totalling 930 hectares. The mainreasons for understocking We standard in31coupes, didnotmeetthestocking to standard. target of85percent area ofharvested beingregenerated 0% 2006/07 Area meetingstandard 2007/08 Re port 2008/09 in g Y ear 2 5-year average 009/1 02 010/1 1 Target (85%)

29 sustaining jobs for current STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 and future generations sustaining jobs for current and future generations

Technical bulletins The new edition of Technical Bulletin 6 reviews the Sales from the site will increase the recovery of specialty methodology for regeneration surveys, sets out the timing timbers logs, stumps and burls from forests in the Murchison We revised and republished Native Forest Silviculture of surveys, and, for the first time, introduces electronic data District south of Smithton, in Tasmania’s north west. Raw Technical Bulletin No. 5 Silvicultural systems for native capture and automated processing and reporting, saving material available from the Smithton site not only includes eucalypt forests and No. 6, Regeneration Surveys in 2010/11. significant staff time. the well known species of blackwood, myrtle, black heart Technical Bulletin No. 5 is designed as a general reference sassafras, celery-top pine and red heart leatherwood, but manual for the management of native eucalypt forests in Special timbers also lesser-known species such as dorrel, also known as Tasmania. It briefly describes all the silvicultural systems Special timbers are an integral part of the Tasmanian native olive, and goldie wood, used in wood turning because that are prescribed for use in native eucalypt forests. This brand. They are used to produce high value furniture and of its hardness and bright yellow colour. Logs, stumps and revision incorporates for the first time the use of aggregated craftwood products, and include blackwood, blackheart burls, and plain and figured timbers may all be purchased by retention for harvesting in wet eucalypt forests. The bulletin sassafras, myrtle and celery-top pine. With the exception craft designer-makers, builders, wood turners, luthiers and also describes the natural regeneration processes, and how of blackwood, special timbers are mostly derived from others who work with wood. regeneration is established following harvesting. It also old growth forests. Our Special Timbers Strategy contains a range of reference information: for example, (forestrytas.com.au ) provides for the ongoing At the opening, Minister for Energy and Resources Bryan forest product classes, growth stages of the eucalypts and long-term supply of these timbers to the Tasmanian Green also unveiled the new Island Specialty Timbers tables of appropriate spacing of retained trees for a given craft and design industries. logo. The logo uses representations of different species of basal area. specialty timbers that combine to form the image of a tree During 2010/11, we sold a total of 15,141 cubic metres The new Smithton outlet was built with funding assistance of special timbers. This comprised 14,477 cubic metres of under the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement. high quality special timbers sawlog, with the remainder Production of special timbers sawlogs in 2010/11 craftwood. Blackwood made up 74 per cent of this volume, ProductionProduction of of special special timbers timbers sawlogs sawlogs in 2010/11

with the rest comprising species such as myrtle, celery-top King Billy Pine (0%) Silver Wattle (0.1%) pine and eucalypts with attractive craft features such as Huon PineKi ng(4%) Billy PiMynert le(0%) (2%) White Sassafras (0.1%) burls. These figures are in line with sustainable supply as Silver Wattle (0.1%) EucaHulypton/Mix Piedne Sp (4%)ecies (3%) Myrtle (2%) Blackheart Sassafras (2%) outlined in our Special Timbers Strategy. White Sassafras (0.1%)

Eucalypt/Mixed Species (3%) Blackheart Sassafras (2%) New Island Specialty Timbers outlet in Smithton Celery-top Pine (14%) In March 2011 we launched a new Island Specialty Timbers

Blackwood (74%) outlet at Smithton. Officially opened by Managing DirectorCelery -top Pine (14%) Island Specialty Timbers stall, Salamanca Market, Hobart. Bob Gordon, the new site complements the Island Specialty Special timbers, including blackwood, blackheart sassafras, myrtle Timbers sales website and the Geeveston and Strahan and celery-top pine, are an integral part of the Tasmanian brand. outlets, and adds to the availability of specialty timbers Blackwood (74%) With the exception of blackwood, they are mostly harvested from old raw material. growth forests. Products include sawn timber, veneer, posts and poles and Overall, planting programs have declined over the past four or current or current pulpwood for paper, and these are sourced from a hardwood to five years. The hardwood planting program in 2010/11 was estate of some 55,700 hectares and a softwood estate of relatively small, with only 700 hectares of eucalypt plantations 52,700 hectares. established. This follows a downward trend since 2007, when approximately 2,000 hectares were established. This decline The current hardwood plantation estate comprises

approximately 85 per cent Eucalyptus nitens and 15 per cent in new plantings reflects the end of native forest conversion uture generations E. globulus. Historically, E. globulus was planted only below to plantation and the small area of replanting of existing 300 metres elevation due to its frost sensitivity. In the late eucalypt plantation areas following harvest on second and f 1990s, planting of E. globulus was stopped altogether in the rotation sites (this area will increase in the future). There has sustaining jobs f north-west of Tasmania, following some severe episodes of been a more significant decline in planting of new areas of The Special Timbers Strategy may be viewed at: Mycosphaerella, a disease that attacks the leaves of the trees, softwood plantations over the same period; however, there forestrytas.com.au causing reduced growth. is a strong annual replanting program on second and third rotation sites. More information on Island Specialty However, E. globulus has some significant advantages over Timbers Tasmania may be found at: E. nitens. The wood has a higher kraft pulp fibre yield per islandspecialtytimbers.com.au hectare, and better solid wood qualities. Eucalyptus nitens is also known to be more susceptible to infestation by Plantations Phytophthora cinnamomi, the root-rot fungus. A review and As more areas of native wood production forest are placed in risk analysis of the planting strategy found that over the reserves, plantations will play an increasingly vital role in the course of a rotation, the loss due to pests and diseases such production of wood products from our state forests. We apply as Mycosphaerella was manageable, and that the perceived the principles of sustainable forest management to both slower early growth of E. globulus was compensated for by softwood and hardwood plantations on state forest and these faster later growth, with both species growing equally well ensure the long-term supply of benefits to the community, by rotation end. the environment and the wood products industry. In line with Following the review, the decision was made to extend the requirements of the Australian Forestry Standard, there is plantings of E. globulus more widely, with the ultimate aim no longer any conversion of native forests to plantations. of bringing the relative balance of the two species closer

We have established softwood (Pinus radiata) and hardwood to 50/50. As we have been actively breeding E. nitens for STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 (Eucalyptus globulus and E. nitens) plantations primarily to form for many years, but not E. globulus, there is now also an As more areas of native wood production forest supply local industry but also interstate and overseas markets. opportunity to improve the form of E. globulus through are placed in reserves, plantations are becoming a selective breeding program. increasingly important to maintaining a sustainable supply of timber. 31 sustaining jobs for current and future generations

We have also been busy with the Trees on Farms project, ArAreaea of of plplantationantation byby ageage class class 2007 2007 to to 2011 2011 plantations. We have a comprehensive quality standards (softwoods and hardwoods) which offers farmers the chance to reclaim weed-infested (Forestry Tasmania woods and hardwoods) system and set of annual performance indicators to track land, secure a new revenue stream, capture carbon and 8,000 the performance of our operational practices. 7,000 provide long-term habitat for the swift parrot. Under this 6,000 Percentage area of plantations successfully

a) Percentage area of plantations successfully established 5,000 program landowners have the opportunity to establish (h established by age two. 4,000 by age two ea

commercial woodlots on cleared land in a joint venture Ar 3,000 97.1 99.5 99.5 99.7 99.4 2,000 100 with Forestry Tasmania. There are many benefits to the 1,000 community from this program, including the supply of - 80 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 an additional source of plantation wood products into 60 Hardwood plantation the economy, improving degraded land, and assisting 40

Softwood plantation % Survival rural landowners to diversify their enterprises. There are 20 also aesthetic benefits from re-establishing trees in the Notes: • Age classes are based on calendar year planting seasons, not nancial 0 environment. To date, approximately 600 hectares of years. Totals reect plantation as at 30 June 2011, and include 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 commercial acquisitions. farmland have been planted under partnerships in • Planting of the 2011 age class was still in progress as at 30 June 2011. Reporting year

this program. • Excludes former plantations which are now managed for recreation in % Area successfully established by age two Forest Reserves. • Includes the softwood plantations which are 50% owned by GMO TTrendsrends inin plantationplantation estate estate area area on on state state forest forest. Renewable Resources, for which data is supplied by Timberlands Improving plantation establishment techniques Limited as at 30th June 2011, and softwood plantations jointly owned 60,000 with Norske-Skog, for which data is supplied by Norske-Skog as at 1st June 2011. Long-term sustainability is the objective in managing 50,000 • Area includes plantations in Buckland Military Training Area on land our plantations. One of the key ways we achieve this is by managed by Forestry Tasmania. 40,000 improving establishment techniques to minimise negative 30,000 The role of research and quality standards effects on the environment. Practices such as minimising soil Area (ha) 20,000 Forestry Tasmania has a strong research group that focuses disturbance, reduced burning of slash and litter, and minimal 10,000 and targeted use of chemicals, are some of the methods we on improving the quality and productivity of our existing use to achieve this. Monitoring the performance of seedlings 0 plantations, while also ensuring that best practices are used 2006/07 2007/082008/09 2009/10 2010/11 during the first two years of growth is important, and for re-establishing the second rotation crops. Important Hardwood plantation Softwood plantation our survival survey results indicate we are achieving research programs include tree improvement research, excellent results. Notes: which produces seedlings from the best genetic stock; • Includes the softwood plantations which are 50% owned by GMO Renewable Resources, for which data is supplied by Timberlands Limited as nutrition research, which is improving the efficiency and The monitoring program includes survival surveys that at 30th June 2011, and softwood plantations jointly owned with Norske-Skog, for which data is supplied by Norske-Skog as at 1st June 2011. effectiveness of fertilisation, for example, using controlled- are carried out initially at 9 to 12 months to determine the • Area includes plantations in Buckland Military Training Area on land percentage of seedlings that have survived the first year and managed by Forestry Tasmania. release fertilisers at establishment; and silviculture research, • Excludes former plantations which are now managed for recreation in which is evaluating alternative management regimes to whether any refill planting is required to meet target stocking Forest Reserves. optimise the quality and value of wood products from our (1,100 seedlings per hectare). A further survey is conducted by age two years to determine the plantation area that has The areas identified for secondary fertilisation 2006 Maximising the quality of solid wood products

The areas identied for secondary fertilisation or current been successfully established by this time. These first two 2006- 2010 - 2010 and and percentage percentage of of that that area area that that was actually from plantations actuallyfertilised fertilised. years are recognised as the critical establishment phase, after In line with commitments to increase supply of high quality 7,000 which the young trees start to form a new forest. 6528 6048 sawlog and veneer from plantations, large volumes of 6,000 96% Targeted use of fertilisers 96% 5119 knot-free timber (clearwood) are required. Our foresight in 5,000

implementing pruning regimes throughout the plantation uture generations Fertilisation is a key means of improving the health and 4,000 78% estate since the late 1980s has been integral to this process.

Area (ha) 3,000 productivity of our plantations, because many of Tasmania’s 2522 2011 2,000 100% Pruning occurs in one to three stages, or lifts, to a height of forest soils have relatively low nutrient availability 100% and f 1,000 6.4 metres. These stages allow the trees time to rebuild leaf

(especially nitrogen and phosphorus), which is insufficient sustaining jobs f 0 area (canopy), and to allow the healing over of the stem to for fast-growing plantations. Consistent with our aim 2006 2007 200820092010 form the knot-free timber. of long-term sustainability, fertiliser use is targeted and Fertilised area appropriate for each stand and site, according to soil, Percentage fertilised Monitoring the timing of pruning, ensuring adequate climate, economic and operational/environmental factors. numbers are pruned, and assessing the quality of pruning, Modelling the potential productivity of fertilising Ongoing research is investigating new fertiliser products are fundamental to maximising pruned wood volume. for primary fertilising (at planting) and also ways to improve An updated view of the plantation estate has indicated We have a robust quality standards system in place for secondary fertilisation (from age two years onwards). that the supply of high quality eucalypt sawlogs from these pruning assessments, which also provides valuable plantations will be delayed somewhat from that published information about the growth of the stand. The chart below An integral part of improving fertilisation outcomes is the in our 2007 wood review. The impact on wood-flows of shows that a significant area of plantations has been pruned identification of areas that require, and will be responsive to, applying secondary fertiliser to the existing first rotation each year. fertiliser. This is enhanced through increasing knowledge of estate was modelled based on Forestry Tasmania’s The area (ha) of solid wood regimes receiving rst, the soils and site conditions along with ongoing results from The area (ha) of solid wood regimes receiving first, nutritional research data. The modelling indicated that second and and third third lift lift pruning pruning between between 2007 2007 and and2010. 2010 an extensive network of fertiliser trials across the estate. secondary fertilising of existing plantations at their current 1,400 The chart in the next column illustrates that there is a age significantly improves wood-flow. 1,200 consistently good match between areas identified for Larger long-term gains will be achieved from secondary 1,000 fertilising and those receiving it. A small area was not fertilisation of plantations in their second rotation, as 800 fertilised due to Forestry Tasmania’s policy of avoiding 600

many first rotation sites are currently too old to respond Area (ha) operations around sensitive times of year for the 400 fully to secondary fertilisation prior to harvesting. Stand STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 wedge-tailed eagle. We will re-schedule fertilising for 200 establishment will also improve in second rotation. Other these areas outside of the breeding season. 0 shorter-term approaches to increase high quality sawlog 2007 2008 2009 2010

production could include more intensive plantation 1st pruning 2nd pruning 3rd pruning thinning regimes, or a large native forest thinning program. 33 sustaining jobs for current and future generations

Enhancing growth of plantation stands through thinning old growth eucalypt forest the long-term availability of HiveHive numbers andand honey honey production production as as reported reported b yby accessible leatherwood-rich forests will be maintained at a beekeepers toto ForestryForestry T Tasmaniaasmania To maximise the growth of pruned trees, plantations need similar level over the next 90 years. Beekeeping is flagged as to be thinned to allow the remaining trees to grow extra 14,000 800,000 a management objective for areas with a high leatherwood volume. Thinning may be conducted at different ages and 12,000 700,000 component under Forestry Tasmania’s management decision 600,000 intensities, depending on the range and amount of products 10,000 classification zoning system, and harvesting within these 500,000 that can be grown on each site. 8,000 special management zones takes particular account of 400,000 Research by Forestry Tasmania is focused on determining 6,000 maintaining and enhancing leatherwood sources. 300,000

Hive numbers 4,000 the best silvicultural outcomes for each stand, and the best 200,000

Forestry Tasmania collaborates with the Tasmanian Honey production (kg) methods to conduct thinning programs. Improvements in 2,000 100,000 Beekeepers Association on leatherwood resource modelling data now allow us to schedule harvesting and 0 0 management through participation in the Murchison predict timber volumes more accurately. 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 Leatherwood Committee (Murchison District), The Wedge Beehive numbers Honey production (kg) Non-wood products and services Community Forest Agreement (Derwent District) and through consultation on leatherwood resource mapping in Honey production the southern forests (Huon District). A comprehensive audit The majority of beekeepers in Tasmania depend on of beekeeping sites and hive condition is one of the services land managed by Forestry Tasmania for access to Forestry Tasmania undertakes to ensure the integrity of leatherwood nectar, although significant sources also beekeeping on state forest is maintained at a high standard. occur in conservation reserves managed by other agencies. State forests also provide other sources of nectar for Leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida) trees predominantly occur honey production including various eucalypts, ‘manuka’ in mature wet eucalypt forest and rainforest. Approximately (Leptospermum spp.) and other understorey species. Forestry one million hectares of forest within Tasmania has been Tasmania also works with beekeepers to maintain the identified as likely to contain leatherwood. Of this area, integrity of the Black Bee Reserve in the southern central 359,000 hectares (33 per cent) occur in state forests, with highlands near Tarraleah. about 106,000 hectares of this area being within areas zoned for wood production. Where practical, forest management In 2010/11, honey production was reported by beekeepers prescriptions exclude leatherwood from harvesting, and as 214,942 kilograms with hive numbers reported as 10,722. Forestry Tasmania works closely with beekeepers. Beekeeping is flagged as a management objective since 1993, less than three per cent of leatherwood-rich The low production relative to previous years was attributed for areas with a high leatherwood component under state forests have been harvested. By moving largely to to cold and wet conditions and reduced flowering during the Forestry Tasmania’s management decision classification non-clearfelling techniques, such as variable retention, in peak leatherwood flowering season. zoning system, and harvesting within these special management zones takes particular account of maintaining and enhancing leatherwood sources. Division ofForest Research and Development. Neyland, Dr Mark sustaining sustaining

carbon stores, clean air, water air, clean stores, carbon healthy and f 5 4 equivalents financial year was 8.4million dioxidetonnes ofcarbon Tasmania’s total greenhouse gasemissions inthe2008/09 T Carbon andclimate change materials with wood reduces greenhouse gasemissions. for ofbuildingsthanwood. theconstruction these Replacing concrete andplasticrequire muchmore energy to produce emission buildingandenergy resource. For example, metals, weight ofwood buttheyprovide iscarbon, withalow society These wood notonlystore products ashalfthedry carbon, store whileproviding asustainablesource ofwood products. forests to ensure theycontinue asalong-term carbon to act play inoffsetting dioxide carbon emissions, we managestate state forests whenrequired. role Givenforests theimportant prevent significant damage to thenature and condition of and monitor forest healthsothat to we cantakeaction weeds, pestsanddiseases. We useanintegrated approach relies ongoodmanagement ofpotential threats suchasfire, for oftheforest thelong-term sustainability important and The maintenance ofecosystem is healthandvitality established since 1990on previously cleared agricultural dioxidecarbon equivalents removed by plantations (sinks) to derive thisfigure includeanegative 1.7million tonnes dioxide equivalents. The two components added together Change andForestry was 0.1milliontonnes sector carbon emissionfor2009 netcarbon theLandUse, LandUse and isa25.4percent decrease on1990levels. Tasmania’s tonne dioxideemissions (545.8metric carbon equivalents) inventories 2009 ibid. he T Commonwealth of Australia (2011)State and Territories greenhouse gas asmanian position position asmanian 4 . This represents 1.5percent oftotal national

MtCO-e each ofthesectors T residential uses of converting forests to grassland, cropland and equivalents from greenhouse gasemitted asaresult land, andapositive 1.8milliontonnes dioxide carbon each ofthesectors. Tasmania’s emissionsasat2008/09,CO equivalentfor 10 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 asmania’s emissionsasat 2008/09,CO₂ equivalent for LU State andT Source data: L UCF Net LULUCF Agriculture Stationary energy Transport : landuse erritories GreenhouseGasInventories2009 Commonwealth ofAustr 5 . , landusechangeandf alia (2011), orestr Waste Aorestation &reforestation Industrial processes Inventory total Land usechange y. orests . LU L UCF

35 sustaining carbon stores, clean STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 air, water and healthy forests sustaining carbon stores, clean air, water and healthy forests

Our carbon dioxide emissions This work is improving our understanding of forest In addition, we completed a formal review of the role carbon stocks, and our confidence in reporting them. of forest management in greenhouse gas mitigation in The main energy inputs used by Forestry Tasmania are fuel (unleaded petrol and diesel), mainly for staff transport, Collaborations have been established with the University Australia. This supported recent reviews by the United and electricity used to power our offices and workshops. of Tasmania, the Cooperative Research Centre for Forestry, Nations and the International Energy Agency that provide The total emissions as a result of this energy use amount the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change and strong evidence that the optimal climate change mitigation to 0.0041 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents. Energy Efficiency, the University of the Sunshine Coast, strategy involves managing at least part of the native the Memorial University of Newfoundland, the Canadian forest landscape sustainably to produce wood products, In order to find viable alternatives to burning the residue Forest Service and the Technical University of Dresden. rather than managing all native forests as reserves. remaining after harvesting, we have been exploring the Indeed, over time, the use of wood products is the main advantages and disadvantages of biomass energy for This year, data from over 4,000 inventory plots across vehicle by which forest management can contribute to a number of years. Biomass energy has the potential to Tasmanian state forest enabled us to estimate the carbon reduced emissions from fossil fuels. displace fossil fuels that would otherwise be burned to stock in standing trees, and its distribution across the generate electricity. forest landscape. We estimated standing trees on state The reason for this is that wood products themselves store

Carbon research forest contained 163 million tonnes of carbon, equivalent millions of tonnes of carbon, but the wood products carbon to 123 tonnes carbon per hectare or (if the calculation is pool is dynamic, just as is the forest carbon pool. Thus, as In 2009, Forestry Tasmania established a carbon research restricted solely to forested land) 133 tonnes of carbon new wood products are produced, carbon is added to the program. This program is evaluating the various forest per hectare. Very tall, old growth eucalypt forest had the wood products carbon pool while, as old wood products carbon accounting tools that are available, collating data highest carbon density, with individual sites ranging up are burned or decompose, carbon is released. Both the for describing the carbon stocks in Tasmanian state forest, to 935 tonnes of carbon per hectare, but these forests forest carbon pool and the wood products carbon pool and collecting data to fill gaps in our knowledge of occupied just 0.2 per cent of state forest, thus contributing may be thought of as dams holding varying levels of water. forest carbon. a very small proportion of the total carbon stocks. However, new or recycled wood products may also substitute for materials that are more greenhouse gas Summary of energy usage and resulting CO2-equivalent emissions as AAnnualnnual amount of CO-equivalentsCO₂-equivalents produced a result of fuel used for transport and energy usage within our offices producedfrom fuel and from electricity fuel and electricityuseage. usage intensive, either for construction or for energy generation. 5,000 When wood products are used as substitutes for other Input Usage kg CO2 e1 4,500 materials, emissions are permanently avoided, and these Unleaded 222,246 litres 529,017 4,000 3,500 avoided emissions accumulate over time, akin to placing Diesel 1,116,521 litres 3,012,530 3,000 2,500 them in a safe. The framework encompassing the full role

Oil 4,950 litres 14,456 tonne 2,000 of forests in greenhouse gas mitigation can thus be thought Electricity 1,739,249 kilowatt hours 521,775 1,500 1,000 of as two dams and a safe, with maximal greenhouse gas Total 4,077,778 500 mitigation deriving from forest management that is both - Note: 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 sustainable and productive. 1. Australian Government Department of Climate Change, 2009. National Greenhouse Accounts Factors. climatechange.gov.au burning offossil fuels greenhouse-gas-intensive materials, preventing emissionsfrom the the forest ‘dam’ orwood product ‘dam’ andsubstitute for use ofmore withinputsandoutputs a dynamicpool maycarbon taken be from forests andaddedto thewood product ‘dam’, from forest growth andlossesfrom decomposition orburning mitigation debate A conceptual framework for therole offorests inthegreenhouse gas Report_Greenhouse_gas_mitigation.pdf www.fwpa.com.au/sites/default/files/PRC162-0910_Final_ ijfr/2010/690462/ For reading seewww.hindawi.com/journals/ further study, now completion, nearing is examining how forest disturbance affects soilfluxes greenhouse gases, ofother important methane andnitrous oxide. While data from collected the Warra fluxsite willbe available to national andinternational studies, itwillalsoprovide acatalyst studies to encourageat complementary Warra. Onesuch fundamentally, for example, causingchangesinbiodiversity. these relationships will, over time, helpusunderstand how climate ofthese change might affectthe affecttheproductivity forests andwhetherthosechangesinproductivity forest more can bestcontribute to mitigating greenhouse gasemissions. We willalsobeableto relate fluxes inclimate to fluctuations andother events, defoliation.of Knowledge suchasinsect real time, whethertheforest ofbothstocks Knowledge astrees andfluxes, isgaining orlosingcarbon. mature, particularly willenablebetter decisionsonthe ways forest management Until now, theforest debate carbon in Tasmania hasfocused ontheamount stored ofcarbon inthe forest stocks). (carbon Through fluxes carbon measuring in we willbeable to track, flux site ofsites fluxes inaglobalnetwork andwillalsobemeasuring above thetallest forest inthe Australian offlux network sites (Ozflux). Ozflux component of the Terrestrial EcosystemResearch (aNational Network CollaborativeScheme facility).ResearchInfrastructure When established, Warra willbecome thesouthernmost instruments to measure theexchanges (fluxes) energy ofcarbon, and water between that forest andthe atmosphere. The AustralianGovernment isfundingthe Warra flux tower through the We are intheprocess ofinstallingan80-metre tower inamixed-aged standofregrowth andmature Eucalyptus obliqua at the Warra Long Term Ecological Research site. This tower willhouse W arra flux carbon tower .Forests are dynamicsystems inputs withcarbon .

.C arbon can also be taken alsobe arbon can from Forest CarbonDam Forest C .H

owever, Carbon input from tree growth tree from input Carbon arbon Dam from decomposition Carbon output or burning Forest carbonstorage carbon saturationcarbon Theoretical disturbances E ect of W Wood Product CarbonDam

ood P ood

Substitution Safe

new wood products wood new Carbon input from from input Carbon roduct C roduct arbon Dam from decomposition Carbon output carbon storage Wood product or burning

37 sustaining carbon stores, clean STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 air, water and healthy forests sustaining carbon stores, clean air, water and healthy forests

Air quality At present the Coordinated Smoke Management Strategy We also continued to provide information on the only applies to burns carried out by the forest industry Tasmanian forest industry planned burns website Planned burning is undertaken throughout Tasmania on and Parks Wildlife Service, so many other burns (plannedburnstas.com.au) to ensure the private land, national parks, state reserves and state forests go unrecorded. community had access to information about the each autumn. Burning is dispersed, and only a limited location of planned burns. number of forest industry operations occur on any one day. We also made some significant changes to our planned This burning is important to reduce the fuel hazard resulting burns program this year, arising from a review of procedures Monitoring of air quality occurs at 25 sites around from logging residue and to create a seedbed for eucalypt that followed an exceedence of national air quality Tasmania. The Environment Protection Authority Division regeneration. Eucalypt seeds and seedlings need a mineral standards from a Forestry Tasmania burn in the Huon Valley of the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and soil seedbed, abundant sunlight and reduced competition in April 2010. The key change was to extend the length Environment manages 24 of these stations, while Forestry from other plants to establish and grow. In drier eucalypt of the burn season to reduce the number of burns taking Tasmania manages the Judbury site. Four of these stations, forest, burning is undertaken to remove the residues place on any one day. In effect, this meant that burns could at George Town, Rowella and Ti Tree Bend in the Tamar remaining after harvesting, so as to reduce the fuel load and commence earlier than the usual start date of 15 March if Valley, and at New Town in Hobart are used to monitor fire hazard. conditions were suitable. Tasmania’s compliance with the National Environment Protection Measure (Air Quality). Smoke is an inevitable product of this burning process. Other changes included: The fine particles that make up smoke have an irritant effect CSIRO study finds planned burns cause less smoke • Days on which poor smoke dispersion was likely were and are capable of lodging in the lungs if inhaled. For this pollution than wood heaters declared ‘no burn days’. reason Forestry Tasmania attempts to minimise the effects In the Huon Valley the contribution of smoke from prescribed • Daily advisories were issued at or before 11.00 am on of its burning on the Tasmanian community. A number of burning to the general smoke load in the valley has been the morning of planned burns. pro-active management options are available to assist us in the subject of public debate. In 2009, Forestry Tasmania achieving this goal. In particular, Forestry Tasmania, forest • An appraisal of smoke management outcomes was commissioned the CSIRO to conduct a study of the sources industry companies and the Parks and Wildlife Service issued each night, including, when necessary, an of smoke in the Huon Valley, which was conducted between coordinate their autumn burning through their participation explanation of factors that may have contributed to March 2009 and November 2010. in the Coordinated Smoke Management Strategy, a Forest any unexpected outcomes. The CSIRO study showed that there was no evidence of Practices Authority initiative. Each day during the autumn • A notification to media to alert residents when we forest industry burning having widespread effects in the the Forest Practices Authority sets maximum smoke load had reason to believe a regeneration burn may have airshed. Localised effects observed at Geeveston were small limits for Tasmanian airsheds and Coordinated Smoke in comparison to other pollution sources. In the Huon Valley contributed to poor air quality. Management Strategy participants manage their burning generally, during the 18-month study period, wood-fired by conducting burn operations on days and in areas for For more information about our planned burns domestic heater emissions were responsible for 77 per cent which forecast weather conditions indicate the smoke will communications strategy, see ‘Sustaining Community of the particulate matter pollution, compared to 11 per cent be dispersed away from settled areas. Access, Safety and Heritage.’ from smoke plumes from prescribed burning activities, 4 per cent from waste combustion and 8 per cent from other sources. provide assessment a risk ofthepotential for pesticides combines this data with specificsiteIt information to comparison withtheAustralian Drinking Water Guidelines. ofpesticideoperationsthe risk to humanhealth through canalsoassess andlandscape.variables suchassoiltype It invertebrate, fishandmammalspecies, andsite-specific operations based onmobility, toxicity to indicator plant, ofvariouspesticide determines therisk Index Rating been tailored for usage. forestry The Pesticide Impact computerwhichhas package, Index software Rating of ourpesticideoperations, we usethePesticide Impact ofchemicalcontaminationminimise therisk from any water inourstreams andcatchment areas. order In to Forestry Tasmania works hard to of maintain thequality W Water, andgeodiversity soils ofPM2.5 This tableprovides &PM10 exceedences asummary recorded by theEPA between 1July1010and302011.Figures station have for notbeenprovided Judbury thisyear because • Note: A Total Judbury Georgetown Launceston Hobart ir quality particulate monitoring stations particulate ir quality summary ater quality ater quality the air quality monitoring equipment used to report againstnational monitoring equipmentstandards usedtothe airquality report isnotoperational. Exceeded N/A 2006/07 7 0 7 0 contributed Tasmania Forestry N/A 1 0 1 0

Exceeded N/A 7 0 7 0 2007/08 kilograms comparedkilograms to theamount appliedin2009/10. 2010/11. during This represents adecrease of985 area to the (area certified Australian Standard) Forestry to withinForestry 5,858hectares Tasmania’s defined forest we ingredient appliedatotalofactive of2,705kilograms For ofweed thepurpose control andpestmanagement, water monitoring resources to beeffectively targeted. a scientific meansofidentifying thosesites, allowing our providesThe Index Pesticide Rating ourstaffwith Impact where there may associated bearisk withpesticideuse. outwater monitoring at sites quality isto carry policy Our implement additionalprecautions. choice of timingandapplication rate ifnecessary, or organisms. allows usto It modify our choice ofpesticide, to move offsite, andtheirpotential to affectaquatic contributed Tasmania Forestry N/A 1 0 1 0 Exceeded 3 0 0 3 0 2008/09 contributed Tasmania Forestry 0 0 0 0 0

Exceeded 21 12 3 4 2 2009/10 contributed Tasmania Forestry of procedures. of 30micrograms perlitre, butstill ledto a review was water well belowstandards drinking fromwaterway arising ouroperations. The concentration (0.5 micrograms perlitre) ofMetsulfuron-methyl ina water samplesfor analysis. There was oneminordetection chemicals inwaterways. 2010/11,we In submitted 81 Policy, andpost-application to levels test pre- ofselected year, inaccordance withourPesticide andFertiliser addition,we awaterIn conduct samplingprogram each controlling weeds, pestsandfungi. ingredientof active was appliedfor of thepurpose At theForest at Perth, atotal of272kilograms Nursery 3 3 0 0 0 Exceeded n/a 10 9 4 0 2010/11 contributed Tasmania Forestry n/a 0 0 0 0

39 sustaining carbon stores, clean STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 air, water and healthy forests sustaining carbon stores, clean air, water and healthy forests

Floating rising-stage sampler for automatic collection of water samples from streams after rainfall

This year, a team led by Hydrology Research Technician Erin Trainer developed an inexpensive sampler that automatically collects water from streams when levels rise after rainfall.

One part of our management of pesticide usage involves monitoring for pesticide levels in small forest streams after spraying, by taking samples (‘grab samples’). Sampling to detect off-site movement of pesticides is best done during the increased stream flow resulting from the first significant rainfall after pesticide application. However, previous studies have highlighted the difficulty of collecting samples at this time at remote sites.

The use of rising-stage samplers can largely overcome this difficulty, as these collect water samples automatically in response to rainfall without requiring staff to be present on-site. The only circumstance under which rising-stage samplers are known to fail is when water levels recede between installation and the first rainfall at the site, leaving the sampler’s water inlet above the height of the rising water following a subsequent small rainfall event. We therefore developed the floating rising-stage sampler to ensure that water samples are collected automatically during water level increases, even if water levels recede beforehand.

We install the floating rising-stage sampler by placing the bottle horizontally, floating on the water surface, rather than vertically as for a classic rising-stage sampler. If the water level recedes, the bottle slides down an upright rod, but remains floating. When the water level subsequently rises, the bottle is prevented from rising, and water covers the inlet and fills the bottle. The full bottle then sinks, with an airlock protecting the water sample from mixing with the flowing water surrounding the sampler. We can then determine an appropriate collection time according to staff availability and known sample degradation rates.

Our testing has shown that the floating rising-stage sampler is capable of collecting samples in small, non- turbulent streams of the type most commonly sampled by Forestry Tasmania. It will be introduced to our operational pesticide sampling program in spring 2011. Outside forestry, the floating rising-stage sampler has A floating rising-stage sampler, an innovative and inexpensive potential for a range of applications across various other industries including for pollutant sampling, water sampling device that automatically collects water in response to chemistry studies and sediment sampling. rainfall, developed by a Forestry Tasmania team led by technician Erin Trainer. We thank InnovaTas and Hydrological Services for their assistance with this project. We produced notifications for fieldstaff for81 detected approximately ofeucalyptplantation. 38,000 hectares aerial, roadside andfollow-up ground across inspections, This year, forest we undertook health surveillance, involving beetles (Paropsisterna bimaculata ). one for integrated leaf pestmanagement for chrysomelid management programs: onefor browsing mammals, and in state forests. Additionally, we two pest-specific conduct ofhealthproblems,detection to managepestsanddiseases We forest conduct for healthsurveillance thegeneral Forest healthsurveillance Weeds, pestsanddiseases values.geoconservation with atotal managedfor of171,200hectares soiland unavailable dueto foroferosion, therisk harvesting 2010/11, atotal hadbeendeclared of4,400hectares todue to disturbance. their sensitivity As at theendof require specialmanagement, oreven total protection, sound operational prescriptions andpractices, someareas anderosion.additionto applyingthese as compaction In conditions to ensure that we minimisesoildamagesuch underspecificsoilandgeomorphologicaland conducted guidance asto how forest operations are to beplanned forest system. practices The Forest Practices Code provides environmental values that we needto consider underthe valuesgeomorphology are amongthetotal setofsite preparing aForestIn Practices Plan, soiland S oil and geomorphology oil andgeomorphology damage inestablishedeucalyptplantationsstateforests. The mainhealthproblemscausingmoderateorsevere T affected plantations. compounded by on fungalinfectionincreasing theimpact Defoliation by leafbeetleswas againsignificant and often senescence branch andearly death inyoung plantations. limitations andfungalinfectioncausingpremature leaf duetowas theinteraction primarily ofsoilnutrient the area ofproblems to ascribed multiple causes, which ofthestate. the north-east There was alsoalarge jumpin to 2011was theend ofApril thewettest onrecord for The six-month from period November 2010through provided idealconditions for thesefungi to thrive. The ofthestate unusuallywet summeracross thenorth and defoliation causedby thefungalpathogens Kirramyces health issues. The outstandinghealthissuethisyear was Area a ected (ha) in state forests severe plantations damageinestablishedeucalypt he mainhealthproblems moderate causing or Ca 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 500 000 500 000 500 000 500 000 us Mycosphaerella , whichaffected 2,000hectares. nearly

0 e

Soil fertility/site issues fertility/site Soil

Insect damage Insect Multiple causes Multiple Se

ve

re Climate/environmental Unknown

Mo de Silvicultural ra

te Mammal damage Mammal

Fungal diseases Fungal

Weeds than around 65percent. occursproduction whendefoliation levels are greater increasing ofdefoliation littlewood severity andvery increment. growth Individual increment declineswith strong correlation between defoliation andvolume crowns. recent Our research hasshown there isavery mid-rotation plantations developing chronically thin areashigh-elevation ofthestate have leadto some Repeated defoliation episodesandshootdeath in of theleafbeetle’s natural predators. caused by rain, heavy strong winds, and/orby theactivity that showedre-monitoring anatural drop inthepopulation (13percent),1,313 hectares dueto subsequent foliar thisarea, damage. we Of didnotcontrol pestsin population highenoughto potentially causesignificant 33 percent ofthis monitored area experienced abeetle between 3and13years oldinstate forest. Approximately monitoring program covered ofplantations 28,912hectares to prevent significant growth loss.In 2010/11the highpopulations andtodetect control these, ifappropriate, monitoring plantations between November andMarch to Leaf beetleintegrated pestmanagement involves forest health issuein2010/11. unusually wet summermadefungal infectionsakey Fungal lesionsinahardwood plantation. Tasmania’s

41 sustaining carbon stores, clean STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 air, water and healthy forests sustaining carbon stores, clean air, water and healthy forests

Risk assessment for defoliation in plantations

A recent honours study by Sophie Edgar at the University of Tasmania examined the spatial pattern of leaf beetle populations in the landscape and attempted to identify factors that could predict where above-threshold leaf beetle populations are most likely to occur. Two factors from a range of models were consistent significant predictors of above-threshold leaf beetle populations: these were elevation greater than 550 metres and locations within 10 kilometres of Poa grasslands. Sophie classified the plantation estate using a simple risk model based on these two attributes: High risk – both greater than 550 metres and within 10 kilometres of Poa grassland; Medium risk –greater than 550 metres elevation or within 10 kilometres of Poa grassland; and Low risk – neither greater than 550 metres elevation nor within 10 kilometres of Poa grassland. Sophie subsequently applied these rankings to operational results over the past four years and showed that, when compared to low risk areas, plantations with a high risk-rating had:

• between two and seven times the proportion of monitoring events recording above threshold populations;

• leaf beetle populations that, when present, were significantly larger (almost double);

• five times the proportion (60.4 per cent) of plantations sustaining above-threshold populations over consecutive years; and

• nearly seven times the prevalence of severe defoliation.

This information will enable the development of a risk-based monitoring system in which monitoring can be focused on the older-age, high-risk sites.

Proportion of plantation estate by age class included in IPM Proportion of plantation estate by age class included in IPM using current and risk-based monitoring systems using current and risk-based monitoring systems.

100 100 90 90 80

80 )

) (%

(% 70 70 M M

M M 60 60 IP IP

in in 50

in 50

40 40 uded

uded 30 30

cl

cl In

In 20 20 10 10 0 0

sk ratin

RiskRi rating 3-4 Risk ratingrating 3-4 5-6 5-6 7-9 7-9 10-13 10-13 >13 >13 Age class Age class High Medium Low High Medium Low CCurrenturrent monitoring system. system RRisk-basedisk-based monitoringmonitoring system. system in north-east T north-east in increment inthree mid-rotation E.nitens plantations I and dependingon weed growth, follow-up weed control to species prior planting thecrop trees.kill Once planted, takes place asaninitialsite clean-upto remove difficult-to- fungicides inresponse to pestoutbreaks. Weed control usually two or annuallyinthefirst herbicides years and insecticides The usualchemicalpesticideregime for plantations isto apply optimum growth. to acceptable levels. Fertilisers are required to promote pesticides are required to reduce weed andpestinfestations environment. For commercial eucalyptandpineplantations, weeds, pestsanddiseaseposean unacceptable to risk the and fungicide), except inexceptional caseswhere introduced managed withouttheuseofpesticides(herbicides, insecticide processes that mimicnature. Generally, native forests are We strive to managenative forests organically, using U three mid-rotationE.nitensplantationsinnortheastTasmania. Impact ofseveredefoliationonannualvolumeincrementin mpact ofseverempact defoliation onannualvolume

se of pesticides se ofpesticides Current annual increment (m /ha/yr) 10 15 20 25 30 35 0 5 Thinne CD111A asmania d Me as ur ed CD112C Pr Un ed th ic inne te d d SF157A

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Average defoliation (%) maintenance offire trails, fuelbreaks and reliable and purchase ofequipment,and theconstruction plans,and fire thetraining action ofstaff, thedevelopment Preparedness includes thepreparation offire management Preparedness, Prevention, andRecovery. Response Forestry Tasmania covers offire management: allaspects and topography, andfuelload, type, andarrangement. extentsontheinteraction ofweather conditions varying fire intensity and event duration, allofwhichdepend to carelessness. Bushfires are highlyinarea variable burnt, campfires, operations, plannedburning arsonand Bushfires have many causes, includinglightning, escaped Fire performing aground basedsprayingperforming operation. when aspray fittingcracked whilea contractor was mix were released into theenvironment. This occurred 2010/11, approximately 50–100litres spray ofherbicide than 20litres. As aresult ofasinglerecorded spillin Parks,Industries, Water andEnvironment ofspillsgreater are minimised. We ofPrimary notifytheDepartment to ensure that potential adverse environmental effects requestour corrective system action andmanagethem We record allaccidental spillsoffuelsor chemicals in Fuel spills andchemical bufferareas are strips andmandatory delineated. we prepare acomprehensive spray planin whichstreams, wet following year. For ofspraying eachofthesetypes operations may berequired inthesameplanting seasonorlater inthe conditions and prompt action by District personnel.conditions by andprompt District action of thesewere keptto asmallsize by theprevailing wet firesor unauthorised intheHuonDistrict. Fortunately, all feature ofthe2010–11fire season was aspate ofillegal as aresult of36unplannedfires. The mostdisturbing 2010–11,approximatelyIn were 375hectares burnt into Preparedness activities. learnt andconclusions drawn from thesereviews feed back rehabilitation review. tasks, andtheafter-action The lessons Finally, encompasses Recovery themultitude ofpost-fire andParks and Service Wildlife Service. Fireagency Protocol, Management the Tasmania Fire undertheInter- by ourpartners assisted and supported assessment andsuppression activity. Again inthiswe are to isthereaction fireResponse investigation, reports, fuel management. system, standby arrangements for staff, and vegetative Prevention includesthefire lookoutanddetection Service. and Wildlife the particularly services, Tasmania Fire andtheParks Service relationships withother fire managersandemergency water storages, andthedevelopment ofcloseworking

43 sustaining carbon stores, clean STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 air, water and healthy forests sustaining carbon stores, clean air, water and healthy forests

The relatively small area burnt is attributed to the unusual AArearea burnt by unplannedunplanned firesres in 2010/112010/11 comparedcompared with the 10-year average. weather pattern experienced across the state during the with the 10-year average

2010–11 summer. Several short periods of widespread 40,000 12,000 heavy rain that occurred until mid-February 2011 35,000

10,000 10 Year Average (ha) prevented the widespread drying of fuels, and so 30,000 8,000 reduced the opportunity for fires to occur. 25,000 Nevertheless, we incurred additional costs of $132,685 20,000 6,000 in the course of fire suppression activities during 2010/11. 15,000 4,000 Area Burnt (ha) 10,000 2,000 We use fire as a tool in silvicultural operations, either in 5,000 the form of low intensity burns for debris removal in drier 0 0 01/0202/03 03/0404/05 05/0606/07 07/0808/09 09/10 10/11 forest types, or high intensity regeneration burns to create receptive seedbed in wet forest types. We completed Total unplanned res Severe re damage broad-area fuel reduction burns (burns that are strategically Total 10-year average Severe 10-year average planned to protect nearby assets, or for ecological purposes such as coastal heath or buttongrass management) on 7,700 hectares. The wet summer interfered with plans to commence the regeneration burning earlier than the traditional starting date of 15 March. Although some isolated coupes were in a condition to burn, significant regeneration burning was not possible until later in March this year.

The wet summer of 2010/11 saw a lower-than-average area of state forest burnt by wildfire; however, a number of fires were illegally lit in the Huon District. Forestry Tasmania openday. sustaining sustaining sa f ety, co to intra- attract andinterstate visitors into regional Blue Tier Forest Reserves. These areas, whichwere known followingMeander thesummerfloodsin Falls and to fundrepairsour inability to recreation infrastructure Obligations was to delivercapacity Community Service One ofthemostvisibleeffects of thedownturn onour stopped fundingthemin1998. Obligations since thegovernmentCommunity Service that we have foregone revenues of$30–$40millionin into Forestry Tasmania’s confirmed financialperformance the community. by theAuditor-General Aspecialreport forest andthecost to ofproviding harvesting services relief therelationship between revenue generated by The downturn forest hasthrown into industry sharp fundedfrom thesaleofwoodactivities products. Special Timbers Zone –andtheyare non-commercial our accounts –management ofForest andthe Reserves Obligations that are specifiedin Community Service the Forestry Act. We themoutinadditionto the carry Obligations asdefinedunder our Community Service formThese aconsiderable activities component of overprovide andabove opportunities timberproduction. that we expects clearly willmanageforestscommunity to balance values –andthe economic withnon-economic mandate that we Charter will and ourSustainability of sustainableforest management. The Forestry Act our relationships with stakeholders–isacore component and recreation, education programs, values, heritage and Managing thenon-wood values ofstate forest –tourism mm unity access heritageunity and community andtheenvironment.community interrelationship between theforest manager, thewider Charter,of theSustainability whichdemonstrate the Forestry Tasmania’s corporate values andtheaims The values expressed inthelogoandthemereflect sustainable development. need for themto bemanaged for and bothconservation food, medicine, cleanwater storage, andcarbon andthe play inallofourlives by providing habitat for biodiversity, ‘Celebrating Forests for People,’ the reflect role that forests official logoholder forthe year. Thelogo, andthetheme Nations International Year ofForests 2011,andan Forestry Tasmania intheUnited isaproud participant I Tree Reserve. Hollybank Forest and16 per cent, Big theStyx Reserve cent ofrespondents hadvisited Liffey Falls, 21per cent, inJune2011found conducted An 26per EMRSsurvey Forestry Tasmania plays inproviding keyvisitor facilities. throughout 2010/11, demonstrating themajorrole recreationOther sites around thestate remained popular as amatter ofcourse by Forestry Tasmania. years, repairs to recreational facilities were undertaken alternative fundingsources are identified.In previous communities, willremain closedto thepublicuntil nternational Y ear ofForests 2011

45 sustaining safety, community STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 access and heritage sustaining safety, community access and heritage

To celebrate the year, we developed a special calendar of Adventure Forests It incorporates family and bunk rooms; a communal room events that included: Following the re-positioning of our tourism business in equipped with kitchen, dining area, wood fire, DVDs and books; and shared bathroom facilities. The design of the • an official launch and open day led by International 2009/10, which saw us transition from our previous role of Year of Forests Ambassador, Ms Rebecca White MHA, developer to that of enthusiastic landlord, we developed new lodge also provides for wheelchair access. at Forestry Tasmania’s Melville Street Dome; business and marketing plans to consolidate the Adventure Forestry Tasmania developed the AirWalk Lodge in • opening of new accommodation at the Tahune AirWalk Forests brand. consultation with Huon Valley Council, which had identified (see next section); Product marketed under the Adventure Forests brand a number of opportunities for accommodation investment within the region. While these included several upmarket • special events on state forest, including Targa Wrest includes the Tahune AirWalk and the Eagles Eyrie at Maydena, styles of accommodation, the most urgent need in the valley Point; and which are operated by Forestry Tasmania; Hollybank Treetops Adventure, jointly owned by Australian Zipline Canopy Tours was for budget traveller and backpacker facilities. At a total • weekly promotions of recreation attractions on state and Forestry Tasmania; and Tarkine Forest Adventures, which project cost of $210,000, the development was a modest forest via the blog, ‘52 places to visit’. is leased to a family company, GMG Pty Ltd. In addition, in investment ideally suited to both visitor demand and In addition, we unfurled a giant banner promoting the 2010 the State Government requested that Forestry Tasmania Forestry Tasmania’s constrained financial position. Year at our Melville Street Headquarters, bringing its assume management of the Forest and Heritage Centre significance to the attention of the people of Hobart. in Geeveston.

With the operators of Hollybank Treetops Adventure and Tarkine Forest Adventures responsible for strategic and tactical management at these attractions, one of Forestry Tasmania’s tourism priorities this year was the renewal of the Tahune AirWalk product. The business plan recognises that the AirWalk has been in the mature stage of the product life cycle for a number of years now, with visitation plateauing at 80,000 per annum, and that investment in new product is needed to increase this number to the annual target of 100,000.

With this in mind, Forestry Tasmania, with Park Homes, constructed the AirWalk Lodge during 2010/11 to transform Tahune from a day trip to an overnight destination. The International Year of Forests Ambassador, Rebecca White MHA, AirWalk Lodge is a 25-bed budget accommodation facility We opened the AirWalk Lodge in 2011 as part of a launched our celebrations for the year by abseiling in our strategy to transform Tahune from a day trip to an targeted at families, backpackers and school groups. Melville Street ‘forest in the city.’ overnight experience. and dynamic familybusiness. our franchise model, aswe believe itis more suited to asmall This work ourgoal to under willunderpin lease theattraction refining partnerships. product will focus onfurther classes andsmallgroupas cooking tours, year andnext we we focused ondeveloping arange ofhigh-yield such product destination inthevein oftheAirWalk. Accordingly, thisyear we donotforecast that itwillever become amasstourism continues to face challengesand anumberofmarketing of Tasmania’s recognised touring routes, theEaglesEyrie Peak proved unviable. However, asMaydena isnotpart theinitialplansforafter a ‘hauler’ to thesummitofAbbots to Maydena developed service asacommunity thisattraction mix at theEaglesEyrie, Maydena. Forestry Tasmania 2010/11weDuring alsosought to consolidate theproduct for Adventureheadquarters Forests. astheadministrative themeantime, serves 2012. In thefacility inacompetitiveanticipation grants ofparticipating process in be determined. An alternative concept may beexplored in own right. However, suitablesources offundingare yet to have ensured itsfuture inits asaviabletourism attraction Centre into amultimediainterpretive centre, whichwould developed aconcept to transform theForest andHeritage As foreshadowed period, intheprevious we reporting also ‘Segway’ personaltransporters. withaprivate operator sector partnered to provide tours on of guidedtours, developed newmountain biketracks, and plan for theAirWalk, whichincludedincreased availability AirWalk. We continued to implement theinterpretation enhanced mixonoffer theproduct to day visitors at the additionto theaccommodationIn development, we also awareness inthemarketplace. the Adventure Forests andfeel’‘look andincrease brand work collaboratively withForestry Tasmania to maintain marketing, itsown alloperators tactical also undertakes links to broader destination marketing. While eachproduct media,cooperativethe printandelectronic and marketing website,bookings alongwithtargeted brand promotion in tourism portfolio. This strategy isledby theAdventure Forests and implements thebrand strategy marketing for theentire tourism experience to therole, Forestry Tasmania develops appointed extensive in2010 andbrings international of Adventure Forests Schibig, managerRoland whowas brand plan.Undertheguidance underthenewmarketing The year alsosaw strengthening oftheAdventure Forests International Year of Forests opendays. We withtheForest worked in partnership Education Foundation ofour to aspart deliver activities

complex inHobart. financial year, proved to bea centrepieceOffice ofourHead The National Forest Learning Centre, openedintheprevious with, theForest Education Foundation in2010/11. Forestry Tasmania andwork continued closely to support, Forest education websites.important AdsGoogle campaigns andlinksto strategically season andincreased internet marketing, including We anticipate inthe2011/12peak television advertising initiativesmarketing aimedattraffic driving tothe website. previous year. 2011/12we In planto implement further traffic tothe website compared the tothesameperiod inthepeakseasonthatby doubled television advertising website continued to enhanced increase, andwas particularly awareness 2010/11market During oftheAdventure Forests

47 sustaining safety, community STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 access and heritage sustaining safety, community access and heritage

We worked in partnership with the Forest Education inspections carried out in a workplace against the specified The additional focus on contractor safety over the past Foundation to deliver a range of activities as part of required frequency. Positive performance indicators are two years has led to a significant improvement, especially International Year of Forests open days held in January pro-active measures over which an organisation can in regards to harvesting contractors. Forestry Tasmania and June, which proved to be highly popular school exercise full control in an effort to influence eventual has contracted the Tasmanian Skills Institute and the holiday events. safety outcomes. Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association to deliver

Our long-term safety performance as measured using increased independent safety audits and inspections as Health and safety Our long-term safety performance as measured using the the lost time injury frequency rate well as further safety training and mentoring. The result lost time injury frequency rate. We continued this year to aim at creating a zero workplace 120 is an LTIFR for harvesting contractors of 6.9 compared to injury and illness culture. a performance measure of less than 8. This has been an 100 excellent performance. In the 2010/11 financial year, we sustained eight Lost Time 80 Incidents, although six of the affected employees returned 60 to work within one week. Unfortunately, the number of FR LTI 40 Lost Time Incidents did not improve from the 2009/10 financial year. 20

0 After analysis of the Lost Time Incidents, corrective actions included: 1974/7 5 1975/7 6 1976/7 7 1977/7 8 1978/7 9 1979/8 0 1980/8 1 1981/8 2 1982/8 3 1983/8 4 1984/8 5 1985/8 6 1986/8 7 1987/8 8 1988/8 9 1989/9 0 1990/9 1 1991/9 2 1992/9 3 1993/9 4 1994/9 5 1995/9 6 1996/9 7 1997/9 8 1998/9 9 1999/0 0 2000/0 1 2001/0 2 2002/0 3 2003/0 4 2004/0 5 2005/0 6 2006/0 7 2007/0 8 2008/0 9 2009/1 0 2010/1 1 Year • some further protective equipment against leech bites;

• further mentoring of staff on the behaviour of fire; and

• a continuation of strategies to enhance employee safety focus, so that there is a belief that ‘I am responsible for my own health, safety and wellbeing as well as the health, safety and wellbeing of my fellow employee’.

The plan involves senior management being even more visible in the workplace, promoting and participating in safety management, including monitoring of work sites.

In addition, Forestry Tasmania has a more strategic focus on positive performance indicators to measure safety behaviour, for example, measuring the number of safety Our senior managers are becoming even more visible in the workplace, encouraging the development of a strong safety culture among our staff. unity unity mm

Workers compensation Community engagement This year, we implemented additional communications initiatives to raise awareness about our management of Our number of workers compensation claims remained at EMRS polling

the regeneration burning program, including: co ety, an equal record low, with 19 new claims received in 2010/11. Forestry Tasmania again commissioned an opinion poll by f However, the cost of new claims was the highest for the last respected social researcher EMRS to ascertain the strength • daily advisories issued to media on the morning and the evening of planned burns, and which were five years, reflecting increases in medical costs and extended of its brand in the community. The survey of 600 people broadcast on local ABC Radio; rehabilitation services. The cost of all open claims, while was one in a series conducted since 2008, and found that increased, was within the performance target. Forestry Tasmania’s reputation as a good corporate citizen • information flyers in the daily and regional access and heritage was still strong, although as was to be expected, its rating newspapers; and With the commencement of revised workers compensation had slipped slightly during what had been a period of legislation in July 2010, we trained two statewide injury • a media conference held by the Managing Director considerable turmoil in the forest industry. Reflecting sa sustaining management coordinators, plus return-to-work coordinators at the start of the regeneration burning season. concerns about the uncertainties in the industry and their in each district. effect on economic growth, the survey also found that These initiatives received a positive reaction from our stakeholders, and it is to be hoped that other forestry Aboriginal and historic cultural heritage 60 per cent of respondents nominated ‘creating jobs’ as the most important attribute of Forestry Tasmania – the highest companies and private landowners who carry out planned We undertake archaeological surveys as part of our pre- level since 2009. burning will follow a similar approach in the future. harvest assessment of special values. These surveys may Improved communications during regeneration detect new sites, or re-detect old sites that were found burning season by us in the past and mentioned in historical records, but which had no contemporary map reference. Once we find In 2011, the Corporate Relations and Tourism Branch in archaeological sites, we assess and protect them. conjunction with the Fire Management Branch undertook a significant overhaul of the communications program These sites may include former mines, tramways, huts, associated with the regeneration burning season. In prior artefact scatters, boilers and old mill sites. years, we had relied primarily on the Planned Burns website This year, we surveyed 1,163 hectares for (plannedburnstas.com.au) to inform the community about non-Aboriginal heritage, and found 33 new sites. regeneration burns. However, following the review of the These included timber tramways, huts, water races and previous year’s burning season, we learned there were locations of early prospecting implements. We also found a number of improvements we needed to make to our communications to ensure the community was provided five new Aboriginal cultural heritage sites as a result of STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 with an increased level of information. surveys conducted over an area of 756 hectares.

49 sustaining safety, community access and heritage

Television advertising During the year we issued 208 formal media releases, Reflecting the requirements of the new Act, in 2010 we which included 77 advisories about regeneration burns, made a number of changes to our website to allow for Forestry Tasmania allocated most of its modest advertising and was a significant increase on the previous year’s total pro-active disclosure of information, including the budget to growing sales through Island Specialty Timbers, of 111. Many more media issues were also dealt with provision of Forest Practices Plans on demand online. the Adventure Forest tourism portfolio and the Trees on informally by our Corporate Relations and Tourism Branch, Farms program. Forestry Tasmania encourages people to seek information and we held media conferences on key issues such as the under active disclosure. Four of 24 applications for assessed Forester (now retired) Paul Smith was the face of a ‘Job release of our half-yearly financial result. disclosure were made available under active disclosure. Well Done’ series of commercials raising awareness of our Release of Right to Information responses The number of applications received in 2010/11 was a contribution to the Tasmanian economy and the pride significant increase on the previous year’s 11 Freedom we felt that areas nominated by environmental groups The Right to Information Act 2009 came into effect on 1 July of Information requests. In accordance with our internal as having high conservation value, included coupes that 2010, replacing the Freedom of Information Act 1991. The policy, all finalised applications for assessed disclosure were had previously been clearfelled, burnt and regrown using new Act places a greater emphasis on pro-active disclosure uploaded to our website and released to the media, except our proven organic regeneration methods. Reflecting of information without the need for formal applications. those relating to personal information. our non-commercial objectives, the third in the series Active disclosure is the voluntary release of information promoted recreational facilities we provide on state forests, on receipt of a request. It also provides the public with an focussing on the ‘52 places to visit’ blog launched as part enforceable right to information under assessed disclosure, of our contribution to International Year of the Forests restricted by limited circumstances. Assessed disclosure is celebrations. The ‘Job Well Done’ series was part funded required if some of the information being sought is exempt by Timber Communities Australia, the Tasmanian Country under the Right to Information Act. Sawmillers Federation and other customers.

Media relations

As in previous years, EMRS polling found that the majority of the community continued to gain most of its information about Forestry Tasmania from the media, which once again highlighted the importance of accurate and balanced reporting on forestry issues. We continued to release information pro-actively to the media to maintain openness and transparency in our operations.

Media relations remained a key priority for us in 2010/11. Media conferences were called for significant announcements, including our half-yearly financial result. unity unity mm

Branchline Going Bush Community Assist Program

In response to stakeholder feedback, we again reviewed A fourth series of the popular Forestry Tasmania–Southern The Community Assist Program operates as a joint venture the format of our e-newsletter, Branchline, in 2010. Now Cross television series, Going Bush, was aired in 2011. between Forestry Tasmania and Southern Cross Television, co ety, f published in an informal email, it remains one of the This year marked a significant milestone for the program, providing funding for individuals and organisations striving to make their communities better places in which to live. primary means of providing stakeholders with current as it was produced with the involvement of VicForests and, The program is aligned to Forestry Tasmania’s core values. information about our activities and issues that affect for the first time, shown in regional Victoria, New South our business. We continued to publish the newsletter Wales and Queensland. The series also included viewer- Forestry Tasmania made the difficult decision to curtail the Community Assist Program in 2010/11 in light of access and heritage on a flexible schedule to ensure it remained timely and suggested stories about threatened species, best practice our financial circumstances. We did not issue a call for relevant. This year we produced 19 issues for our Australian four-wheel driving, special timbers and bush crafts. funding applications, instead determining that the most stakeholders, and four for our Japanese stakeholders. sa sustaining prudent course of action was to continue with multi- year sponsorships awarded in 2009/10, including major sponsorships with Football Federation Tasmania, Ben Lomond Descent and the Derwent Valley Autumn Festival. Full details of sponsorships provided are tabled in Appendix 2 – Data Tables. STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11

The popular Forestry Tasmania–Southern Cross television series, Going Bush, was this year produced with the involvement of VicForests and aired in mainland regional areas. 51 sustaining safety, community access and heritage

Care for People schools award Understanding the areas on which we need to work The Office of the Minister for Energy and Resources received 66 letters or other forms of correspondence regarding The ‘Care for People’ schools award was again offered in Questions, concerns or complaints about our operations Forestry Tasmania in 2010/11, one fewer than last year. 2010/11. The awards recognised students who made a and activities are received as a result of people writing Of these, 16 per cent related to roads, 7 per cent to planned significant contribution to their communities. or speaking to the Office of the Minister for Energy and burns, 7 per cent to special timbers, and 7 per cent to the Resources or through communicating directly with us. All Tasmanian schools were eligible to participate in Forest Statement of Principles. Some of these questions, concerns and complaints are the award, and were approached by Forestry Tasmania outside our control, for example, those that relate to during the school year to nominate a student who had legislation. However, those that are relevant to us are demonstrated compassion or thoughtfulness towards recorded in our corrective action request system. others. Participating schools were awarded a perpetual shield on which the student’s name was inscribed, and the Through this process, a staff member is nominated as student was awarded a backpack, drink bottle, sunhat and being responsible for addressing the specific issue raised. a family pass to an Adventure Forests tourism attraction. Responses usually involve a letter, a telephone call or a meeting. In some cases, the response to a complaint This was the fourth year in which the award was offered, includes an operational response (that is, attending to a and many schools participated for the third or fourth time. reasonable request). In total, 119 students were presented with the award, up from 115 students the previous year.

Planet Ark Schools Tree Day

Planet Ark Schools Tree Day is an annual event that aims to plant one million native trees and shrubs across Australia. It provides an opportunity for school students to make a contribution towards the natural environment, by developing a sense of ownership and responsibility towards nature. Planet Ark also provides teachers with a range of resources, including activities and lesson plans, that help make Schools Tree Day a meaningful event for all involved.

Forestry Tasmania has been a proud supporter of Schools Tree Day for the past four years. In 2010/11, some 10,000 seedlings were grown especially for the event at the Forest Nursery at Perth, and our community liaison coordinators received requests for seedlings from over 50 schools.

Just some of the 10,000 seedlings we provided for Planet Ark Schools Tree Day this year. Yong An Forestry Group, China. Forestry Williams,Dean Tasmania and Wu Wei, sustaining sustaining

science-based stewardship also prosecute for failure to comply withacertified Forest the Forest Practices Act. The Forest Practices can Authority by aForestof 41 Section Practices issuedunder Officer number ofways. This includes verbal orwritten notification is considered serious, legalenforcement isappliedin a similar errors donotoccur inthefuture. Where theproblem review, analysis andimprovement ofsystems to ensure that remediation ofdamage, takesplace. This isfollowed by Where problems arise, including the corrective action, standards through planning, training andeducation. The forest system practices emphasiseshighenvironmental water, cultural andvisualamenity. heritage values, includingflora, fauna,geomorphology, soilsand requires specialprovisions to protect natural andcultural in accordance withtheForest Practices Code. The code for harvesting,road works andreforestation activities a certified Forest Practices Plan that contains specifications All forest outinaccordance mustbecarried practices with Forest P Legal compliance personnel. skilled information, effective systems andprocedures and byanduseofaccurate thecollection issupported capacity and ourorganisational by ensuring certification, third-party researchmaintaining apractical program, independent management practices. We achieve thisthrough improve ofstate forest theproductivity andour standards andwe aimtoand supplementary continually isto objective Our comply withallrelevant legislation ractices A ct

who were overseeing the operation. Forest Practices Plan isalsobeinginvestigated withGunns, A stream crossing onstate forest to that wasthe contrary out. archaeological notbeingcarried post–harvest survey anda too closeto beingleft acoupedebris boundary These investigations related to coupe dispersal, landing the Forest Practices asaresult Authority oftheseaudits. good, withonlyfour follow-up investigations initiated by was result. very Overall theperformance performance Plans, whichisconsidered sufficient to give ameaningful audit was basedonasamplesize of32Forest Practices According to theForest Practices Authority, the2010/11 rating of3.5. performance benchmark represents an ‘above sound’ result andisabove ourown audit was anaverage statewide rating of3.8,which overall outcome ofthe2010/11Forest Practices Authority and procedures required by theforest system. practices The checks thestandard oftheplan,includingallassessments to theassessment ofoperational theaudit performance, site preparation ataddition variousstagesofcompletion. In Plans. The auditcovers forest harvesting,road works and annual auditofarepresentative sampleofForest Practices The Forest anindependent Practices undertakes Authority of theForest Practices in2010/11. Act contractors operating onstate forest 41 underSection No notices were issuedto Forestry Tasmania orour to prosecution. Practices Plan ormay imposeafineasanalternative

53 sustaining science-based STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 stewardship sustaining science-based stewardship

The Forest Practice Authority issued one fine of $3,000 to us Workplace Health and Safety Act For 2010/11, 104 environmental issues were registered, of in 2010/11, as a result of some browsing control contractors which two were categorised as high, 14 as medium and 88 One Workplace Standards notice was issued to us under laying traps within the boundary of a designated eagle as low. the Workplace Health and Safety Act during 2010/11. nesting season exclusion zone. We reviewed our browsing This related to several minor issues at the Huon Wood NumberNumber of of environmental environmental corrective corrective action action requests requests raised management practices in order to reduce the likelihood of by reporting category. Centre Merchandiser site. The issues were addressed to raised by reporting category another similar breach. the satisfaction of Workplace Standards. 250

OurOur performance performance measured measured by by the the Forest Forest P Practicesractices Authority 200 Authoritover they over past the ve past years. five years Certification Forest Practices Authority benchmark Forestry Tasmania’s sustainable forest management 150 Forestry Tasmania benchmark performance is independently audited against three 100 Geomorphology certification standards: the Australian Forestry Standard Environmental CARs Cultural Heritage (AS4708); Environmental Management Standard (AS/NZS 50

Landscape 14001); and the Occupational Health and Safety Standard 0 (AS4801). These requirements are managed through Fauna 2006/072007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 Forestry Tasmania’s forest management system. During Flora the external audit undertaken by our third party auditor Low Medium High Soil and Water NCS International in March 2011, it raised a major non- Fuels and Rubb ish The environmental corrective action requests categorised Criteria conformance as a result of its finding that our contractor as high were: Reforestation management system procedures were not being fully Harvesting implemented. We prepared a comprehensive action plan, • smoke from a Forestry Tasmania burn causing poor air Roading endorsed by the auditor, to address this finding, thus quality over Burnie; and

Planning reducing it to a minor non-conformance. • the failure to include an apiary site and landscape 012 3 3.5 4 In addition to the external auditing of our systems, ongoing values in forest practices planning for a coupe in Huon 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 monitoring of our forest operations and activities is also District. Performance score a strong component of our internal forest management Both of these incidents were subject to our root cause system. If we find any non-conformances as measured analysis process. This process identifies the reasons for the against our standard operating procedures, we lodge problem and identifies actions that we can implement in a corrective action request, which includes taking the order to minimise the chance of recurrence. immediate corrective action required and allocating a responsible person to ensure the issue is fully addressed. wider community. scientific Our and technical staff are specifically demonstrate and communicate this to the Tasmania’s that we dailybusiness, butitisalsoimportant ofForestry management andoperations aspart directly Research outputs, andscience more generally, inform forest grants. Council linkage Flux (OzFlux) andanumberofAustralian Network, Research Environment Research Facilities hub, theAustralian National Centre for Forestry, theLandscapeLogic Commonwealth collaborations intheCooperative are participation Research inotherinstitutions.and knowledge Examplesofthese into Forestry Tasmania thewiderange ofrelevant expertise with others, asthis isby farthemosteffective way to bring and Development’s incollaboration research isperformed communications role. oftheDivisionForest Much Research the division’s research planning, complemented by our goals ofproductivity, andprofitability guide sustainability our DivisionofForest Research andDevelopment. The three development, andourresearch isconcentrated capacity in We have asignificant investment in research and Research andfiveexternal internal). requestsof 105corrective following action sixaudits(one audits. 2010/11,weinternal and external In raised atotal raise requests corrective through action findingsmadein additionto theregularIn monitoring ofoperations, we also View our audit public summary reports: View ourauditpublicsummary forestrytas.com.au

% Net operating cost of ForestryTasmania’soperatingcost. Amount spentannuallyonresearchasapercentage 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 0 of Forestry A a commercial environment. forest settingandpractical managementwith bothpolicy in The strength ofourresearch team draws onitscloselinks operations, aswell asbeinginvolved inpublicisingtheirwork. used to inform Forestry Tasmania’s forest management and theirown research,perform andensure that results are international developments intheirforest science speciality, researchersOur maintain anawareness ofnational and Ecological Research site. across the undertaken Tahune at bridge the Warra Long Term Warra theatrette provided insight into theresearch being displays andquizthe scientists on-site. The bigscreen at the groups visited the Tahune AirWalk ofscience to seeavariety National Science During activities. Week thisyear, school including asignificant involvementScience inNational Week involved inpublicisingresearch anditsimplementation, mount spent annually onresearch as apercentage 2006 /0 % Netoperating cost 7 T asmania’s operating cost 2007 /0 82 008 /0 92 009 /1 Amount spent($) 02 010/ 11 500,00 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000 3,000,000 3,500,000 4,000,000 4,500,000 5,000,000 0 0

Amount spent ($) Forestry Tasmania negotiate anewagreement. the relevant to theagreement unionswhoare parties and may continue to operate beyond thisdate until suchtime had acompletion date of31March 2012. The agreement Forestry Tasmania Enterprise Agreement Number 2of2011, covered by anenterprise agreement. The current agreement, Forestry Tasmania employees’ conditions ofemployment are innovative retention knowledge strategies. constraints andtheimplementationthe face of of budgetary the maintenance andexperience in oftherightlevel ofskills Forestry Tasmania’s keystrategic humanresources issuesare Organisational capacity

55 sustaining science-based STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 stewardship sustaining science-based stewardship

Training and development Gumatj glee at graduation Throughout the year the Training and Development team Six members of the Northern Territory Gumatj clan were officially presented with Certificate I in Forest and Forest Products by Forestry have been busy with a number of activities. Thirty-six staff Tasmania Managing Director Bob Gordon at a moving ceremony at the annual Yothu Yindi Foundation Garma Festival in August 2011. were enrolled under the Forestry Tasmania Registered

They gained their certificate skills working on a project initiated by Gumatj leader Galarrwuy Yunnipingu, who approached us to Training Organisation to commence a Certificate III in establish sustainable timber and construction industry at Nhulunbuy in East Arnhem Land. For Gularrwuy it didn’t make sense to build Forest Growing and Management (specialising in forest fire houses using bricks transported from thousands of kilometres away, when the trees are right on their doorstep. fighting), and two other staff are working to complete the Certificate IV in Forest Operations. As part of the project, trees on Gumatj land have been harvested and milled to build a five bedroom bunk house and four bedroom house designed for Northern Territory conditions. The Forestry Tasmania Registered Training Organisation also offered Recognition of Prior Learning to staff in the Training for the certificates was delivered by the Forestry Tasmania Registered Training Organisation. Certificate IV in Forest Operations, which has so far resulted Forestry Tasmania’s Graham Sargison took on the role of project manager, with colleagues Bob Cripps, Lindsay Wilson and Frank Bishop in three people successfully completing this qualification. travelling to Nhulunbuy to train participants and develop the competencies required to achieve certification. Sawmill manager Mark With the implementation of the new Learning and Blackwell mentored participants and supervised timber harvesting and sawmilling operations. Development module as part of the human resources The certificate qualifications include core forest industry competencies such as chainsaw use and maintenance, trimming and system upgrade, staff have been busy ensuring the integrity crosscutting of felled trees, quality and product care, environmental care procedures, occupational health and safety and workplace of training and competency data and now have this communication and interaction. It is hoped the graduates will go on to make use of their new skills in similar projects across the module operational. Northern Territory. The Training and Development unit was also heavily The certificate recipients were Shaun Gurruwiwi, Billy Yunupingu, Gavin Yunupingu, Gerald Yunupingu, Jason Yunupingu and Shane involved, through a partnership with ForestWorks (Industry Yunupingu. They added to the colour and movement at the Garma Festival when they celebrated their graduation by performing a Skills Council), in undertaking research and reporting to dance that they had created especially for the occasion. the Forest Practices Authority on the effectiveness, and opportunities to improve, training in forest practices.

A large effort also went into meeting the compliance requirements of the Registered Training Organisation following an audit carried out by the Tasmanian Qualifications Authority under the Australian Quality Training Framework 2010.

Members of the Gumatj clan celebrated their achievement of the Certificate I in Forest and Forest Products at this year’s Yothu Yindi Garma Festival in Arnhem Land. Nu par m ti ci ber study in 2009. forest estate, following completion ofasuccessful pilot of acquiring LiDAR data over 90percent oftheproductive Forestry Tasmania istwo years into program athree-year Resource information andhead officeyears 385 andDerwent years. 60years, Mersey service, Bass85years, Forest 60 Nursery total of810years, withMurchison staff contributing 220 years employees have Forestry served Tasmania for acombined centres,at thedistrict Forest andheadoffice. Nursery These milestones withForestry Tasmania. Specialevents were held employees whohadreached 40-year, 35-year and25-year December 2010,weIn recognised anumberoflong-serving employeesRecognising long-serving area subject ofhoursper and thenumber whounderwent ofpeople trainingNumber thisyear pant of

s 500 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 45 number ofhourspersubjectarea. Number ofpeoplewhounderwenttrainingthisyearandthe 50

0

0

Business Admin Business 23

Certi cation 0

g in mput Co 1 Co ur se ty

12 pe Induction Corporate

172 Management Management st re Fo

454 Health and Safety and Health

52 Vehicles planned burn. and theuseofvehicles andequipmenta wildfire during or 2010/2011 fire season. This system allows us to track people and deployed group, thisto amulti-agency for the We developed anincident resource management system, Business systemsdevelopments and volume inplantations from directly LiDAR data. We canalsoaccurately modelstocking, basalarea, height accurate oftimbervolumes projection into thefuture. in themodellingofstandcharacteristics, whichwillenable used.actively Also ofnote advances are somespectacular plantations andregenerating native forest, whichare being for andcompleted quality both timbervolume surfaces fruitful. very We have developed orrefined modelsofsite An research active program into thetechnology hasbeen of forest suitablefor thinning. fromactivities, archaeological to theidentification surveys information isbeingusedinanever-expandingarray of road location application. Additionally, LiDAR-derived planningand inharvest from the2009trial, particularly savings recorded sofarare higherthanthosepredicted Despite theslower data thanexpected capture program, of thearea for whichwe plannedto capture data. affected by unsuitable weather andthis was onlyone-third Tasmania thisyear. Unfortunately, theflyingseason was wereanother 350,000hectares captured over south-eastern 2009/2010,data during for captured inthe north-east additionto thedataIn for that 450,000hectares were

management agenciesin Tasmania and Victoria. companies,forestry councils, corporations, utility andland associated forest for were modelling services, undertaken LiDARand terrain mappingusingairborne technology, and plantations beingestablishedinChina.High-precisionforest andsilvicultural researchand tree-breeding for eucalypt ignition equipment, strategic forest estate yieldmodelling, Work includedthefabricationofhelicopter-mounted fire- months, yieldingtotal revenue ofalmost$1.2million. inthelast12 A total were of26projects undertaken and internationally. andadvice to customers in services Tasmania, interstate, businesssellsoperational andspecialisedforestry Services Forest 2010/11.Our during commercial services Technical We continued to profitably expand ourprovision of external Forest T data for timberyieldplanning. operational standards quality andto collate inventory they are inthefield. These data are required to monitor measurements ofrecently thinnedplantations while assessment tool, whichwillenablestaff to enter We alsocommenced thedevelopment ofathinning Practices Plans andotherworks programs. of operations, andto improve themonitoring ofForest usage, to facilitate theroutine prescription andscheduling database system to assistusinmonitoring chemical We madeimprovements to theforest operations echnical echnical S ervices ervices

57 sustaining science-based STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 stewardship where to from here?

Listed below are some of the challenges and priorities we Sustaining carbon stores, clean air, will be striving to achieve in 2011/12 to ensure we continue water and healthy forests

to deliver the aims outlined in our Sustainability Charter. • Establish the carbon flux tower at the Warra Long Term Sustaining biodiversity and habitat Ecological Research site.

• Develop coupe-context metrics for habitat retention in • Maintain our broad acre fuel hazard reduction program. consultation with Forest Practices Authority. • Continue to support full implementation of the • Report on landscape scale metrics that inform how the coordinated smoke management system. Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative reserve • Develop the ability to model and manage estate–level system is functioning in the southern forests. water use changes. • Contribute to the development of the Department of • Develop our weed management strategy. Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment’s swift parrot strategic species plan. Sustaining safety, community access and heritage

• Achieve the 80 per cent non-clearfell target for old • Implement a five-year strategic employee safety plan.

growth harvesting. • Continue to support community activities through our • Implement outcomes of government land use Community Assist sponsorship program. agreements. • Implement revised contract management procedures. Sustaining jobs for current and future generations Sustaining science-based stewardship • Provide input into the Treasury review of Forestry • Continue to seek opportunities to underpin Tasmania’s structure and implement government forest industry discussions with sound science on decisions. conservation and sustainability priorities. • Implement the Forestry Innovation Plan. • Further operationalise LiDAR technology to improve • Deliver 2012 Regional Forest Agreement sustainable tactical planning and strategic inventory outcomes. wood review. • Continue to seek international consultancies through • Progress and implement research into existing E. nitens Forest Technical Services. plantation estate for suitability for replanting with E. globulus at the next rotation.

David Fulford, • Continue to expand the Trees on Farms project across Senior Forest Officer – Planning, Murchison District. the state. G 1.1 S 3.11 3.10 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.5 scope andboundary Report 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.1 profile Report parameters Report 2.10 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1 O 1.2 GRI Ref trategy andanalysis rganisational profile lobal R . CEO statement. Description measurement methodsappliedinthe report. Significant or changesfrom inthescope, periods previous boundary reporting Explanation oftheeffectany restatements ofinformation provided inearlier reports. Data measurement techniques andassumptions. and otherentities that could affect comparability. onjointBasis for ventures, reporting subsidiaries, leasedfacilities, outsourced operations, ofthereport. Limitations ofthescope orboundary ofthereport. Boundary Process forcontent. defining report Contacts. cycle. Reporting Date ofmostrecent previous report. period. Reporting Awards received period. thereporting during period regardingSignificant the size, changes during reporting or structure ownership. oforganisation.Scale served. Markets Nature ofownership andlegalform. Countries ofoperation. location. Headquarters Operational structure. brands,Primary andservices. products Name oftheorganisation. risks, ofkeyimpacts, andopportunities. Description eporting I eporting nitiative C

Core C Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core Core ore oradditional ontent I ontent Messages fromMessages andManagingDirector theChairman L Reporting structure andscope structure Reporting andscope structure Reporting andscope structure Reporting andscope structure Reporting andscope structure Reporting andscope structure Reporting andscope structure Reporting Contact us andscope structure Reporting andscope structure Reporting andscope structure Reporting Tourism andrecreation fromMessage andManagingDirector theChairman organisationOur organisationOur organisationOur organisationOur organisationOur organisationOur organisationOur organisationOur fromMessages andManagingDirector theChairman ocation withinthisreport ndex

59 GLOBAL RePORtinG initiATIVE STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 CONTEXT INDEX Global Reporting Initiative Content Index

GRI Ref . Description Core or additional Location within this report GRI content index 3.12 GRI content index. Core GRI content index Governance, commitments and engagements Governance 4.1 Governance structure. Core Corporate governance 4.2 Indicate whether the chair of the highest governance body is also an executive officer. Core Corporate governance 4.3 State the number of members of the highest governance body that are independent Core Corporate governance and/or non-executive members. 4.4 Mechanism for shareholders and employees to provide recommendations or direction Core Corporate governance to the board. Stakeholder engagement 4.14 List of stakeholder groups engaged by the organisation. Core Community engagement 4.15 Basis for identification and selection of stakeholders with whom to engage. Core Community engagement 4.16 Approaches to stakeholder engagement, including frequency of engagement by type Core Community engagement and by stakeholder group. 4.17 Key topics and concerns that have been raised through stakeholder engagement, and Core Understanding the areas we need to work on how the organisation has responded to those key topics and concerns, including through its reporting. Economic performance Economic performance EC1 Economic value generated and distributed, including revenues, operating costs, employee Core The year at a glance compensation, donations and other community investments, retained earnings, and Financial performance report payments to capital providers and governments. Market presence EC6 Policy, practices, and proportion of spending on locally based suppliers at significant Core Wood products locations of operation. Indirect economic impacts EC8 Development and impact of infrastructure investments and services provided primarily Core Community service activities for public benefit through commercial, in-kind or pro-bono engagement. EN1 Materials Environmental EN29 T EN28 C EN23 EN18 EN16 Emissions, effluent and waste EN14 EN11 Biodiversity EN6 EN5 EN4 EN3 Energy GRI Ref ransport ompliance . Materials usedby weight orvolume. Description used for theorganisation’s operations, membersoftheworkforce. andtransporting Significant andothergoodsmaterials products environmental oftransporting impacts for withenvironmental non-compliance laws andregulations. sanctions value ofsignificant finesand totalnumberofnon-monetary Monetary Total numberandvolume ofsignificant spills. Initiatives to reduce greenhouse achieved. gasemissionsandreductions Total greenhouse andindirect direct gasemissionsby weight. Strategies, andfuture current plansfor actions onbiodiversity. managing impacts and areas ofhigh biodiversity value outsideprotected areas. Location andsize oflandowned, leased, managedin,oradjacent to, protected areas inenergyand reductions requirements asaresult oftheseinitiatives. Initiatives to provide or energy-efficient renewable energy andservices, based products Energy improvements. saved andefficiency dueto conservation energy energy source. consumptionIndirect by primary energy energysource.Direct consumption by primary

Core C Additional Core Core Additional Core Additional Core Additional Additional Core Core ore oradditional Wood products L emissions Developing anunderstandingofourenergy useand Compliance withtheForest Practices Act Fuel andchemicalspills and emissions Developing anunderstandingofourenergy use and emissions Developing anunderstandingofourenergy use Biodiversity system Reserve emissions Developing anunderstandingofourenergy useand emissions Developing anunderstandingofourenergy useand emissions Developing anunderstandingofourenergy useand emissions Developing anunderstandingofourenergy useand ocation withinthisreport

61 GLOBAL RePORtinG initiATIVE STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–11 CONTEXT INDEX Global Reporting Initiative Content Index

GRI Ref . Description Core or additional Location within this report Social Employment LA1 Total workforce by employment type, employment contract and region. Core Wood products Occupational health and safety LA6 Percentage of total workforce represented in formal joint management–worker health and Additional Health and safety safety committees that help monitor and advise on occupational health and safety programs. LA7 Rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days and absenteeism, and number of Core Health and safety work-related fatalities by region. Training and education LA10 Average hours of training per year per employee. Core Organisational capacity LA12 Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development reviews. Additional Organisational capacity Society Community SO1 Nature, scope and effectiveness of any programs and practices that assess and manage Core Community engagement the impacts of operations on communities, including entering, operating and exiting. sustainable • • • • Under thispolicy, Forestry Tasmania will: tobest practice create long-term wealth andemployment for Tasmanians. forest resource ismanagedfor benefit, optimumcommunity usingenvironmental Forestry Tasmania iscommitted to continual improvement that andensuring this Tasmania’s state forest resource. Forestry Tasmania isaforest landmanagerresponsible for themanagement of practices arepractices by underpinned soundscience. andpromote collaborativeUndertake research that willensure that operational Forestry Tasmania’s strategic aimsandgoals. (Forest Charter aSustainability Maintain Plan) Management that outlines management. to provide feedback onForestry Tasmania’s progress insustainable forest Actively engagewithstakeholdersandneighboursencourage them environmental andforest management legislation, standards andcodes. operationsConduct to meetorexceed allrelevant Australian and Tasmanian

f orest m orest anage June 2009 Managing Director GordonBob • • • • • management standards by suppliers, contractors, andtheusersofstate forests. Encourage andfacilitate compliance withenvironmental andsustainableforest appropriate resources to ensure thoseresponsibilities are fulfilled. responsibilities themwithtraining to and ouremployees andsupport defineand Clearly communicate environmental and forest management monitor,Regularly onourforest audit, review andpubliclyreport performance. against ISO14001andtheAustralian Forestry Standard (AS4708). acomprehensiveMaintain forest management system certified that isexternally to prevent pollutionasaresult offorest operations. recovery, product Maximise minimisewaste andimplement measures that strive

m ent policy ent

63 sustainable forest STEWARDSHIP REPORT 2010–112010-11 management policy APPENDIX 1 (on the attached DVD) – Financial statements APPENDIX 2 (on the attached DVD) – Sustainable forest management data tables – contents below

The tables in this section support the statements made in the main report and provide a more detailed view of long-term trends.

CHANGES TO THE FOREST sustaining CARBON STORES, CLEAN sustaining SAFETY, COMMUNITY ESTATE DURING 2010/11 AIR, WATER AND HEALTHY FORESTS ACCESS AND HERITAGE

1. Changes to the forest estate during 2010/11...... 2 4.1. Soil conservation...... 12 5.1. Summary of Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys ...... 16 4.2. Geomorphology conservation...... 12 5.2. Non-Aboriginal cultural heritage management...... 16 sustaining BIODIVERSITY 4.3. Areas of plantation with 5.3. Community forums attended by our staff...... 16 AND HABITAT moderate or severe damage (hectares)...... 12 5.4. District sponsorship (cash and in-kind) ...... 17 2.1. Area of forest type by protection 4.4. Leaf beetle IPM system results ...... 13 5.5. Corporate sponsorship...... 17 classification on state forest (hectares)...... 3 4.5. Pesticide usage on forestry 5.6. Safety statistics...... 18 2.2. Area protected on state forest (hectares)...... 4 operations – by schedule ...... 13 2.3. Strategic threatened species management...... 4 4.6. Pesticide usage on forestry sustaining SCIENCE-BASED operations – by chemical type...... 13 2.4. Forest type by land classification STEWARDSHIP – whole of Tasmania ...... 5 4.7. Fertiliser usage on forestry operations – by nutrient type...... 14 6.1. Summary of compliance sustaining JOBS FOR CURRENT 4.8. Pesticide usage at Perth nursery with Forest Practices Act 1985...... 19 AND FUTURE GENERATIONS and seed orchards – by schedule...... 14 6.2. Summary of compliance 4.9. Pesticide usage at Perth nursery with Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995...... 19 3.1. Wood production by district 2010/11...... 6 and seed orchards – by chemical type ...... 14 6.3. Audits of SFM systems ...... 20 3.2. Wood volume and value summary ...... 7 4.10. Fertiliser usage at Perth nursery 6.4. Research expenditure summary...... 20 3.3. Forestry estate value summary...... 8 and seed orchards – by nutrient type ...... 14 3.4. Pulpwood audit summary...... 8 4.11. Water testing associated with spray operations...... 15 3.5. Merchantable residue assessment summary...... 8 4.12. Air quality particulate monitoring 3.6. Native forest harvesting stations summary ...... 15 and regeneration summary (hectares)...... 8 3.7. Plantation establishment (hectares)...... 9 3.8 Plantation established on previously cleared native forest (hectares)...... 10 3.9. Native forest regeneration success (hectares)...... 10 3.10. Special timbers sawlog and craftwood production (tonnes) ...... 11 3.11. Non-chemical browsing control summary...... 11 3.12. Honey production summary...... 11