SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS FOR TASMANIAN FORESTS 1996-2001 Version - 25. 2.02 PREPARED BY THE TASMANIAN AND COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENTS FOR THE 2002 REVIEW OF THE TASMANIAN REGIONAL FOREST AGREEMENT 2 CONTENTS Page Contents Acronyms 6 Executive Summary 7 Introduction 15 Criteria and the Indicators for Each Criterion in this Report 16 Criterion 1: Conservation of Biological Diversity 20 1.1 Ecosystem Diversity 20 1.1a Extent of Area of Forest Types 20 1.1b Area of Forest Types by Growth Stage Distribution by Tenure 23 1.1c Extent of Area by Forest Type and Reservation Status 26 1.1d Area of Old Growth by Forest Type by Reservation Status 29 1.2 Species Diversity 32 1.2.a A List of Forest-Dwelling Species 32 1.2.b The Status of Forest-Dwelling Species at Risk of Not Maintaining Viable Breeding Populations as Determined by Legislation or Scientific Assessment 34 1.2.c Population Levels of Representative Species from Diverse Habitats Monitored Across their Range 36 Criterion 2: Maintenance of Productive Capacity of Forest Ecosystems 42 2.1.a The Area of Forest Land and Net Area of Forest Land Available for Timber Production 42 2.1.c Area, Age Class, and Future Yield of Plantations of Native and Exotic Species 44 2.1.d Annual Removal of Wood Products Compared to the Sustainable Volume 46 2.1.e Annual Removal of Non-Timber Products 49 2.1.f Area of Plantation Established Meeting Effective Stocking One Year after Planting 52 2.1.g Area and Percentage of Harvested Area of Native Forest Effectively Regenerated 53 Criterion 3: Maintenance of Ecosystem Health and Vitality 55 3.1.a Area and Percentage of Forest Affected by Processes or Agents that may Change Ecosystem Health and Vitality 55 Criterion 4: Conservation and Maintenance of Soil and Water Resources 59 4.1.a Area and Percentage of Forest Land Systematically Assessed for Soil Erosion Hazard, and for which Site Varying Scientifically-Based Measures to Protect Soil and Water Values Are Implemented 59 Criterion 5: Maintenance of Forest Contribution to Global Carbon Cycles 61 5.1.a Total Forest Ecosystem Biomass and Carbon Pool 61 Sustainability Indicators for Tasmanian Forests 1997 to 2001.doc 3 Criterion 6: Maintenance and Enhancement of Long-term Multiple Socio-economic Benefits to meet the Needs of Societies 63 6.1 Production and Consumption 63 6.1.a Value and Volume of Wood and Wood Products Production, Including Value-Added through Downstream Processing 63 6.1.b Value and Quantities of Production of Non-Wood Forest Products 67 6.1.d Value of Wood and Non-Wood Products Production as a Percentage of Regional Value of Production 69 6.2 Recreation and Tourism 70 6.2.a Area and Percentage of Forest Land Available for General Recreation and Tourism 70 6.2.b Number, Range and Use of Recreation/Tourism Activities Available in a Given Region 72 6.2.c Number of Visits to Recreational Sites 73 6.4 Cultural, Social and Spiritual Needs and Values 75 6.4.a (i) Area and Percent of Forest Land in Defined Tenures, Management Regimes and Zonings which are formally Managed in a Manner which Protect Indigenous Peoples’ Cultural, Social, Religious and Spiritual Values, Including Non-Consumptive Appreciation of Country 75 6.4.a (ii) Number of Places of Non-Indigenous Cultural Values in Forests Formally Managed to Protect These Values 77 6.5 Employment and Community Needs 79 6.5.a Direct Employment in the Forest Sector and Forest Sector Employment as a Proportion of Total Employment 79 6.5.b Average Wage Rates and Injury Rates in Major Employment Categories within the Forest Sector 81 6.6 Indigenous Participation and Management 84 6.6.a Extent to Which the Management Framework Maintains and Enhances Indigenous Values including Customary, Traditional And Native Title Use by Indigenous Peoples and for Indigenous Participation in Forest Management 84 Criterion 7: Legal, Institutional and Economic Framework for Forest Conservation 86 7.1 Extent to which the Legal Framework (laws, regulations, guidelines) supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests 86 7.1.a Provides Mechanisms to clarify Property Rights and Establish Appropriate Land Tenure Arrangements that Recognise Traditional Management Practices and Self Management as Well as the existence of Native Title and the Customary and Traditional Rights of Indigenous Peoples 86 7.1.b Provides for Periodic Forest-Related Planning, Assessment And Policy Review that Recognises the Range of Forest Values, including Coordination with Relevant Sectors 88 7.1.c Provides Opportunities for Public Participation in Public Policy and Decision-Making Related to Forests and Public Access to Information 91 Sustainability Indicators for Tasmanian Forests 1997 to 2001.doc 4 7.1.d Encourage the Development and Application of Best Practice Codes for Forest Management 93 7.1.e Provides for the Management of Environmental, Cultural, Social and/or Scientific Values in Forests and Ensures the Participation of Indigenous Peoples in all Aspects of Forest Planning and Management Processes 94 7.2 Extent to which the institutional framework supports the conservation and sustainable management of forests 95 7.2.a Provide for the Public’s Involvement in Activities and Public Education, Awareness and Extension Programs, and make Available Forest-Related Information 95 7.2.b Undertake and Implement Periodic Forest-related Planning Assessment and Policy Review, including Cross-Sector Planning and Coordination 100 7.2.c Develop and Maintain Human Resource Skills Across Relevant Disciplines 102 7.2.e Enforce Laws, Regulations and Guidelines 105 7.4 Capacity to Measure and Monitor Changes in the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forests 109 7.4.a Availability and Extent of Up-to-date, Statistics and Other Information Important to Measuring or Describing Indicators Associated with Criteria 1-7 109 7.4.b Scope, Frequency and Statistical Reliability of Forest Inventories, Assessments, Monitoring and other Relevant Information 110 7.5 Capacity to Conduct and Apply Research and Development Aimed at Improving Forest Management and Delivery of Forest Goods and Services 112 7.5.a Development of Scientific Understanding of Forest Ecosystem Characteristics and Functions 112 7.5.d Enhancement of Ability to Predict Impacts of Human Intervention on Forests 113 7.5.f Percent of Native Forests and Plantations that are Formally Supported by Silvicultural and Utilisation Research Support 115 Research Indicators 117 1.1.e Fragmentation of Forest Types 117 1.2.c Population Levels of Representative Species from Diverse Habitats Monitored Across their Range 120 2.1.d Annual Removal of Wood Products Compared to the Sustainable Volume – Fuelwood/Firewood Aspects 124 2.1.e Annual Removal of Non-Timber Products – Water Supply Aspects 125 3.1.c Area and percentage of Forest Land with Diminished or Improved Biological, Physical and Chemical Components Indicative of changes in Fundamental Ecological Processes 126 4.1.e Area and Percent of Land with Significant Compaction or Change in Soil Physical Properties Resulting from Human Activities 126 Sustainability Indicators for Tasmanian Forests 1997 to 2001.doc 5 4.1.f Extent of Water Bodies in Forest Areas (eg stream kilometres, lake hectares) with Significant Variance of Biological Diversity from the Historical Range of Variability 128 5.1.a Total Forest Ecosystem Biomass and Carbon Pool and if appropriate, by Forest Type, Age Class, and Successional Stage 129 6.3.a Value of Investment, including Investment in Forest Growing, Forest Health and Management, Planted Forests, Wood Processing, Recreation and Tourism 131 6.5.a Direct and Indirect Employment in the Forest Sector and Forest-Sector Employment as a Proportion of Total Employment 131 6.5.c Viability and Adaptability to Changing Social and Economic Conditions of Forest Dependent Communities 132 Appendix 1.1a Extent of area by forest type and tenure as at 30 June 2001 133 Appendix 1.1b Area of forest types of growth stage and tenure as at 30 June 2001 136 Appendix 1.1c Extent of area of native forest types in public and private Reserves as at 30 June 2001 145 Appendix 1.1d Extent of old growth by forest type and reserve types as at 30 June 2001 159 Appendix 1.2a 163 Appendix 1.2b Listed Forest Dwelling Species 194 Appendix 6.2a Reservation Status of High Quality Wilderness 209 Appendix 7.4a Availability of Data 210 Sustainability Indicators for Tasmanian Forests 1997 to 2001.doc 6 ACRONYMS ABARE Australian Bureau of Agricultural Research Economics ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics AFFA Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia ANZECC Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council ANZSIC Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification AUSRIVAS Australian River Assessment System CAR Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative CFFP CSIRO Division of Forestry and Forest Products CRC Cooperative Research Centre CRCSPF Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Production Forestry DIER Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources DPIWE Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment EPBC Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 ESRI Environmental Systems Research Institute FEF Forest Education Foundation FPB Forest Practices Board FRA Forest Resource Assessment GDP Gross Domestic Product GIS Geographic Information System GST Goods and Services Tax GTSPOT Geo Temporal Species Point Observation Tasmania IGP Industry Gross Product ISO International Standards Organisation IVA Industry Value Added LIST Land Information System