Report: Threatened Species Detection & Rainforest Investigation Within Vicforest Logging Coupes: 827-513-0017 & 827-515-0006.
FFGA Threatened Flora Species: Cyathea cunninghamii (Slender Tree-fern).
Rare Ecological Vegetation Class: East Gippsland Foothills Warm Temperate Rainforest EVC 32.
Rainforest Site Of Significance “Mt Buck-EG42” Mt Buck, Curlip Forest Block, East Gippsland.
Abstract: Sections within and adjacent to Vicforests clear-fell logging coupes 827-513-0017 & 827-515-0006 were investigated to identify the presence of rainforest & rare or threatened flora species and other biodiversity conservation values. Rare or threatened flora species presence was documented and species location details and photographic records were obtained.
This investigation identified the presence of Cyathea cunninghamii (Slender Tree‐ fern) adjacent to Vicforest clear-fell logging coupes 827-513-0017 & 827-515-0006.
Analysis of this information and spacial data of other known records of Cyathea cunninghamii (Slender Tree‐ fern) from“VBA-25” & Forest Management Zoning, shows that to date planning & zoning processes required by Vicforest & the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) have not identified the location of rare plant species or provided appropriate management & protection zones for Cyathea cunninghamii (Slender Tree‐ fern) throughout this area, leaving this species vulnerable to the effects of Vicforests scheduled logging operations.
Vicforests operations have not complied with their obligations to conserve significant ecological values, including through application of the precautionary principle and implementation of mandatory management actions relevant to the potential population extent of rare and threatened species identified in the areas detailed within this report.
Recommendations are made to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to pursue the requirements of the precautionary principle and the need to apply appropriate management zones within the study location and ensure that rare and threatened species throughout State Forest areas are not affected by the impact of Vicforest logging operations.
Relevant Legislation:
“Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests, 2014” (MSP's)
“Planning Standards for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests 2014” (Planing Standards)
“Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014” (Code)
“East Gippsland Regional Forest Agreement” (RFA)
“East Gippsland Forest Management Plan” (FMP)
“Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988” (FFGA)
Status of Site: Vicforest Logging Coupes 827-513-0017, 827-515-0006 are currently on approved Vicforest TRP Scheduled, 827-515-0006 is listed as harvest pending on Vicforest THSZ website.
Investigatio n Report: Investigation: Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO). Surveyors: Tiff, Owen Hanson Assessment by: Owen Hanson Author: Owen Hanson
G.E.C.O – Investigation Report – Rare and Threatened Species & Communities. VF Coupes- 827-513-0017, 827-515-0006 Date: 17/07/2016. O..H. Location Details:
Area of concern is within and adjacent to Vicforest logging coupes 827-513-0017 & 827-515-0006 (circle in red), north of Orbost on the Old Bonang Hwy at Mt Buck in the Orbost district, East Gippsland.
Figure 1. Detail from: "Approved Timber Release Plan 2013 - 2016 Change Map; August 2015 (with all approved amendments applied) Orbost (West), Vicforest, 31 August 2015.
Map 1. Cyathea cunninghamii Slender Tree-fern records within Rainforest Site Of Significance “Mt Buck-Eg42”
G.E.C.O – Investigation Report – Rare and Threatened Species & Communities. VF Coupes- 827-513-0017, 827-515-0006 Date: 17/07/2016. O..H. Investigation Report & Threatened Species Detections
Ai m: To Determine The Presence Of Rare / Threatened Species & Communities. The Purpose of this investigating was to determine the presence of rare or threatened flora species & Communities, including Warm Temperate Rainforest (EVC32), Cyathea marcescens Skirted Tree-fern and FFGA listed species Cyathea cunninghamii Slender Tree-fern, within and adjacent to Vicforest clear-fell logging coupes 827-513-0017 & 827-515-0006.
Both the hybrid Cyathea marcescens & the parent genus Cyathea cunninghamii were found in close proximity to planned Vicforest Logging operations, along with surrounding Warm Temperate Rainforest.
Method: Date of investigation: 19/04/2016 – 13/07/2016 Site Assessments (walking throughout forested areas within and adjacent to coupes). Site visits were conducted into various areas likely to contain rainforest within and adjacent to Vicforest logging coupes 827-513-0017 & 827-515-0006, exploring the rainforest & rainforest margins for rare and threatened flora. As Rare or threatened flora species presence was documented and species location details and photographic records were obtained.
Assessment of rainforest elements such as composition, distribution and disturbance severity of 2014 bushfire, was conducted throughout the site and with GIS spacial data & aerial imagery. For servilely burnt rainforest areas the “differential species approach” (Differential Species Keys for the Delineation of Rainforest Boundaries July 2011 ) along with aerial imagery pre-2014 bushfire, was used to ascertain the extent and boundary.
Results: 1. Threatened Species Detection Cyathea mar cescens & Cyathea cunninghamii Photographed Individuals & Identification Features, & Displayed Location. See: Map2.
2. Presence, Distribution & Composition of Warm Temperate Rainforest. Ground & Aerial Assessed 2014 fire & Non-fire Affected Rainforest. See: Map2. / Table 1. & 2.
3. Assessment of Identified Values & Actions Required for There Protection. See: Map3.
4. Conclusions & Recommendations See Page 10.
Photo of Large Specimen Morinda jasminoides
G.E.C.O – Investigation Report – Rare and Threatened Species & Communities. VF Coupes- 827-513-0017, 827-515-0006 Date: 17/07/2016. O..H. Results 1. Skirted Tree-fern Cyathea marcescens & Slender Tree-fern Cyathea cunninghamii.
• Several individuals of Cyathea marcescens & Cyathea cunninghamii (identified in Map.2) were encountered within an area of rainforest along the tributary bordering the two Vicforest logging coupes. One of the individuals “shown below Cyathea cunninghamii” was not more than ten meters from the edge of the road where it crosses the main rainforest gully, and was readily identifiable in appearance, and identification feature’s such fronds & scales easily accessible.
Scales of Cyathea cunnhamii Cyathea cunninghamii Scales of Cyathea cunninghamii Slender Tree-fern Location 55 H 0631423 5838287 Slender Tree-fern
Trunk of Cyathea marcescens Cyathea marcescens Rainforest gully between logging coupes Skirted Tree-fern Location 55 H 0631372 5838354 down stream from Tree-fern detections
Additional Species Locations of Cyathea Species : 55 H 0631375 5838313 55 H 0631348 5838392 55 H 0631362 5838391 55 H 0631364 5838423
G.E.C.O – Investigation Report – Rare and Threatened Species & Communities. VF Coupes- 827-513-0017, 827-515-0006 Date: 17/07/2016. O..H. Results 1. Map 2. Detection Sites of Rare Tree-ferns Results 2. Map 2. Presence and distribution of Warm Temperate Rainforest. Ground and Aerial assessed 2014 fire affected & non-fire affected Rainforest.
G.E.C.O – Investigation Report – Rare and Threatened Species & Communities. VF Coupes- 827-513-0017, 827-515-0006 Date: 17/07/2016. O..H. Results 2. Presence and distribution of Warm Temperate Rainforest. Map2. Ground and aerial assessed 2014 fire affected & non-fire affected Rainforest. • Warm Temperate Rainforest was encountered throughout each of the three gully systems bordering the two Vicforest logging coupes 827-513-0017 & 827-515-0006. The ground assessment of rainforest was based on the floristic composition, structural integrity following multiple disturbance history (logging & fire), and the distribution of rainforest throughout the site. The rainforest assessed using aerial imagery shown in Map 2. tries to best represent the extent these values based on a comparison of the aerial imagery covering known rainforest areas discovered on site with similar areas of contiguous and nearby forest shown in the aerial imagery. See Map2.
• The integrity of rainforest in areas post the 2014 bushfire was assessed and where severely damaged rainforest was identified as having severe canopy damage or canopy removed completely, in this circumstance the “differential species approach” (Differential Species Keys for the Delineation of Rainforest Boundaries July 2011 ) was used to ascertain the boundary. This occurred within logging coupe 827-513-0017 along a section of the northern boundary. The extent of severely burnt rainforest areas out side of the coupes are ascertained by aerial imagery pre 2014 bushfire. See: Table 1. & Map2.
Results 2. Delineation of Rainforest Boundaries using the differential species approach. Table 1.
Name: Owen Hanson Date: 19/04/2016 East Gippsland Foothills Warm Temperate Rainforest
Name: Tiff Date: DATA SHEET: Rainforest delineation through Differential Species
Name: Coupe: 827-513-0017
Loc. Mt Buck SOS (Photo of Diff SPCS: ( / )) Warm Temperate Rainforest / Foothill & Lowland Sclerophyll Forest Rainforest Differential Species. Distance between Way-Points (10-30) Meters Common Name: Species: Syzygium smithii Lilly Pilly / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Cissus hypoglauca Jungle Grape / / / / / / / / / / / / / Marsdenia rostrata Milk-vine / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Rubus moluccanus Queensland Bramble / / / / / / / / / Gahnia melanocarpa Black-fruit Saw-sedge / / / / / / / / / / Urtica incisa Scrub Nettle / / Myrsine howittiiana Mutton-wood / Morinda Jasminoides Jasmine Morinda / Asplenium bulbiferum Mother Spleenwort Lastreopsis acuminata Shiny Sheild-fern Microsorum pustulatum Kangaroo Fern Dicksonia antarctica Soft Tree-ferm Fielia australis Fieldia Notelaea venosa Large Mock-olive / / / / / / / / / / / Parsonsia Brownii Twining Silkpod Rubus rosifolius Rose-leaf Bramble / / / Crepidomanes venosum Veined Bristle-fern / / Astralina pusilla Shade Nettle Blechnum wattsii Hard Water-fern Pittosporum undulatum Sweet Pittosporum / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Tristaniopsis laurina Kanooka
GPS ACCURACEY:( ~10m ) Way-Point no.( ) (+) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Eco-tone Transect Line Along Contour
SLOPE. Moderate to Steep Sclerophyll Differential Species. Common Name: Species: TO TAL: Eucalyptus obliqua Messmate Stringybark / / / / / / / / / Eucalyptus cypellocarpa Mountain Grey-gum / / / / / / / / / / / / / Pteridium esculentum Austral Bracken / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Tetrarrhena juncea Forest Wire-grass / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Dianella Tasmanica Tasman Flax-lily Goodia lotifolia Golden Tip / / / / / / / / / / / / / Calochlaena dubia Common Ground-fern / / / / / / Geranium potentilloides Soft Crane's-bill / Sticherus lobatus Spreading Fan-fern Polyscias sambucifolia Elderberry Panax / / / / / / / / / / Eco-tone Transect Line Along Contour Site Aspect: North facing Disturbance FIRE Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Site Conditions: Servilely burnt Disturbance STRUCTURE Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Site History:Pre1980 Logging Dist. (O)old, (P)past, (N)new N N N N N N N N N N N N N N
G.E.C.O – Investigation Report – Rare and Threatened Species & Communities. VF Coupes- 827-513-0017, 827-515-0006 Date: 17/07/2016. O..H. Results 2. Rainforest F loristic Composition. Table 2. Character Species For ast Gippsland Foothills Warm Temperate Rainforest / Acacia melanoxylon Blackwood / Microsorum scandens / Acmena smithii Lilly Pilly / Morinda jasminoides Allantodia australis Austral Lady-fern / Notelaea venosum / Asplenium bulbiferum ssp. Muelleri Mother Spleenwort / Olearia argophylla / Bedfordia arborescens Blanket Leaf Pandorea pandorana / Blechnum cartilagineum Gristle Fern / Parsonsia Brownii / Blechnum nudum Fishbone Water-fern / Pimelea axiflora / Blechnum patersonii Strap Water-fern / Pittosporum undulatum / Blechnum wattsii Hard Water-fern / Polyphlebium venosum / Calystegia marginata Forest Bindweed / polystichum proliferum / Cassinia trinerva Three-nerved Cassinia / Pomaderris aspera / Cissus Hypoglauca Jungle Grape / Prostanthera lasianthos / Clematias aristata Mountain Clematis / Pyrrosia rupestris Clematias glycinoides var.glycinoides Forest Clematis Rapanea howittiana / Coprosma quadrifida Prickly Current-bush / Rubus hillii / Cyathea australis Rough Tree-fern / Rubus rosifolius Dianella tasmanica Tasman Flax-lily Rumohra adiantiformis / Dicksonia antarctica Soft Tree-fern Sambucus gaudichaudiana Elaeacarpus holopetalus Black Olive-berry / Sarcopetalum harveyanum / Elaeocarpus reticulatus Blue Olive-berry / Smilax astralis / Eucalyptus cypellocarpa Mountain Grey Gum / Tylophora barbata Eucalyptus fastigata Cut-tail / Urtica incisa / Eustrephus latifolius Wombat Berry Stellaria flaccida / Fieldia australis Fieldia Telopea oreades / Gahnia melanocarpa Black-Fruit Saw-sedge / Tetrarrhena juncea / Hedycarya angustifolia Austral Mulberry Viola hederacea Hymenophyllum cupressiforme Common Filmy Fern Other Species of interest / Lastreopsis acuminata Shiny Shield-fern Eupomatia lauina / Marsdenia rostrata Milk-vine Cyathea Cunninghamii / Microsorum pustulatum Kangaroo Fern Cyathea marcesense
Results 3. Assessment of identified values and the actions required for there protection. Map3. • Areas of rainforest assessed containing newly found & previously recorded tree-fern species Cyathea marcescens & Cyathea cunninghamii did not all fall within the modelled rainforest from spacial data “NV2005_EVCBCS”, nor did rainforest areas always constitute Vicforest's narrow definition “based only on structural overstory configuration of a select few canopy species” for Warm Temperature Rainforest. This included areas where the situation and environmental conditions were not presently suitable to consist of a continuous closed canopy, examples such as Tree-fern dominated gullies of witch host the protected Cyathea species Slender Tree-fern and other rare flora species, other examples were bed rock tributaries, a small rocky gorge, as well previous severe logging disturbance, roading and fire damaged areas.
• Analysis of previously known records of Cyathea cunninghamii Slender Tree-fern (as represented by spacial data“VBA25”) are obviously positioned incorrectly and occurred in areas well away from modelled rainforest “NV2005_EVCBCS”.
As the exacted locations and distribution of the protected flora species Cyathea cunninghamii is certainly not sufficiently known, nor is the habitat adequately represented or recognised in the field by Vicforest, the department”DEWLP” must ensure that Vicforest comply with mandatory actions for the protection of this species including precautionary protection measures covering the species habitat throughout these areas together with a surrounding vegetative buffered area excluded from the impacts of logging operations including regeneration burns.
• An assessment of the likely habitat and range of protected species Cyathea cunninghamii within the area of concern is detailed in (Map3.), along with a minimum logging exclusion buffer or (SPZ) of 100m extending out from assessed habitat. Further a 250m (SMZ) must be established over the of the population range in this area. See Map3. Photo: Burnt Rainforest
G.E.C.O – Investigation Report – Rare and Threatened Species & Communities. VF Coupes- 827-513-0017, 827-515-0006 Date: 17/07/2016. O..H. Results 3. Map 3. Assessment of identified values and the actions required for there protection.
G.E.C.O – Investigation Report – Rare and Threatened Species & Communities. VF Coupes- 827-513-0017, 827-515-0006 Date: 17/07/2016. O..H. Legislation & Management Prescriptions From: “ Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014, Department of Environment and Primary Industries, The State of Victoria, 2014 ” Mandatory Actions Addressing biodiversity conservation risks considering scientific knowledge 2.2.2.2 The precautionary principle must be applied to the conservation of biodiversity values. The application of the precautionary principle will be consistent with relevant monitoring and research that has improved the understanding of the effects of forest management on forest ecology and conservation values. ‘precautionary principle’ means when contemplating decisions that will affect the environment, careful evaluation of management options be undertaken to wherever practical avoid serious or irreversible damage to the environment; and to properly assess the risk- weighted consequences of various options. When dealing with threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.
From: “ Planning Standards for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests 2014, Appendix 5 to the Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests 2014 ” 4.5 Flora – detection based zoning 4.5.2 East Gippsland FMA 4.5.2.1 Include all verified populations of species regarded as threatened at a State or national level in the SPZ or SMZ. 4.5.2.2 Include substantial representative populations of species that are rare in Victoria, and poorly known, have few records or are at the edge of their range in East Gippsland in the SPZ or SMZ. 4.5.2.3 Wherever practicable include populations in larger parts of the SPZ or SMZ in combination with other values. Table 5 Detection based FMZ rules for flora.
FMA Common Scientific Zoning management Management actions Review name name actions
East (Slender Cyathea Establish a SMZ of Conduct a site inspection Gippsland Tree-fern) cunninghamii 250m radius over and detailed planning in verified populations. consultation with DEPI to ensure the species is adequately protected during timber harvesting operations.
From: “East Gippsland Regional Forest Agreement (RFA)1996” . Attachment 1. Comprehensive Adequate Representative (CAR) Reserve System The (CAR) Reserve System has the following three components as described by the JANIS Reserve Criteria: i. Values Protected by Prescription. This comprises those elements of the SPZ protected by regional prescriptions, including stream buffers and all remaining rainforest and heathland vegetation together with a surrounding buffer. Attachment 2. Threatened Flora, Fauna & Communities Both parties recognise the range of mechanisms in place to conserve the habitat of rare and threatened flora and fauna in East Gippsland. These include protection within Dedicated Reserves and the Special Protection Zone (SPZ) or Special Management Zone (SMZ) in State forest, protection of key habitats such as rainforest, heathlands, and rare or threatened Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC) under the Forest Management Plan, and the development of Action Statements or Recovery Plans for species listed under the Endangered Species Protection Act 1991 and the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
G.E.C.O – Investigation Report – Rare and Threatened Species & Communities. VF Coupes- 827-513-0017, 827-515-0006 Date: 17/07/2016. O..H. Conclusions & Recommendations 1. The “Planning Standards for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests 2014, Appendix 5 to the Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests 2014” (section 4.5.2.1) requires that all verified populations of Cyathea cunninghamii (Slender Tree-fern) be “[included ]in the SPZ or SMZ”. Further, these “Planning Standards” require that on detection of verified Cyathea cunninghamii (Slender Tree-fern) records, an SMZ of 250m radius must be established over each population.
The failure of both Vicforests and DELWP to detect and adaptively manage for these significant conservation values in an appropriate way constitutes a serious breach of planning and operational obligations to abide by the 'precautionary principle' as mandated in the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 and to adhere to section 4.5.2.1 of the “Planning Standards for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests 2014, Appendix 5 to the Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests 2014”.
2. As a regulator of operations within Victoria's State Forests DELWP must ensure Vicforests abides by these mandatory principles and prescriptions including by applying the minimum buffers zones as displayed in Map3. for the Cyathea cunninghamii (Slender Tree-fern) locations displayed and any others found within 250m of Vicforests' scheduled logging coupes.
3. DELWP must restrain Vicforests from logging in the area of these Cyathea cunninghamii (Slender Tree-fern) records including areas within & adjacent to coupes 827-513-0017 & 827-515-0006 were it is likely the species is present, and protection of additional surrounding buffered areas.
4. A thorough search for the presence of and evaluation of the extent and population health of Cyathea cunninghamii (Slender Tree-fern) must be undertaken within any further areas where Vicforests intends to log and the species presence is possible.
5. All records of Cyathea cunninghamii (Slender Tree-fern) must be placed in a Special Protection Zone of 100m-250m radius buffer of which logging is excluded, and afford the same protection to all further surrounding habitat in that location where the species is recorded. When Species locations are situated along a watercourse or gully system, that watercourse or gully system must be buffered by a minimum 100m vegetated buffer for a 1km throughout the entirety of suitable habitat in that catchment.
These protection measures must be applied as both a precautionary measure for the current situation for undiscovered or yet to be identified individuals, and as adequate and representative protection of the continued existence of the species now and in the long term.
6. Vicforest has failed to abide by planning & management procedures to sufficiently recognise and protect ecological & biodiversity values (new & previously known) within Rainforest Site Of Significance (SOS) “Mt Buck-EG42” from potential impacts of logging operations.
7. Vicforest's track-record of poor practice for adequate protection and recognition of rainforest and significant flora is exacerbated by their narrow current working definition of rainforest, of which Warm Temperature Rainforest in East Gippsland consists of a assessment based on a structural overstory assemblage of nine species, two of which are rare in East Gippsland. This approach and continued practice is not adequate, and certainly not acceptable in relation to recognition & protection of rainforest and associated significant flora taxa within Rainforest Site Of Significance.
8. Logging MUST be excluded from within Rainforest Sites Of Significance across all forest management areas (FMA's) in the state of Victoria.
G.E.C.O – Investigation Report – Rare and Threatened Species & Communities. VF Coupes- 827-513-0017, 827-515-0006 Date: 17/07/2016. O..H.