National Estate Report - Tasmania Foreword Summary Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: National Estate cultural values Chapter 3: National Estate natural values Chapter 4: National Estate outcomes References Glossary Abbreviations Tables Rule set used to identify National Estate old-growth forest areas Figure 2.1: Identifying forest places of National Estate social significance Maps Appendices Foreword This National Estate report (Background Report Part H) is one of a series of background reports forming the information base that will be used to prepare the Tasmania-Commonwealth Regional Forest Agreement. It contains information about National Estate values in Tasmania's forests. In the RFA process, 1996 was devoted largely to the collection and publication of information relating to the social and economic and environmental and heritage values of Tasmania's forests. The results of this process were published in November 1996 as the Public Land Use Commission's Background Reports Parts C and D. In September 1996 people and groups interested in the management of Tasmania's forests were invited to participate in the RFA integration process. To facilitate this process each interest group has been allocated a Commission-appointed 'mentor'. Participants are putting forward issues and questions that they have identified as needing particular attention as the RFA information is studied by governments. The next steps involve drawing together the various outcomes of the environment and heritage and social and economic studies and developing options that will satisfy the RFA objectives. The RFA integration process is being undertaken by a joint Project Team under the direction of the Tasmania-Commonwealth Steering Committee. The Commission's mentors assist the Commission in its role as conduit between the Steering Committee and the interest groups to obtain their views about issues and options. As the options are developed there will be continuing interaction between the Steering Committee and the interest groups. This will include feedback on the Project Team's analysis of the public contributions. It is expected that this process will continue throughout February 1997 as submissions are considered and options are identified. The RFA options report is to be published in April 1997 and will be available for up to six weeks for public comment and submissions. Public comment on this National Estate report is invited. Submissions dealing with critical National Estate matters should reach the Public Land Use Commission by the 21 February 1997. They will be forwarded to the Steering Committee for use during the integration process leading to the drafting of the options report. Comprehensive submissions should reach the Commission by 21 March 1997. They will be forwarded to the Steering Committee for use during the development of the Tasmania-Commonwealth Regional Forest Agreement, to be signed in mid-1997. Bruce Leaver Public Land Use Commissioner Summary This report presents the outcomes of the National Estate component of the comprehensive regional assessment of Tasmanian forests. It will contribute to the development of options on which the Tasmania-Commonwealth Regional Forest Agreement will be based. As defined in the Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975, the National Estate consists of those places, being components of the natural environment of Australia, or the cultural environment of Australia, that have aesthetic, historic, scientific or social significance or other special value for future generations as well as the for the present community. All of Tasmania formed the study area for the identification and assessment of National Estate values in Tasmanian forests. Preparation of this report has involved all relevant agencies of the Commonwealth Departments of the Environment, Sport and Territories and Primary Industries and Energy in a joint process with the relevant Tasmanian agencies: the Department of Environment and Land Management, the Office of Aboriginal Affairs, Mineral Resources Tasmania, Private Forests Tasmania and Forestry Tasmania. Many natural and cultural heritage experts and members of the general public have also made contributions. Areas identified in this report as having potential National Estate value are indicative only. They are not the delineated forest areas that will be listed on the Register of the National Estate. The report documents the values that need to be taken into account in determining National Estate places; the data in the report will form the basis of that determination. The data layers and indicative areas will remain indicative until they have been considered by the Australian Heritage Commission. Areas endorsed by the Australian Heritage Commission will be entered on the interim list of the National Estate; they will then be advertised and subject to the statutory period of three months allowed for public comment. It is anticipated that interim listing of areas identified through this process will occur after the Tasmania-Commonwealth Regional Forest Agreement is signed in mid-1997. Over 130 areas were identified as indicative National Estate places of historic, social or aesthetic cultural value. The time frame for consultation with and the participation of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community extends beyond that for the comprehensive regional assessment: mechanisms for management of Aboriginal places of National Estate significance continue to be developed. Indicative National Estate areas of natural value are identified in value layers covering natural landscapes, undisturbed catchments, old growth, wilderness, flora, fauna, natural history, and geology, geomorphology and soils. There are many 1000s of indicative natural areas, ranging from small areas through to extensive landscapes identified in this report. Some of the indicative places and areas identified in this assessment occur in existing National Estate listed places. The National Estate component of the comprehensive regional assessment has greatly enhanced our knowledge of the occurrence of National Estate values in the forests of Tasmania. Places already on the Register of the National Estate and those on the interim list will be updated in the light of the information gathered during the comprehensive regional assessment. It is expected that the Tasmania-Commonwealth Regional Forest Agreement will include specifications for a jointly agreed National Estate outcome in terms of both the listing of places and the long-term management of National Estate values in forests. Chapter 1: Introduction The National Estate National Estate assessment Introduction There are a number of stages in the development of the Regional Forest Agreement between the Tasmanian and Commonwealth Governments. The first stage, which follows the signing of the Scoping Agreement, is the comprehensive regional assessment. Both Governments, in collaboration with experts, have been involved in a wide range of projects designed to provide the information necessary for the analysis and identification of values and possible options for a regional forest agreement. Subsequent stages will include the integration of environment and heritage and social and economic forest values, the development of the options report, and the drafting of the Regional Forest Agreement. The results of the studies of environment and heritage and social and economic values associated with Tasmania's forests are presented in Background Reports Parts C and D (PLUC 1996a, 1996b). This report presents the results of the assessment of natural and cultural National Estate values, carried out as part of the comprehensive regional assessment. It identifies areas of potential National Estate value; these are indicative areas only. The attributes documented in this report will be taken into account in delineating National Estate places. Tasmania and the Commonwealth are considering other matters to ensure that National Estate values in forests are identified and managed on a long-term basis. This includes an examination of current forest management practices through the assessment of ecologically sustainable forest management, the final report on which was published by the Public Land Use Commission as Background Report Part G (PLUC 1996c). Conservation management principles, or guidelines, will also be developed for the range of National Estate values and places, as a basis for future Australian Heritage Commission advice and as a contribution to Tasmanian land management. Development of such guidelines is integral to the development of the Tasmania-Commonwealth Regional Forest Agreement. 1.1 The National Estate The National Estate is defined in the Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975: those places, being components of the natural environment of Australia, or the cultural environment of Australia, that have aesthetic, historic, scientific or social significance or other special value for future generations as well as for the present community. The Australian Heritage Commission's responsibility is to identify the National Estate and, under section 30 of the Act, to advise the Commonwealth Government on the conservation of National Estate places and the potential impact on National Estate values of proposals relating to those places. The Act also requires the establishment of the Register of the National Estate. The Register includes places of importance at a local, regional State or national level. The identification and asessment of places for inclusion on the Register is guided