The FPC's Management Plan for the Karri Forests

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FSC CONSULTATION

The Forest Products Commission (FPC) is seeking certification to the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) Controlled Wood Standard for timber sourced from the pure and mixed karri forest available for harvesting under the Forest Policy and practices Management Plan 2004-2013. Independent certification Performance and achievement The FPC recently undertook stakeholder consultation on the identification of high conservation values (HCVs) within Environmental benefits the defined forest management unit (FMU) and the precautionary measures in place to protect them. The initial re-Leaf WA stakeholder consultation period finished on 9 October 2013. The FPC’s management plan for the karri forests was Harvesting revised in light of the stakeholder feedback received and is now available to download. Low grade timber FSC consultation The FPC has since been assessed against the requirements of the ‘FSC Australia’s HCVs evaluation framework’. During the recent FSC Controlled Wood audit it came to our attention that the FPC had not provided stakeholders with sufficient details about how the FPC assessed HCV 3.

Subsequently, the FPC has further revised the management plan for the karri forests to expand the section on HCV 3 and the precautionary measures that are in place to protect this value.

Your invitation to comment on the FPC’s assessment of HCV 3

We invite your comment on the way in which HCV 3 has been assessed in accordance with FSC Australia’s HCV evaluation framework.

An extract of the FPC’s karri forest management plan containing information on HCV 3 is available on the link below:

• Excerpt from FPC’s management plan for the karri forests - HCV 3 (630kB PDF)

Further documentation, which is referred to in the section of our plan that discusses HCV 3 is available here:

• Review of data and methodology for old-growth mapping in the South West forest region of Western Australia (April 1997) - 504kB PDF • Old-growth mapping - A report prepared for the Western Australian regional forest agreement (1998) - 248kB PDF • Regional forest agreement in Western Australia - Review of old-growth areas raised by stakeholders (August 1998) - 615kB PDF

The latest version of our management plan for the karri forests, which includes the updated information about HCV 3 is available via the following link:

• FPC’s management plan for the karri forests (2.5MB PDF)

If you would like additional information please contact with Melissa Turner on any of the details shown below.

How do I submit my feedback to the FPC?

Simply submit your comments via email to Melissa Turner at [email protected].

Although submissions via email are preferred, your feedback may also be received verbally by contacting (+618) 9363 4616.

Written feedback can also be sent to:

Melissa Turner Forest Products Commission Locked Bag 888 Perth Business Centre Western Australia, 6849

How will my feedback be used?

The feedback will be collated and considered in the revised version of the FPC’s management plan for the karri forests.

Your comments can remain private if you wish. If you do not explicitly request that your feedback remains private it may be published (along with your name).

Why is this consultation process necessary?

As part of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Controlled Wood Standard it is necessary to identify and map HCV areas, have monitoring systems and precautionary measures in place to ensure the protection and conservation of these areas, and to consult with stakeholders in relation to the FPC’s management of HCVs.

From stakeholder feedback, FPC’s management plan for the karri forests has been updated to provide further detail on the assessment process for HCV 3. To ensure that the FPC satisfy the requirements of the FSC Controlled Wood certification and the FSC Australia’s HCV evaluation framework, it is important to ensure that stakeholder consultation is also sought on the updated sections of the plan.

This consultation period will finish at 5.00 pm Monday, 25 November 2013. Feedback after this date can still be provided, but we encourage feedback on or before the 25 November to allow us the opportunity to consider it in the next version of our plan.

H F

W A E I S L T A E R R N A U S T

Forest Products Commission’s management plan for the karri forests

All materials; including internet pages, documents and on-line graphics, audio and video are protected by copyright law. Copyright of these materials resides with the State of Western Australia.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under provisions of the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced or re-used for any purposes whatsoever without prior written permission of the General Manager, Forest Products Commission.

Permission to use these materials can be obtained by contacting:

Telephone: +61 8 9363 4600 Internet: www.fpc.wa.gov.au Email: [email protected]

Document version control

Prepared by: Forest Products Commission

Date: 25 October 2013

Feedback

Feedback and comments on this document can be directed to:

Forest Products Commission

Phone: +61 8 9363 4600 Fax: +61 8 9363 4601 Email: [email protected]

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Contents

Introduction ...... 4

Legislative framework ...... 6

Scope ...... 8

Biological diversity ...... 12

Productive capacity ...... 14

Ecosystem health and vitality ...... 19

Soil and water ...... 21

Native title and natural and cultural heritage ...... 23

Climate change and carbon cycles ...... 24

Socio-economic benefits ...... 25

Plan implementation ...... 27

Assessment of potential HCVs in the FMU ...... 28 High Conservation Value 1 ...... 30 High Conservation Value 2 ...... 35 High Conservation Value 3 ...... 39 High Conservation Value 4 ...... 45 High Conservation Value 5 ...... 51 High Conservation Value 6 ...... 53

References ...... 60

Appendix 1 – Table of acronyms ...... 63

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Introduction

This Forest Products Commission’s management plan for the karri forest (the Plan) adheres to all current requirements of the Forest Management Plan 2004–2013 (FMP 2004) as well as any additional requirements contained in the proposed Forest Management Plan 2014- 2023 (FMP 2014).

The FMP 2004 was prepared in accordance with the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act 1984). It covers land vested in the Conservation Commission of Western Australia (Conservation Commission) within the South West forest region. The Plan covers only those forest blocks that include karri forest available for harvest by the Forest Products Commission (FPC) and those objectives and responsibilities relevant to the FPC.

The FMP 2004 gave effect to the Government’s Protecting our old growth forests policy and took into account the principles of ecologically sustainable forest management described in Section 19(2) of the CALM Act 1984. It was developed taking into consideration the comments received in 5,600 submissions on the Draft Forest Management Plan 2004–2013 (Conservation Commission, 2002). The Conservation Commission’s response was published in Analysis of Public Submissions on the Draft Forest Management Plan (Conservation Commission, 2003).

The FMP 2004 adopted the, slightly modified, Montreal Criteria of sustainability as the framework within which to identify management actions in line with the principles of ecologically sustainable forest management. This approach has been continued in the FMP 2014. The criteria are:

• the conservation of biodiversity; • the maintenance of productive capacity; • the maintenance of ecosystem health and vitality; • the conservation and maintenance of soil and water; • the maintenance of forests contribution to the global carbon cycle; • the maintenance of heritage; and • the maintenance of socio-economic values.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has recommended approval of the Proposed Forest Management Plan 2014–2023 (Conservation Commission, 2013b). There has been extensive stakeholder consultation prior to the EPA review and the Appeals Convenor is now considering any final appeals prior to approval by the Minister for Environment. The FMP 2014 (Conservation Commission, 2013b) is guided by the following principles:

• That the decision-making process should effectively integrate both long-term and short-term economic, environmental, social and equitable considerations. (Sustainability).

• That if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, the lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation. (Precautionary Principle).

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• That the present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations. (Intergenerational Equity).

• That the conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in decision-making. (Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecological Integrity).

• That improved valuation, pricing and incentive mechanisms should be promoted.

Both FMPs adopted three scales of management – whole of forest, landscape and operational – to accommodate better planning for the maintenance of biodiversity. Actions in this Plan are set for each of the criteria for sustainability and, where appropriate, at each of the scales of management.

In addition to maintaining the structure of the two FMPs, this Plan includes an assessment of High Conservation Values (HCVs) in the Karri Forest Management Unit (FMU). HCV is a term used by the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) Controlled Wood standard, but has not been a term commonly used in the management of native forests in Western Australia, however the principles align with existing policies and practices. The Plan seeks to describe this alignment and to demonstrate how FPC ensures that the HCVs identified in this Plan are not threatened by any management activities.

This Plan was released as a draft document to inform consultation with stakeholders in relation to the FPC’s identification and management of HCVs. Relevant stakeholder input has been incorporated into this final Plan.

Where specific documentation has been mentioned in relation to the management of the karri forests, the Forest Products Commission (FPC) will manage in accordance with those documents and others as developed and revised by the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) and other agencies as appropriate.

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Legislative framework

The Conservation Commission is a controlling body established under the CALM Act 1984. Among the functions of the Conservation Commission are to have State forest, timber reserves and conservation reserves vested in it; and to prepare management plans for those lands. The Conservation Commission has developed the FMP 2004 and the proposed FMP 2014 through the agency of the Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW), formerly known as the Department of Conservation (DEC), in consultation with the FPC in respect of State forest and timber reserves. The Conservation Commission and the DPaW consulted with several other agencies and key stakeholders to help inform development of both FMPs.

The Wildlife Conservation Act 1950, administered by the DPaW, provides for the conservation of flora and fauna throughout the State. The Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act 1999) also contains provisions relating to the protection of nationally-listed threatened species and ecological communities. In that part of the FMP area covered by the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA), the Commonwealth and State governments have agreed that the Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative (CAR) reserve system, and the forest management system, meet the requirements of that Act for the protection of threatened flora and fauna and ecological communities (RFA Clause 56). Therefore, the provisions of the EPBC Act 1999 for environmental assessment are not triggered for forestry operations.

The Bush Fires Act 1954 provides regulation of the control of bushfire and the use of prescribed fire. The Emergency Management Act 2005 sets out the emergency management arrangements for the State and requires that a number of emergency response plans be maintained. The response plan for bushfire is Westplan Bushfire, which sets out DPaW’s role in bushfire suppression operations as a ‘Controlling Agency’ and also the role of the FPC.

The Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945 provides mechanisms for the conservation of soil and land resources principally through mitigation of the effects of erosion, salinity and flooding.

Activities of DPaW and other agencies are planned and conducted to afford protection to particular sites and values as required by the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 and the Heritage of Western Australia Act 1990.

Water allocation plans prepared by the Department of Water, and source protection plans prepared by the Department of Water in liaison with the Water Corporation, include objectives and policies that DPaW takes into account when planning at strategic and operational levels. The use of water in the plan area is covered under the Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914. Permits (related to the disturbance of beds and banks) and licences (for the taking and use of water) are required within proclaimed areas. The protection of water resources in the plan area (such as surface water catchments – see Map 3) is covered under the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947 and the Metropolitan Water Supply Sewerage and Drainage Act 1909.

Additional measures for the management of water are possible through the Water Agencies (Powers) Act 1984, which enables the responsible Minister to make regulations for water resources protection and water quality, among other matters. Also, under the Waterways Conservation Act 1976, which focuses principally on estuarine waterways, the ability to construct infrastructure such as jetties and the like can be controlled by the issue of permits.

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Under this Act, the responsible Minister can also control the disposal of material into waterways via a licensing system.

The DPaW has certain statutory obligations under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act 2007) concerning biosecurity matters generally, and particularly with respect to the management of pathogens that cause forest diseases, through the CALM Act 1984. The management and control of weeds in Western Australia is guided by the BAM Act 2007 and the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976, which is administered by Department of Agriculture and Food (and note it is intended that the BAM Act 2007 will replace the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976 and some other Acts in the near future, which may bring some changes to management requirements).

The Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Western Australia) Act 1995 covers the use and control of pesticides, including the requirement to use pesticides in accordance with label requirements or approved ‘off label’ permits. The Health Act 1911 is applicable to pesticides used by the Crown within a Public Drinking Water Supply Area. The conditions for pesticide use in these areas are specified in Department of Health Public Service Circular 88 – Use of herbicides in catchment areas. The Contaminated Sites Act 2003 provides for the identification, recording, management and remediation of contaminated sites.

Under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) (NTA 1993) Crown land is subject to native title rights. The NTA 1993 recognises that Aboriginal people were the original inhabitants of the land before European settlement. In Western Australia the state government has a duty to comply with the NTA 1993. The DPaW is a primary source of guidance to the FPC on native title in respect to the conservation estate.

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Scope

The Plan covers only those forest blocks that include pure and mixed karri forest available for harvest by the FPC. This area is referred to as the karri forest management unit (FMU) and is shown in Map 1. This scope has been restricted in comparison to the FMP 2004 so as to align with the forest types that are assessed as part of FPC’s certification to the Forest Stewardship Councils (FSC) Controlled Wood Standard for Forest Management Enterprises (the Standard).

The FPC is not aware of any operational activities outside the scope of this Plan that are inconsistent with the Standard. However, the work necessary to align current management practices to FSC requirements and the costs associated with an audit across the total area covered by the FMP 2004 are prohibitive at this stage. It is FPC’s intention to seek FSC Controlled Wood certification over the total area in future.

The FMU covers a total area of 244,716 hectares and is contained within the Warren Bioregion. The Warren Bioregion is one of 89 large geographically distinct Australian bioregions classified by the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) under its latest version IBRA7. IBRA is endorsed by all levels of government as a key tool for identifying land for conservation under Australia's Strategy for the National Reserve System 2009–2030 (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010). The Warren Bioregion comprises a total area of 1,027,639 hectares. Map 2 shows an overlay of the FMU and the Warren Bioregion.

The Warren Bioregion is described by Hearn et al (2002) as:

“Dissected undulating country of the Leeuwin Complex, Southern Perth Basin (Blackwood Plateau), South-West intrusions of the Yilgarn Craton and western parts of the Albany Orogen with loamy soils supporting Karri forest, laterites supporting Jarrah-Marri forest, leached sandy soils in depressions and plains supporting low Jarrah woodlands and paperbark/sedge swamps, and Holocene marine dunes with Agonis flexuosa and banksia woodlands and heaths.”

Most of these elements, apart from the Holocene marine dunes with Agonis flexuosa and banksia woodlands and heaths, occur within the FMU. The climate is moderate Mediterranean. The relatively high rainfall (>900 mm) and low evapotranspiration of the bioregion makes it unique (along with parts of the adjacent Southern Jarrah Forest Bioregion) in Western Australia. The climate and soils are such that the landscape is characterised by high forests, perennial rivers and wetland systems (although the latter tend to occur outside the FMU).

Under the Convention of Biological Diversity, Australia is working towards a target of 17 per cent of our continent to be protected as part of the National Reserve System. In building the National Reserve System, priority is given to under-represented bioregions that have less than 10 per cent of their remaining area protected in reserves. Significantly, the Warren Bioregion is one of the best represented of all of the IBRA bioregions with more than 30 per cent reserved.

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The Plan covers the management of the following land categories (Table 1):

• Indigenous State forest and timber reserves including State forest proposed as forest conservation area through Section 62(1) of the CALM Act 1984.

• Freehold land held in the name of the Conservation and Land Management Executive Body that contains indigenous vegetation, which while not vested in the Conservation Commission, is taken into account in the Plan because its productive capacity contributes to the sustained yield of native timber.

• Informal reserve on forested land (44,737 hectares) is classified as a component of the above two tenures and includes old growth forest, specified areas associated with waterways, major tourist roads, special ecotypes, and designated Fauna Habitat Zones (FHZs).

The Plan recognises the whole of forest context and the role of the formal reserve system and the informal reserves, in the development of the management proposals. FPC’s activities specifically exclude nature reserves, national parks, conservation parks and other land referred to in Section 5(1) (g) and (h) of the CALM Act 1984 that has a conservation purpose. Harvesting activities are also excluded from informal reserves areas and from other land such as unallocated land (indicated in Table 1).

An area of old growth forest (48,819 hectares) is a component of both Formal and Informal Reserve areas in Table 1 and is excluded from FPC activities.

Table 1: Area of land categories covered by the Plan

State Timber Freehold land Existing and proposed nature Other land forest reserve held by the reserves, national parks, (such as Conservation conservation parks, CALM Act 1984 vacant or and Land section 5(1)(g) and 5(1)(h) lands, and unallocated Management State forest classified as forest Crown land) Executive Body conservation area and miscellaneous reserve

180,697 ha 62,903 ha 1,116 ha

Total = 244,716 ha

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Map 1: Karri forest management unit

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Map 2: Karri forest management unit and the Warren Bioregion

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Biological diversity

Background

Biological diversity (biodiversity) refers to the variability among living organisms and the ecosystems of which they are a part. It is measured or observed at three different levels: ecosystems, species and genes. Conserving biodiversity ensures that ecosystems remain productive and resilient to disturbance. To conserve biodiversity requires maintenance of a diversity of habitats and ecological processes at various spatial scales from entire forested landscapes to specific localised habitats. It also includes sustaining populations and maintaining their genetic diversity.

The establishment of a CAR reserve system is fundamental to the conservation of biodiversity in the forest. The FMP 2004 gave effect to a large area of new reserves and implemented the commitments to new reserves set out in the Government’s Protecting our old growth forests policy by ensuring that all old growth forest is excluded from harvesting. The Conservation Commission also established a process for identifying any additional areas of old growth forest, which includes a public nomination process

The FMP 2014 describes the general principles required for the conservation of biodiversity (as per Lindenmayer et al., 2006):

1) Maintenance of connectivity.

2) Maintenance of landscape heterogeneity.

3) Maintenance of stand structural complexity.

4) Maintenance of intact aquatic ecosystems.

5) Knowledge of natural disturbance regimes to inform human disturbance regimes.

The FMP 2014 includes the outcomes of a review undertaken in 2011 into silvicultural practices, which includes further measures to protect marri trees as habitat for black cockatoos.

The FMU also contains some areas of forest that are classified as forest conservation areas under Section 62(1) of the CALM Act 1984. The priority for the management of these areas is the maintenance of biodiversity. These areas are not available for timber production, but may be available for other uses such as wildflower picking, firewood collection, apiculture or craftwood. Forest conservation areas are proposed to provide a higher level of security of classification than informal reserves on areas that are too small, or have some other impediment, to be considered for a formal reserve category.

To achieve the overall objectives for the maintenance of biodiversity within the FMU, it is important that forest outside the formal reserve system that will be used to provide resources, particularly forest products, is managed to control the adverse effects of disturbance on biodiversity. This is achieved in part through informal reserves.

Management of the FMU also seeks to achieve overstorey structural diversity at the operational and landscape scales through the establishment of temporary exclusion areas.

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The Conservation Commission has also introduced Fauna Habitat Zones (FHZs) on a precautionary basis to act as refugia and provide structural diversity.

Objectives

The FPC seeks to:

• Conserve biodiversity and self-sustaining populations of native species and communities within the FMU.

• Allow for the recovery of biodiversity between one forest rotation and the next.

• Promote integrated management across all land categories at the whole of forest, landscape and operational scales within the FMU.

• Reduce the extent of the threat to the diversity and abundance of flora from silvicultural operations that are designed to reduce competition between understorey and commercial species.

• Prevent any species moving to a higher category of threat or, in particular, declining to irretrievably low levels as a result of FPC’s management actions within the FMU.

• Develop an improved understanding of the biodiversity of the FMU and the response of forest ecosystems to natural and human induced disturbance, with a view to improving forest management practices.

Actions to meet biodiversity objectives:

• The FPC and its agents will conduct silvicultural operations in accordance with DPaW’s Silviculture Guidelines.

• The FPC will conduct its operations having regard to DPaW’s Conservation of Endangered and Specially Protected Fauna in the Wild policy and Conservation of Threatened Flora in the Wild policy and other relevant documents.

• The FPC will use planning checklists to identify actions to be taken in specified circumstances in which declared rare flora species, threatened ecological communities, and other significant flora may be disturbed by its operations.

• The FPC will undertake operations in accordance with guidelines for operations in the presence of fauna developed as part of the Fauna Distribution Information System.

• The DPaW, the FPC and other proponents where required, will conduct their operations within informal reserve types in accordance with the DPaW’s Guidelines for Protection of the Values of Informal Reserves and Fauna Habitat Zones (DEC, 2009c).

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Productive capacity

Background

Productive capacity is one way to measure the sustainability of the flow of benefits from the forests to society. It is a measure that can be applied to both timber and non-timber resources and is a key factor in assessing the sustainability of management. Maintaining the productive capacity of the forest involves maintaining the area of forested land and providing for harvesting rates that do not exceed sustainable yields.

The CALM Act 1984 requires that timber production in native forests be conducted on a sustained yield basis. The methodology and data used in the sustained yield calculations for both the FMP 2004 and FMP 2014 have been independently reviewed (Ferguson et al. 2003 and Ferguson et al. 2013). The average annual sustained yields of karri first and second grade sawlogs are indicated in Table 2.

Table 2: Sustained yield of first and second grade sawlogs for karri (cubic metres)

FMP Average annual harvest (cubic metres) FMP 2004–2013 54,000 Proposed FMP 2014–2023 59,000*

* Note: This figure is indicated in the proposed FMP 2014–2023 and is subject to the final approval of the Minister for Environment.

The harvested volume may vary between years depending on the forest made available in annual harvest plans and the volume that has been harvested in previous years. The planned harvest volume for 2013 is 43,019 cubic metres.

In the course of harvesting karri sawlogs, lower grade logs are obtained from the boles of trees felled to obtain the first and second grade sawlogs. Lower grade logs are also obtained from trees, including marri, that are removed in order to facilitate regeneration, or growth of retained crop trees (such as through thinning). The available quantities for karri and marri other bole volume are shown in Table 3.

Table 3: Availability of other bole volume (cubic metres)

Species Log grade Average annual Average annual availability availability indicated in indicated in the proposed the FMP 2004–2013 FMP 2014–2023 (cubic metres) (cubic metres) Bole logs other than Karri first and second grade 160,000 164,000X sawlog

Marri* All bole logs 196,000 140,000X

* The volume indicated for marri is not solely harvested from the FMU. X Note: This figure is indicated in the proposed FMP 2014–2023 and is subject to the final approval of the Minister for Environment.

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Natural disturbances (such as bushfire, drought, pest and disease outbreaks) may lead to the death of trees, and this is taken into account in the calculation of the sustained yield. In some cases, significant areas of forest may be impacted (for example, by bushfire) and there is often a significant benefit to a range of values by salvage harvesting prior to regenerating or rehabilitating affected areas. In the proposed FMP 2014, there is provision to consider whether any salvaged wood will count towards the allowable cut on a case-by-case evaluation by DPaW. In doing so, DPaW will consider the safety margin incorporated into the calculation of sustained yields, and the costs and ability of affected areas to successfully regenerate and/or be successfully rehabilitated and provide for a range of ecologically sustainable forest management (ESFM) values, in the absence of salvage harvest.

Quantities of jarrah sawlogs are also removed from the FMU by the FPC. DPaW also issues licences to individuals for the removal of other forest produce such as firewood, burls, craftwood, wildflowers, seed and honey. These are not within the scope of the FMU and volumes are governed by the total quantities removed from all areas under the FMPs.

Regeneration and management of harvested native forest is an important component of productive capacity. Harvested and other disturbed areas of native forest are regenerated and, where necessary, the regeneration is managed to maintain its vigour and productive capacity. Regeneration activities aim to re-establish the site species composition within the disturbed area, using propagules, on-site seed, on-site seedlings and other established growth that has been retained, or seedlings developed from seed from the same land management unit (LMU).

Flexibility may be required in some cases in order to achieve desired outcomes. For example, where disease is present, or rainfall has declined, it may be appropriate to consider the use of disease and/or drought resistant varieties of those same species. In this case, the best source of seed or seedlings of some species may be from another area. Alternatively, if disease or drought resistant varieties are unavailable or unknown, then using mixed seed sources to maximise genetic diversity might be an appropriate alternative strategy. This would provide a broader source of variation which would allow greater potential to adapt to new perturbations such as disease or environmental change.

Objectives

The FPC seeks to:

• Sustain and, where applicable, enhance the productive capacity of the forest.

• Maintain the net area of forested land.

• Provide for timber production of karri sawlogs on a sustained yield basis and to maintain the quality of the sustained yield calculations for the next FMP period.

Actions proposed to maintain productive capacity:

• The FPC shall ensure that the average annual yield of karri logs removed from the FMU, shall be consistent with the relevant FMP as indicated in Tables 2 and 3. • The FPC shall ensure that the average annual yield of logs from other species removed from the FMU and other areas shall not exceed the maximum volumes stipulated in the FMP 2004 and the FMP 2014.

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• The FPC will prepare annual timber harvesting plans that are to be:

o developed in consultation with, and to the requirements of DPaW; o consistent with the allowable timber yields; o made publicly available; and o varied at a coupe or boundary level with the prior approval of the DPaW. • The FPC will:

o monitor the volume of all timber log categories removed from native forest in each year, separately recording for each of the commercial species the equivalent volume of: . first and second grade sawlogs; . lower grades of sawlogs; and . residue logs; and

o periodically audit the grading and removal of sawlogs. • The FPC will conduct its silvicultural and regeneration operations in accordance with DPaW’s Silviculture Guidelines.

• The FPC will monitor and record the areas over which each different silvicultural treatment is achieved in each year.

• The FPC will, where practicable and economically feasible, enter into contracts that are not confined to the supply of first and second grade sawlogs. For example, the FPC may enter into contracts for the sale of bole sawlogs. When FPC enters into such a contract, FPC and DPaW will calculate the equivalent volume of first and second grade sawlogs which would be derived from the volume of timber taken under the contract.

• The FPC will work with DPaW to review the regulation of access to craftwood, which if considered reasonable and practicable will be through production contracts issued under the Forest Products Act 2000 for areas of State forest and timber reserves.

• The FPC will pursue additional markets for log categories that have traditionally been under-utilised, particularly lower grade karri sawlogs and marri sawlogs.

• The FPC will test methods to increase the utilisation of sawlogs below first and second grade standards.

• The FPC will work with DPaW to:

o maintain records of the history of silvicultural treatments applied to stands of trees;

o develop schedules of future silvicultural treatments for stands of trees to promote growth of timber that can be used to produce sawlogs;

o assess stand development when silvicultural treatments are scheduled, with a view to determining whether those treatments are then required;

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o undertake or reschedule those proposed silvicultural treatments; and

o report to the Conservation Commission every two years after the commencement of the plan on the extent to which these scheduled silvicultural treatments have been undertaken.

• The FPC will prepare a timber industry development strategy to align future industry opportunities with the location and log quality mix made available under the FMP 2014, and likely under future Forest Management Plans based on woodflow modelling for the FMP 2014 and any revised inventory information.

• The FPC will prepare coupe level harvesting plans, using DPaW’s planning checklist for disturbance activities, which are to:

o Be consistent with annual timber harvesting plans.

o Provide sufficient information to allow DPaW to evaluate the proposed operations.

o Be approved by DPaW prior to disturbance operations commencing. • The FPC will undertake native forest regeneration operations by:

o Using natural regeneration where reasonable and practicable, or

o Where natural regeneration is not reasonable and practicable, and where data are available on the underlying genetic diversity within regeneration species through genetic analysis and an understanding of life history traits, use this information to inform choice of areas from which seed is sourced, or

o Where natural regeneration is not reasonable and practicable, and where the information referred to above is not available, using as the first preference seed or plants propagated from seed collected from the same LMU as the area to be rehabilitated, or where seed is not readily available from this LMU, then using seed from adjacent LMUs, or

o Otherwise, subject to a process of approval by the DPaW, based on assessment criteria agreed between the DPaW and the Conservation Commission, using other seed sources, including mixed seed sources, where climate change, impact from damaging agents or some other identified management need requires it.

• The FPC, via the DPaW will report to the Conservation Commission annually as to the circumstances where seed sources other than those referred to above have been used in their native forest regeneration operations.

• The FPC will continue to develop markets, in particular for those log grades which are currently under-utilised, so as to facilitate the timely achievement of silvicultural objectives, as well as socio-economic outcomes.

• The FPC where required by the DPaW, in consultation with the DPaW will:

o Develop annual programs of future silvicultural treatments for stands of trees to promote stand vigour and growth rates that can be used to produce

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sawlogs, which are consistent with the silviculture guidelines (these silvicultural treatments include the use of prescribed burning and thinning).

o Assess stand development when silvicultural treatments are scheduled, with a view to determining whether those treatments are then required.

o Undertake or reschedule those proposed silvicultural treatments, according to the assessment referred to above and prevailing and expected market conditions, where relevant.

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Ecosystem health and vitality

Background

Disturbance of forest ecosystems ranges from small random periodic events (e.g. tree fall) to larger events that may have long-term impacts (e.g. insect infestations or a high intensity bushfire). Many of these events can assist the recovery and maintenance of ecosystems, while others, such as weeds, pests and diseases, may impede the recovery, and impact on the health and vitality of ecosystems.

Fire has an impact on forest ecosystems. For example, fire can assist in the regeneration of vegetation. Fire can release nutrients required for plant growth, which might otherwise be locked up within litter and other dead plant materials. However, the excessive use of fire can be detrimental.

Attempts to suppress fire over large areas can result in the gradual build-up of fuel on the forest floor. This will increase the probability of large and intense fires, which are more costly to suppress and result in a greater loss of economic and biological assets. In most vegetated ecosystems, it is difficult to prevent fire for long periods over large areas. To attempt to do so may be detrimental to biodiversity conservation and the protection of the community.

Weeds, pests and diseases present major threats to the health and vitality of forest ecosystems. In particular, dieback caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi continues to spread and reduce the distribution and abundance of many plant species and their dependent fauna. It is the most significant threat to the health and vitality of many ecosystems in the FMU although its impact is lower in the karri forest ecosystem than in most other ecosystems in the South West. It remains a high priority for DPaW and the FPC to minimise the risk of new infestations in areas that are uninfested. Armillaria luteobubalina is a species of fungus that has been observed to cause localised damage in the karri forest.

Objectives

The FPC seeks to: • Control adverse impacts of fire used as part of its regeneration activities on land in the FMU and adjoining land. • Minimise, as far as is reasonable and practicable, the impact on the health and vitality of forest ecosystems from pathogens and their associated diseases. • Protect from infestation those areas currently free from P. cinnamomi and control weeds and pests in forest ecosystems. • Develop self-sustaining ecosystems of native species from regeneration or rehabilitation operations in native forest.

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Actions to manage ecosystem health and vitality:

• The FPC will undertake an analysis of the risk from fire to its native timber production resources.

• The FPC will provide to DPaW funding sufficient to enable DPaW to control the fire risk to acceptable levels, so far as is reasonable and practicable.

• The FPC will work with DPaW to conduct its operations having regard to the Management of Phytophthora and Disease Caused By It policy and in accordance with Phytopthora cinnamomi and diseases caused by it. Volume 1 – Management Guidelines (DEC, 2003).

• The FPC will, so far as is reasonable and practicable, maintain their nurseries free from weeds, pests and pathogens that could be transported into the forest with planting stock.

• The FPC will work with DPaW to undertake its regeneration or rehabilitation operations by:

o using natural regeneration where reasonable and practicable; or

o where natural regeneration is not reasonable and practicable, using seed collected locally or plants propagated from seed collected locally. No genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will be used within the FMU or any forest operation under the management of FPC.

• The FPC, in conjunction with DPaW, will report to the Conservation Commission annually as to the circumstances where local seed sources have not been used in their regeneration or rehabilitation operations.

• The FPC will maintain surveillance and recording systems for priority weeds, compatible with those of the DPaW.

• The FPC will use planning procedures and operational controls to minimise the risk of introduction, spread and impacts from priority weeds, and where reasonable and practicable, implement control programs for priority weeds.

• The FPC will take appropriate steps to control the spread of plantation species beyond plantation boundaries into adjacent native vegetation.

• The FPC will take appropriate steps to minimise the risk that seedlings it obtains from its own and other nurseries are free from weeds that could be transported into the forest with planting stock.

• The FPC will seek to identify and protect, including through use of planning procedures and operational controls, individuals and populations that show resistance to pests.

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Soil and water

Background

Forest productivity is heavily influenced by soil and water quality. Forest soils play an important role in regulating surface and groundwater flow. The interaction of soil and water also plays an important role in the health of the streams and rivers. Clean water is critical to the community’s quality of life. The conservation of soil and water is an important part of the conservation of biodiversity and sustaining the productive capacity and health and vitality of forest ecosystems.

Water is one of the most widely used products that come from forests. The quantity and quality of water used for environmental and consumption purposes should be protected and, where necessary and practicable, enhanced.

Objectives

The FPC seeks to:

• Protect soil and water resources within the FMU by adopting a proactive approach to reduce the occurrence of soil damage.

• Protect the ecological integrity and quality of streams, wetlands and their associated vegetation, and increase the flow of water to surface and groundwater reservoirs within the FMU.

Actions proposed to manage soil and water:

• The FPC will work with DPaW to rehabilitate soil damaged in the course of its operations by identifying and mapping damaged soil; and undertaking rehabilitation work as soon as is reasonable and practicable after the completion of the operation.

• The FPC will work with DPaW to conduct its operations in accordance with the Guidelines for Protection of the Values of Informal Reserves and Fauna Habitat Zones (DEC, 2009c) and the Soil and Water Conservation Guideline (DEC, 2009a).

• The FPC will work in consultation with the Conservation Commission, DPaW, the Water Corporation and the Water and Rivers Commission to evaluate any proposal seeking to employ silvicultural treatments to increase the flow of water to surface and groundwater reservoirs.

• The FPC will, in cooperation with DPaW, the Department of Water and the Water Corporation, and in consultation with the Conservation Commission, conduct research in relation to the extent to which stream zones in informal reserves adequately protect biodiversity, water quality and water quantity in areas subject to timber harvesting.

• The FPC will conduct their operations involving the use of heavy vehicles in a manner that is in accordance with the Soil and Water Conservation Guideline (DEC, 2009a), the Manual of Procedures for the Management of Soils Associated

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with Timber Harvesting in Native Forests (DEC, 2010), and the Manual for the Management of Surface Water (DEC, 2009).

• The FPC will review subsidiary documents and training programs to seek to ensure that procedures for containment of spills are adequately addressed.

• The FPC will conduct their operations in accordance with silviculture guidelines, the Guidelines for the Protection of the Values of Informal Reserves and Fauna Habitat Zones (DEC, 2009c), and the Soil and Water Conservation Guideline (DEC, 2009a).

• The FPC will conduct their operations in accordance with phased harvesting requirements for the moderate salt sensitivity part of the Department’s Warren Region.

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Native title and natural and cultural heritage

Background

Heritage comprises the things we value and want to keep as a community and as a culture. This concept can be applied to natural and cultural environments. Therefore heritage in forests includes both cultural, i.e. those aspects associated with human interaction with the forest, and natural values related to the biophysical expression of forests.

Heritage in forests includes Aboriginal and other Australian heritage values and natural values. The Plan provides for the management of the range of heritage values. Management and interpretation of Aboriginal cultural heritage will be carried out jointly with Aboriginal people.

Objectives

The FPC seeks to:

• Ensure native title rights are protected.

• Maintain natural and cultural heritage within the FMU.

• Work with Aboriginal people to identify, interpret, protect, and manage significant cultural heritage sites within the FMU.

• Identify, record, assess and manage places of natural and cultural heritage significance within the FMU.

Actions proposed to protect native title rights and manage natural and cultural heritage:

• The FPC will take into account advice from DPaW to ensure compliance with the NTA 1993.

• The FPC will conduct its operations in a manner that has regard to the Indigenous Heritage Management Guidelines and Non Indigenous Heritage Management Guidelines.

• Where required under the FMP, FPC will conduct its operations in a manner that has regard to approved heritage management policies, guidelines, manuals or instructions.

• The FPC will cooperate with Commonwealth and State agencies, local government and non-statutory organisations in relation to other Australian cultural heritage identification and conservation.

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Climate change and carbon cycles

Background

The extent of possible impacts on native vegetation ecosystems is not well understood, but climate change is believed to be having, and is expected to have, further important but variable consequences for a range of values.

Allen et al. (2010) suggest that the increase in the frequency, duration and/or severity of drought, combined with more heat stress associated with climate change, could fundamentally alter the structure and composition of forests in many regions, and note that mortality functions used in forest modelling may need to be revised, which has been considered in calculations for sustained yield in this Plan (FMP 2014). The authors’ state:

“…given the potential risks of climate-induced die-off, forest managers need to develop adaptation strategies to improve the resistance and resilience of forests to projected increases in climate stress. Options might include thinning stands to reduce competition, selection of appropriate genotypes (for example improved drought resistance), and even translocation of species to match expected climate changes.”

Climate change has been accounted for, including a safety margin, in the FMP 2014. Planning for climate change has been considered in developing the range of proposed operations (management activities) outlined in the FMP 2014 sections on ‘ Biological diversity’, ‘Ecosystem health and vitality’, ‘Soil and water’, and ‘Productive capacity’.

Objective

The FPC seeks to reduce the potential consequences of climate change on ecosystem health and vitality, biological diversity, soil and water, productive capacity and heritage values.

Actions proposed to manage climate change and carbon cycles:

• The FPC will seek to encourage the use of wood harvested from native forests to maximise greenhouse mitigation benefits.

• Manage in accordance with DPaW’s guidelines for silviculture and fire management which will be periodically reviewed with a view to incorporating techniques that recognise the contribution of the areas covered by the FMP 2014 to global carbon cycles, consistent with other mitigation and adaptation strategies and achievement of other silvicultural objectives and goals for forest management.

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Socio-economic benefits

Background

Natural ecosystems provide a diverse mix of socio-economic benefits. These include jobs, wages, profits and tax revenues from producing and consuming forest-related goods and services; user benefits associated with the opportunity to participate in outdoor recreation and tourism; environmental benefits such as clean air and water; and benefits that satisfy the social and spiritual needs of society.

The ability to deliver multiple social and economic goods and services over the long term depends on the maintenance of the net area of forested land and of forest ecosystems.

There is an increasing demand for the use of forested areas for recreation and tourism, which tends to be concentrated in national parks and State forest but is undertaken on most land categories.

Visual landscape management supports nature-based tourism and maintains an aesthetically pleasing environment for local communities.

Objective

The FPC seeks to:

• Sustain and enhance socio-economic benefits obtained from the FMU to meet community needs.

• Protect visual landscapes within the FMU.

• Manage basic raw materials (BRM) and promote the rehabilitation of areas where BRM have been extracted within the FMU.

Actions proposed to manage socio-economic objectives:

• The FPC will work with DPaW to:

o maintain a visual landscape classification and management system;

o review guidelines for the application of visual landscape management principles in land-use planning, codes of practice, operational guidelines and other relevant manuals; and

o make submissions in relation to development proposals that may impact on visual landscapes on land to which the FMP 2004 applies that are forwarded to them for comment or advice, with a view to seeking to reduce the effect of any proposed development on the visual quality of the landscape.

• The FPC will work with DPaW to maintain a database of areas from which BRM have been extracted and will progressively develop plans and works programs for the rehabilitation of these areas.

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• The Conservation Commission and the DPaW will work with the FPC as appropriate and provide input into decision-making processes that may result in a reduced land base or restricted access to land available for timber harvesting activities.

• The DPaW will work with the FPC to plan for a source location, log product and wood quality mix that seeks to support a viable forest products industry.

• The FPC will where reasonable and practicable, seek to retain, develop and maintain strategic access infrastructure in a manner and at locations that will service multiple needs.

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Plan implementation

Objective

The FPC seeks to:

• Ensure that forest management is undertaken in accordance with the Plan and is continually improved so as to achieve best practice.

• Monitor and audit the extent to which management of the FMU is undertaken in accordance with the Plan.

• Provide for adaptive management to improve forest management within the FMU.

• Provide opportunities for stakeholders including Government agencies, non- government organisations and the community to participate in Plan development and implementation.

• Generate and transfer knowledge and develop the necessary skills and competencies in staff and its contractors.

Actions proposed:

• The FPC will develop an annual audit program to monitor the extent to which management of land to which the Plan applies is undertaken in accordance with the Plan.

• The FPC will maintain an environmental management system for forest management, which is to be independently accredited as conforming to AS/NZS ISO 14001.

• The FPC will:

o identify key roles and responsibilities in forest operations and specify the persons who are responsible for fulfilling those roles and responsibilities; and

o identify key tasks associated with implementation of the Plan and specify the persons who are responsible for undertaking those tasks.

• The FPC will take reasonable and practicable steps to:

o identify the skills required to competently undertake the key tasks;

o review the skills and competency levels of persons responsible for undertaking those tasks; and

o initiate training and other programs to increase skill and competency levels where they are deficient.

• Review and amend this Plan following the approval of the FMP 2014 by the Minister for Environment.

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Assessment of potential HCVs in the FMU

Background

The FPC has undertaken an assessment of High Conservation Values (HCVs) in the FMU. HCV is not a term typically used in the management of native forests in Western Australia, but the principles align with existing policies and practices. The Plan seeks to describe this alignment and to demonstrate how FPC ensures that the HCVs that have been identified are not threatened by any management activities.

The assessment was undertaken using FSC Australia’s High Conservation Values (HCVs) evaluation framework (FSC Australia, 2013) as guidance. The definitions and values listed for each of the potential HCVs are drawn directly from this framework. The Directory of Information Sources, which supports the framework, was a key tool in addressing these considerations.

As part of this assessment of HCVs, the FPC undertook a comprehensive assessment of primary data sources to verify that all HCVs have been identified as part of management processes, and that, when present, they are being appropriately managed. This assessment was additional to planning and management processes that are in place as a result of the current management system. This management system forms a layered process at five levels, initially focussing on strategic land management decisions and moving to operational decision making. All of these steps involve public consultation.

The five levels are:

1) HCVs formed the basis for establishing and reviewing the reserve system to meet the requirements of the National Forest Policy Statement (Commonwealth of Australia, 1995). The values are assessed and management actions are described in the Western Australian Comprehensive Regional Assessment (Commonwealth of Australia, 1998) and the Regional Forest Agreement for the South-West Forest Region of Western Australia (Commonwealth of Australia, 1999). This assessment included extensive stakeholder consultation to identify values at the regional scale.

2) A second tier of land use management planning has further refined and detailed the management measures for these values in the FMP 2004 and in the FMP 2014. In the preparation of these plans, additional information has been taken into account in evaluating HCVs, including extensive consultation through direct briefings with key stakeholders, public meetings, scientific reviews and the publication of the draft FMP 2014 for public comment. Separately, the Department of Water has produced plans for the relevant water catchments, which have also been developed with extensive stakeholder consultation.

3) The technical specifications, guidelines and procedures related to the management of HCVs are public documents. They were established with stakeholder input into their development including publication for comment. The role of consultation in their development is established as a commitment in FMP 2004. A review of these practices was also published as part of the consultation process in the preparation of FMP 2014, enabling public comment on the operational guidelines.

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4) In the implementation of the Plan there is a process of further identification related to HCVs within the FMU. Ongoing stakeholder engagement processes encourage the identification of specific values and the appropriate way to manage for those values.

The primary opportunities for stakeholder input are in:

• The three year harvest plan produced by the DPaW.

• The one year harvest plan produced by the FPC.

• Operational coupe plans prepared by the FPC.

5) Review of performance occurs at the end of the process through FPC’s environmental management system (EMS) and periodic community forest inspections which allow feedback on performance and transparency in the management of the activity. This is used as the basis for improvement in procedures and management.

The FPC has undertaken a data audit and gap analysis of primary data sources used in the management of HCVs, including all relevant data sources identified in the FSC Australia’s Directory of Information Sources.

Each HCV has been assessed according to the assessment pathway set out by the High Conservation Values (HCVs) evaluation framework (FSC Australia, 2013). Details of this process are available for each HCV in the following sections.

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High Conservation Value 1

Forest areas containing globally, nationally and regionally significant concentrations of biodiversity values (e.g. endemism, endangered species, refugia).

From the High Conservation Values (HCVs) evaluation framework (FSC Australia, 2013).

Definition of ‘Significant concentrations of biodiversity values’: Areas of native forest containing one or more of the VALUES identified are deemed to meet the threshold for significant concentrations of biodiversity values.

Definition of region: Large, geographically distinct areas of land with common characteristics such as geology, landform patterns, climate, ecological features and plant and animal communities as defined by IBRA (Interim Bio- Regionalisation for Australia).

Values

• Areas that contain species that are rare, threatened or endangered, or contain centres of endemism.

• Areas that contain species that are depleted or poorly reserved at the IBRA region scale.

• Areas with mapped significant seasonal concentrations of species (e.g. migratory staging areas).

• Areas of high species/communities diversity.

• Refugia and mosaics.

Assessment pathway

Step 1:

The FSC Australia’s Directory of Information Sources was consulted to identify relevant datasets and to prepare lists and maps of potential HCV accordingly.

The relevant datasets from this process have been interrogated, as well as additional datasets, as outlined in the Data audit and gap analysis report (FPC, 2013).

Outcomes

While the most significant elements of this HCV class in the Warren Bioregion FMU are located outside the area of FPC’s activities (such as highest levels of endemism, most

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critically endangered species/communities, refugia etc.) they are assessed as being present within the FMU due to the following factors:

a) The presence of a number of threatened flora and fauna species. Threatened species and communities are those assessed by DPaW as being under risk of extinction.

(i) Threatened fauna

A current list of threatened fauna can be found on the DPaW website. Of these species, Table 4 lists those that have been identified to be present in the FMU. Links to the available Recovery Plans are also provided in Table 4.

Table 4: List of threatened fauna identified as being present in the FMU

Common name Scientific name Recovery Plan* Balston’s Pygmy Perch Nannatherina balstoni --- Baudin’s Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus baudinii Available Brush-tailed Phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa --- Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris Available Chuditch Dasyurus geoffroii Available Crested (Western) Shrike Tit Falcunculus leucogaster --- Forest red-tailed Black Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus banksii naso Available Malleefowl Leipoa ocellata Available Masked owl Tyto novaehollandiae kimberli Available Muirs Corella Cacatua pastinator pastinator Available Quenda Isoodon obesulus --- (Southern Brown Bandicoot) Quokka Setonix brachyurus Available

Water Rat Hydromys chrysogaster --- Western False Pipistrelle Falsistrellus mackenziei --- Western Mud Minnow Galaxiella munda --- Interim Western Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus occidentalis Recovery Plan White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus ashbyi ---

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Where Recovery Plans are not available, and the Forest Vertebrate Fauna Distribution Information System (FDIS) (Christensen et al. 2001) report has shown the potential presence of a rare, threatened or endangered species, management strategies are implemented in accordance with DPaW’s instructions to ensure the protection of those species identified.

(ii) Threatened flora

A current list of threatened flora can be found on the DPaW website. Of these species, Table 5 lists those that have been identified to be present in the FMU. Links to the available Recovery Plans are also provided in Table 4.

Table 5: List of threatened flora identified as being present in the FMU

Common name Scientific name Recovery Plan* Harrington’s Spider Orchid Caladenia harringtoniae ---

Christine’s Spider Orchid Caladenia christineae ---

Interim Majestic Spider Orchid Caladenia winfieldii Recovery Plan Northcliffe Kennedia Kennedia glabrata ---

* The DPaW are currently working on a draft Policy Statement No. 9 – Conserving Threatened Species and Ecological Communities, which states that ‘Recovery Plans (either ‘full’ Recovery Plans or Interim Recovery Plans) will be prepared for species and ecological communities on a priority basis, commencing with those ranked for conservation action by the Minister for Environment as ‘Critically Endangered’. Where Recovery Plans are not available, and the Forest Vertebrate Fauna Distribution Information System (FDIS) (Christensen et al. 2001) report has shown the potential presence of a rare, threatened or endangered species, management strategies are implemented in accordance with DPaW’s instructions to ensure the protection of those species identified.

b) A high level of endemism within and adjacent to the FMU.

Slatyer et al (2007) identified 11 main centres of anuran endemism on the Australian continent “with the most important being the wet tropics and the south-west near Bunbury-Augusta and near Walpole.” These findings closely mirror those of a number of other authors including Crisp M.D. (2002). While the highest levels of endemism in the south-west are outside the FMU they are still significant on a national level and are therefore assessed as being a HCV that requires consideration in managing timber harvesting operations within the FMU.

Step 2:

Expert advice has been provided by DPaW who contribute to the protection of threatened and priority species by:

• Maintaining databases of the locations of threatened species and ecological communities, conducting searches where high impact disturbance such as road making is proposed, and maintaining licensing systems and compliance checking programs where any threatened flora is proposed to be ‘taken.’

• The development of the Forest Vertebrate Fauna Distribution Information System (FDIS) (Christensen et al. 2001), which is reviewed periodically. The system combines the vegetation complexes mapped for the RFA into fauna habitats and

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correlates those habitats with the likely presence in them of particular vertebrate fauna species. It can then be used to predict the likely occurrence of sensitive species, relative to planned management arrangements.

• DPaW undertakes biological surveys which will be:

o of priority areas determined in consultation with the Conservation Commission;

o used, where appropriate, to assist in evaluating the extent to which biodiversity is being conserved and the need for any review of the reserve system; and

o recorded in relevant databases that are accessible as appropriate to other users.

Step 3:

DPaW conducts targeted flora surveys prior to carrying out any activity likely to result in permanent disturbance (e.g. road construction). The FDIS is checked during completion of the pre-operations checklist and, where there is potential for the presence of rare, threatened or endangered species, management strategies are implemented in accordance with DPaWs instructions.

Step 4:

In addition to the stakeholder consultation which was undertaken prior to the release of this final Plan and the associated Data audit and gap analysis report (FPC, 2013), threatened wildlife listings are reviewed annually and changes can be recommended by the Western Australian Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC). The public is invited to submit nominations to add taxa to, or delete taxa from, the current Declared Rare Flora and Specially Protected Fauna lists as described on the DPaW website.

Precautionary measures to ensure HCV1 is not threatened by management activities within the FMU

The ‘Biodiversity’ section of the Plan outlines the reserve system throughout the FMP which has been designed and implemented to manage for risks to this HCV.

The FPC applies a comprehensive range of precautionary measures to preserve this HCV within the FMU including but not limited to:

1) An FDIS report is requested from DPaW during completion of the pre-operations checklist (DECSFM019 – Planning checklist for disturbance activities) when planning operations including road construction and harvesting. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

2) The checklist must be approved by DPaW prior to operations commencing. Where FDIS has shown the potential presence of a rare, threatened or endangered species, management strategies are implemented in accordance with DPaW’s instructions to ensure the protection of those species identified. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

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3) Prior to carrying out any activity likely to result in permanent disturbance (e.g. road construction) a rare flora survey is to be carried out by a DPaW approved botanist. Where rare flora is found, management actions are specified by DPaW. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture).

4) Implementation of operations consistent with DPaW Policy 9 ‘Conservation of Endangered Flora in the Wild’. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

5) At the beginning of each financial year, FPC set an estimated budget for predator control (Responsibility: Manager, South West Native Forest). DPaW maintain a spreadsheet of harvested coupes with ongoing predator control requirements. Coupes may be baited before harvesting, during harvesting or up to three years after harvesting has been completed. As new coupes are planned and the DECSFM019 – Planning checklist for disturbance activities is completed, predator control requirements will be updated as necessary. (Responsibility: DPaW SFM Co-ordinator in the relevant region).

6) Silviculture guidelines include measures designed to minimise the potential impacts of timber harvesting on other values, which focus on maintaining stand complexity and structural diversity, and defining the type and extent of habitat elements and future ‘crop’ tress that must be retained. Habitat requirements (for example, for nesting, roosting and foraging) for fauna are considered in determining the criteria for selection and retention of habitat trees and coarse woody debris (for example, hollow logs) on the ground (FMP 2014). The FMP 2014 includes the outcomes of a review done in 2011 into silvicultural practices, which includes further measures to protect marri trees as habitat for black cockatoos. The FPC also adhere to the document Silvicultural Practice in the Karri Forest (DEC, 2005), as produced by DPaW. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture, FPC and DPaW treemarkers)

7) The Conservation Commission has introduced Fauna Habitat Zones (FHZs) as a precautionary measure to act as refugia and provide structural diversity. The FPC do not harvest in FHZs, and the selection of the FHZs are as per the Guidelines for the Selection of Fauna Habitat Zones, DEC SFM Guideline 6. (Responsibility: DPaW Forest Management Branch)

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High Conservation Value 2

Forest areas containing regionally significant large landscape level forests, contained within, or containing the management unit, where viable populations of most if not all naturally-occurring species exist in natural patterns of distribution and abundance.

From the High Conservation Values (HCVs) evaluation framework (FSC Australia, 2013).

Definition of ‘Large landscape-level forests’: Relatively contiguous areas of forest (which may be crossed by land management roads or public roads). At the minimum these forests are likely to be thousands or tens of thousands of hectares in size. However, ‘large’ is relative to regional landscape context (particularly the size of forested blocks in the bioregion) and might be smaller or larger than this figure as indicated by consultation with regional experts. In regions where native forests are heavily fragmented by forest type conversion or land use conversion, the increased value of smaller occurrences of remaining natural forest should also be included in the assessment. The forest may be in single or multiple ownerships. HCV2 includes areas that are in (or close to) what might be called their ‘natural’ condition. Such areas have a relatively full complement of the species that are appropriate to the habitat. HCV2 designation may arise because the intact forest area is unusually large and therefore of high value due to its contribution to wilderness or landscape values.

The general approach in assessing for HCV 2 is to compare forest characteristics (such as extent and intensity of harvest practices, forest communities, successional stages, structures, and species composition and abundance) with native forests that have only been subject to natural disturbance processes or minimal human intervention. Aerial photography or satellite images of the surrounding landscape should also be considered.

Definition of ‘Significant’: The forest is significant in the region due to its size, condition, and/or importance to biodiversity conservation. Factors to consider include:

• Rarity of forests of this size and quality within the region. • Less affected by anthropogenic factors than similar areas in the region.

Values

Areas with this HCV include:

• Landscape-scale native forests that have experienced lesser levels of past human disturbance (e.g., minimal timber harvesting) or other management (e.g. fire suppression), or areas within such forests.

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• Native forests that are rare at the regional or finer scale because they contain forest communities with successional stages, forest structures, and species composition that are similar in distribution and abundance to native forests that have been only subject to natural disturbance processes or minimal human intervention. This would also include areas within such forests. While these forests may not contain old growth, they would typically contain an abundance of older forest attributes (biologically mature or late successional) characteristic of the forest type, as indicated by tree species composition, tree size, or other attributes applicable to the forest community type, such as coarse woody debris, snags, herb diversity, structural understorey diversity, and the lack of invasive plant species.

• Forests recognised as being regionally significant at the bioregion or larger scale by conservation organisations (in formally recognised reports or peer reviewed journals) due to the unusual landscape-scale biodiversity values provided by size and condition of the forest relative to regional forest land cover and land use trends.

• Forests that provide regionally significant habitat connectivity between larger forest areas or between refugia and mosaics.

• Roadless areas.

• Forests that haven‘t been affected by forest management activities.

Assessment pathway:

Step 1:

The FSC Australia’s Directory of Information Sources and associated databases were interrogated to enable mapping and reporting on vegetation communities, condition assessment, wilderness assessment, concentrations of species, old growth, wilderness, growth stage, vegetation condition and remnant vegetation, logging history and to determine whether further mapping needed to be commissioned.

The relevant datasets from this process have been interrogated, as well as additional datasets, as outlined in the Data audit and gap analysis report (FPC, 2013).

Step 2:

Independent third party reviews: Over the past 20 years there has been a co-ordinated effort to identify the values related to landscape level forests as a basis for establishing and reviewing the reserve system to meet the requirements of the National Forest Policy. These assessments, culminating in the Western Australian Comprehensive Regional Assessment (Commonwealth of Australia, 1998) and the Regional Forest Agreement for the South-West Forest Region of Western Australia (Commonwealth of Australia, 1999), included processes of stakeholder consultation to identify values at the regional scale.

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Step 3:

In addition to the stakeholder consultation undertaken with the release of the draft Plan and the associated Data audit and gap analysis (FPC, 2013), significant stakeholder consultation has been undertaken in relation to the Western Australian Comprehensive Regional Assessment (Commonwealth of Australia, 1998) and the Regional Forest Agreement for the South-West Forest Region of Western Australia (Commonwealth of Australia, 1999), as well as that consultation related to both the FMP 2004 and the FMP 2014.

Outcome

The FMU is a subset of a much larger forest which is very well represented in both formal and informal reserves. Approximately 70 per cent of the 173,960 ha of the State’s karri forest is within the reserve system. The forests in the reserve system have been less affected by forest management activity and they contain all examples of undisturbed forest.

The karri forest in the FMU contains formal and informal reserves as one of a multitude of strategies employed to protect HCVs. Outside the reserve system, much of the forest in the FMU is regrowth and two-tiered forest and has been subject to active forest management for a considerable period of time.

However, given that karri is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia and the forest within the FMU provides regionally significant habitat connectivity between larger forest areas (most of which are in the formal reserve system) the precautionary approach was adopted and this HCV was assessed as existing within the FMU.

This HCV is considered to be present within the informal and formal reserve systems in the FMU. These occupy an area of 108,774 hectares in the FMU. Refer to Map 3 for an overview of the formal and informal reserves in the environment of the FMU.

Precautionary measures to ensure HCV2 is not threatened by management activities within the FMU

The FPC applies a comprehensive range of management strategies to preserve this HCV within the FMU. These strategies, which seek to carefully manage the scale and intensity of disturbance to levels that maintain structural diversity of the forest and to rapidly regenerate the forest, include but are not limited to:

• Managing to a sustainable timber yield as outlined in the Productive Capacity Chapter of this Plan. (Responsibility: Manager South West Native Forest)

• Protection of karri forest in informal and formal reserves throughout the FMU. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

• Clearfelling in karri forest is limited to a maximum coupe size of 40 hectares in mature and two-tiered forest and a maximum coupe size of 20 hectares in regrowth forest in line with the Ministerial Advisory Group on Karri and Tingle 1999 (refer to Silvicultural Practice in the Karri Forest, DEC SFM Guideline 3, 2005). (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

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• Thinning of regrowth stands to maintain productive capacity (refer to Karri Thinning Guideline, DEC Silviculture Specification 1/92, 1992). (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

• Protection of water values through the implementation of informal reserves on all water courses (refer to Guideline for the protection of the values of informal reserves and fauna habitat zones, DEC SFM Guideline 4, 2009). (Responsibility: Manager South West Native Forest)

• Protection of soil values by limiting soil disturbance to acceptable levels (refer to Soil and Water Conservation Guideline, DEC SFM Guideline 5, 2009). (Responsibility: Manager South West Native Forest, Supervisors)

• Retention of habitat trees (refer to Silvicultural Practice in the Karri Forest, DEC SFM Guideline 3, 2005). (Responsibility: Senior Forester Silviculture)

• Ensuring all regeneration operations are successful (refer to Karri Regeneration Surveys, DEC Silvicultural Specification 1/90, 1990). (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

• No use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in any regeneration operations and specifically the use of seed collected locally in regeneration operations (refer to Establishment Guidelines for Karri Forest Regeneration Following Harvesting, DEC Silvicultural Guideline 3/97, 1997). (Responsibility: Nursery and Seed Centre Manager)

• Rehabilitation of disturbed areas such as log landings, extraction tracks and basic raw material pits (refer to Guidelines for the Management and Rehabilitation of basic raw material Pits, DEC SFM Guidelines 2008). (Responsibility: Manager South West Native Forest)

• Ensuring that any conversion to non-forest uses (e.g. roads) only occurs in very limited areas and not in areas with HCVs and will enable, clear, substantial, additional secure long-term environmental and social benefits across the FMU as outlined in the Productive Capacity chapter of this Plan. (Responsibility: Manager South West Native Forest in conjunction with the DPaW SFM Co-ordinator in the relevant region)

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High Conservation Value 3

Forest areas that are in or contain rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems. Ecosystems that are rare and/or threatened at a global, national or regional level (as per FSC-US Forest Management Standard v1.0).

From the High Conservation Values (HCVs) evaluation framework (FSC Australia, 2013).

Distinctiveness in terms of size, quality (particularly lack of human disturbance), or location within the ecosystem’s geographic range may be considered in assessing ecosystem rarity.

Values Areas with this HCV may include:

• Extant rainforests

• Areas for conservation of important genes or genetically distinct populations;

• Ecosystems that are depleted or poorly reserved at the IBRA bioregion scale

• Old-growth forests

• Remnant vegetation in heavily cleared landscapes

Definition of old-growth: Old-growth forest is ecologically mature forest where the effects of disturbances are now negligible1.

Old-growth and late successional stands and forests include:

• Type 1 old-growth – stands that have never been logged and that display late successional/old-growth characteristics.

• Type 2 old-growth – stands that have been logged, but which retain significant late- successional/old-growth structure and functions.

1 This is an exact match for the FMP 2004 and 2014 definition of old growth forest.

Assessment pathway:

Step 1:

Interrogation of ecosystem databases and range mapping. Use when ecosystems/seral stages have been well described/mapped (FSC Australia, 2013).

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The FSC Australia’s Directory of Information Sources was consulted to identify relevant datasets and to prepare lists and maps of potential HCV accordingly.

The relevant datasets from this process have been interrogated, as well as additional datasets, as outlined in the Data audit and gap analysis report (FPC, 2013).

The process of assessing old-growth forest was initially undertaken in the 1990’s in the development of the Regional Forest Agreements. This process sought to map the areas of old growth forests in accordance with the definition as set out in the National Forest Policy Statement and the criteria developed by JANIS1. These criteria encompass both Type 1 and Type 2 old-growth in the karri forest.

The processes adopted are described in the following documents:

Environment Forest Taskforce, Environment Australia and Conservation and Land Management (1997). Comprehensive Regional Assessment of Old-Growth in Western Australia. Review of Data and methodology for Old-growth Mapping in the South West Forest region of Western Australia.

Bradshaw, F.J. (1998). Old Growth Mapping. A report prepared for the Western Australian Regional Forest Agreement.

These assessments against the criteria resulted in the mapping of old-growth stands to a nominal scale of two hectares, smaller patches/stands than any other State in Australia.

As a result of the intensity of the silvicultural practices (group selection system) applied, the assessment found that Type 2 old growth did not exist, except where there was disturbance associated with road construction. In all cases assessment of the harvested areas found that they were not negligibly disturbed with more than 40 per cent of the canopy being regrowth arising from the harvesting activity, and the size of the patches being less than two hectares.

Step 2:

Where there is no ecosystem mapping undertake ecosystem/seral stage mapping (FSC Australia, 2013).

This step is not applicable, as detailed mapping is available.

Step 3:

In addition to the stakeholder consultation undertaken with the release of the draft Plan and the associated Data audit and gap analysis report (FPC, 2013), significant stakeholder consultation has been undertaken in relation to the Western Australian Comprehensive Regional Assessment (Commonwealth of Australia, 1998) and the Regional Forest Agreement for the South-West Forest Region of Western Australia (Commonwealth of Australia, 1999), as well as that consultation related to both the FMP 2004 and the FMP 2014.

The areas defined as old-growth were open to stakeholder input which was subject to independent review. This review is reported in:

1 Joint ANZECC/MCFFA National Forest Policy Statement Implementation Sub-committee

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Mattiske Consulting Pty Ltd. (1998) Regional Forest Agreement in Western Australia. Review of Old growth Areas raised by Stakeholders.

As outlined under HCV 1, threatened wildlife listings are reviewed annually and changes can be recommended by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC). The public is invited to submit nominations to add taxa to, or delete taxa from, the current Declared Rare Flora and Specially Protected Fauna lists as described on the DPaW website.

Additionally, an old growth nomination process is available to the public through the Conservation Commission. More details on this process are available on their website. From 2014, this process will be managed by DPaW.

Outcome

This HCV was assessed to exist within the FMU due to the presence of 48,369 hectares of old growth forest and the presence of important genes for conservation, in particular one of only two known populations of the endangered Majestic Spider Orchid (Caladenia winfieldii).

Precautionary measures to ensure HCV3 is not threatened by management activities within the FMU

The FPC applies a comprehensive range of management strategies to preserve this HCV within the FMU including but not limited to:

• All old growth forests that have been previously identified have either been placed in formal or informal reserves as shown in Map 3. The boundaries of all mapped old growth are ground-truthed to ensure that the full extent of the old growth is captured. The mapped boundary and any identified extensions are then demarcated out of proposed harvest operations and excluded from all harvest related activities. (Responsibility: DPaW Forest Management Branch, Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

• All proposed harvest coupes containing mature karri forest are inspected for the presence of forest that may meet the definition of old growth. If as a consequence of this inspection it is deemed that forest meeting the definition of old growth may be present an intensive ground assessment survey is undertaken. If as a consequence of this assessment, forest meeting the definition of old growth is found to exist, the area is added to DPaWs corporate data layer and the area is demarcated out of the proposed harvest operation and excluded from all harvest related activities. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

• The Conservation Commission provides for a process where by any member of the public can identify and nominate an area of forest as potential old growth by completing an old growth forest nomination form and submitting it to the Conservation Commission.

• The Conservation Commission will then review the public nomination and determine whether any old growth exists (refer to the Conservation Commission’s Assessment criteria and process for the Conservation Commission review of old growth amendments). If old growth is determined to be present through this process it is managed as above.

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• These processes were developed following extensive public consultation (refer to the Conservation Commission’s Assessment criteria and process for the Conservation Commission review of old growth – Consultation Paper).

• A list of public nominations and assessments are provided on the Conservation Commission’s website. (Responsibility: Conservation Commission)

• An FDIS report is requested from DPaW during completion of the pre-operations checklist (DECSFM019 – Planning checklist for disturbance activities) when planning operations including road construction and maintenance and harvesting. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

• Prior to carrying out any activity likely to result in permanent disturbance (e.g. road construction and maintenance), a rare flora survey is to be carried out by a DPaW approved botanist. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

• Implementation of DPaW recommended management strategies for identified sensitive species. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

• Implementation of predator control pre and post harvesting. (Responsibility: DPaW SFM Co-ordinator in relevant region)

• Retention of habitat elements such as potential habitat trees, during harvesting operations (refer to Silvicultural Practice in the Karri Forest, DEC SFM Guideline 3, 2005). (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

• Use of fauna habitat zones (refer to Guidelines for the Selection of Fauna Habitat Zones, DEC SFM Guideline 6, 2010). (Responsibility: Forest Management Branch, DPaW)

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Map 3: Old growth forests and formal and informal reserves in the karri forest management unit (part 1)

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Map 3: Old growth forests and formal and informal reserves in the karri forest management unit (part 2)

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High Conservation Value 4

Forest areas that provide basic services of nature in critical situations (e.g. watershed protection, erosion control).

From the High Conservation Values (HCVs) evaluation framework (FSC Australia, 2013).

HCV 4 is focused on basic ecosystem services in critical situations. Substantial alteration of these forests is likely to result in an unacceptable impact on the delivery of ecosystem services. These services include: consolidation of highly erodible soils including on steep slopes, forests that protect against flooding or forests that provide barriers to fire.

Guidance on ‘critical situations’ An ecosystem service* is considered to be ‘critical’ where a disruption of that service is likely to cause, or poses a threat of, severe negative impacts on the welfare, health or survival of local communities, on the environment, on High Conservation Values, or on the functioning of significant infrastructure (roads, dams, buildings, etc.). The notion of criticality here refers to the importance and risk for natural resources and environmental and socio-economic values. (Source: FSC-STD-01-001 V5-0 D4-9 p115)

Guidance on ‘critical situation’ thresholds FSC Australia cannot provide clear thresholds on when an area provides critical protection. An operable question to help address this question may be, “What is the impact of removing the forest cover?”

Guidance on ‘critical situations’ – watershed protection: A forest that is part of a local drinking water catchment, irrigation supply system, or is a critical source for a remote location (i.e., water is pumped to a remote location) may be considered a ‘critical situation, particularly when people are dependent on the guarantee of water, where the regulation of water flow guarantees the existence of fishing grounds or agricultural land or protects downstream communities from flooding. Forests which provide critical protection of water supplies for rare, threatened, or endangered aquatic species and/or ecosystems are also ‘critical situations’.

Values:

• Forests which provide: • protection from flooding • protection from erosion, • barriers from destructive fire • clean water catchments

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Critical situations encompass: • Areas with highly erodible soil • Areas with steep slopes • Clean water and/or irrigation supply systems • Areas which protect against flooding • Vulnerable areas which support rare or endangered ecosystem functions.

Step 1:

The FSC Australia’s Directory of Information Sources was consulted to identify relevant datasets and to prepare lists and maps of potential HCV accordingly.

The relevant datasets from this process have been interrogated, as well as additional datasets, as outlined in the Data audit and gap analysis report (FPC, 2013).

Step 2:

The site specific and catchment level management hydrological modelling, monitoring and reporting was identified and referenced as per the Data audit and gap analysis report (FPC, 2013).

Step 3:

In addition to the stakeholder consultation undertaken with the release of the draft Plan and the associated Data audit and gap analysis report (FPC, 2013), stakeholders including the Department of Water and the DPaW have been consulted.

Outcome

This HCV is considered to be present within or adjacent to the FMU as the FMU contains a significant proportion of the Lefroy Brook Catchment Area which provides drinking water (via Big Brook Dam) to Pemberton, which has a population of approximately 1,000 people. Also contained within the top end of the Lefroy Brook Catchment are the Manjimup (Scabby Gully) and Phillips Creek Dam catchments, these dams are the main sources of drinking water for the town of Manjimup, which has a population of approximately 5,000 people. In addition to its importance in ensuring clean drinking water is available to local communities, two vulnerable aquatic species, Balstons Pygmy Perch and the Western Mud Minnow are known to occur within or adjacent to the FMU. It is therefore considered appropriate that the management which may affect water quality is relevant to their protection.

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The areas containing this HCV in the FMU are:

• Big Brook sub catchment – 8,998 hectares, of which the reservoir area is 24 hectares, and stream and river zones of 471.3 hectares.

• Manjimup catchment – total on State forest and Crown land – 771 hectares of which the reservoir area is 26 hectares, stream and river zones are 44.8 hectares.

• Lefroy Brook Weir – total on State forest and Crown land – 4,817 hectares, of which stream and river zones are 976 hectares.

• Other stream and river reserves are located on all watercourses and occupy 20,937.9 hectares within the FMU.

A significant proportion of the FMU also contains the Warren River Water Reserve. Under the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947 a ‘Licence to Clear’ is required to be obtained by FPC from the Department of Water to facilitate harvest and regeneration activity. Map 4 shows an overlay of the FMU with the Lefroy Brook, Warren River and Donnelly River Catchment areas. This water resource is not currently being used for public water supply.

Precautionary measures to ensure HCV4 is not threatened by management activities within the FMU

FPC applies a comprehensive range of management strategies to preserve this HCV within the FMU including but not limited to:

• All operations must comply with DPaWs Soil and Water Conservation Guideline (DEC SFM Guideline 5, 2009). (Responsibility: Manager South West Native Forests)

• Protection of water values through the implementation of informal reserves on all water courses which are demarcated and protected in accordance with DPaWs Guideline for the protection of the values of informal reserves and fauna habitat zones (DEC SFM Guideline 4, 2009) and Soil and Water Conservation Guideline (DPaW SFM Guideline 5, 2009). (Responsibility: Manager South West Native Forests)

• Risk assessments for soil damage and erosion as well as waterlogging and the contamination of water courses – Manual of Procedures for the Management of Soils Associated With Timber Harvesting in Native Forests (DEC SFM Manual 1, 2010). (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

• Landform maps prepared by DPaW for coupes nominated by FPC for moist soil access, limiting of moist soil operations – Manual of Procedures for the Management of Soils Associated With Timber Harvesting in Native Forests (DEC SFM Manual 1, 2010). (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

• Monitoring of all operations for soil damage and contamination of soil and water. Harvesting to cease if limits are exceeded or are likely to be exceeded – Manual of Procedures for the Management of Soils Associated With Timber Harvesting in Native Forests (DEC SFM Manual 1, 2010). (Responsibility: Manager South West Native Forests)

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• Rehabilitation of soil damage assessed as being excessive – Manual of Procedures for the Management of Soils Associated With Timber Harvesting in Native Forests (DEC SFM Manual 1, 2010). ). (Responsibility: Manager South West Native Forests)

• Clearfelling in karri forest is limited to a maximum coupe size of 40 hectares in mature and two-tiered forest and a maximum coupe size of 20 hectares in regrowth forest in line with the Ministerial Advisory Group on Karri and Tingle 1999 and contained in DPaWs Silvicultural Practice in the Karri Forest (DEC SFM Guideline 3, 2005). (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

• A licence to clear is obtained by FPC from the Department of Water to facilitate harvest and regeneration activities within the Warren River Water Reserve. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture)

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Map 4: Water catchments and public drinking water supply areas in the karri forest management unit (part 1)

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Map 4: Water catchments and public drinking water supply areas in the karri forest management unit (part 2)

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High Conservation Value 5

Forest areas fundamental to meeting basic needs of local communities (e.g. subsistence, health).

From the High Conservation Values (HCVs) evaluation framework (FSC Australia, 2013).

Definition of ‘basic human needs’: Local people use the area to obtain resources on which they are critically dependent. This may be the case if local people harvest food products from the forest, or collect building materials or medicinal plants. “Potential fundamental basic needs include, but are not limited to: unique sources of water for drinking and other daily uses; food, medicine, fuel, building and craft resources; the production of food crops and subsistence cash crops; protection of “agricultural” plots against adverse microclimate (e.g., wind) and traditional farming practices”.

Forest uses such as recreational hunting or commercial timber harvesting (i.e., that is not critical for local building materials) are not basic human needs.

Definition of ‘fundamental’: Loss of the resources from this area would have a significant impact in the supply of the resource and decrease local community well-being.

Affected vs. Interested parties: In the definition of basic needs, priority is given to potentially affected parties e.g. local community and neighbours. The FM operation shall implement a communications and stakeholder* participation plan regarding affected parties. There is also the need to set up a dispute resolution mechanism if conflicts or disputes are present.

Interested parties e.g. NGOs, government organisations shall be considered during the stakeholder consultation process in order to collect information about the values associated to the forest area. (Interested party: Any person or group concerned with or directly affected by a standard. ISEAL Code of Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards v 5.0)

However, if affected stakeholders agree that their basic needs are met but interested stakeholders do not, the matter is considered to be agreed for the purpose of meeting this HCV class.

Values:

• Unique/main sources of water for drinking and other daily uses.

• Unique/main sources of water for the irrigation of food crops.

• Food, medicines or fuel etc. for local consumption.

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Step 1:

The FSC Australia Directory of Information Sources was consulted to identify relevant datasets and to prepare lists and maps of potential HCV accordingly.

The relevant datasets from this process have been interrogated, as well as additional datasets, as outlined in the Data audit and gap analysis report (FPC, 2013).

Step 2:

Stakeholder consultation was undertaken by releasing the draft Plan and the associated Data audit and gap analysis report (FPC, 2013) to all relevant stakeholders, including those who utilise the forest resource.

Outcome

This HCV is assessed as not being present within the FMU because it is not considered that “local people use the area to obtain resources on which they are critically dependent”. The FMU is used by the local community as a source of firewood, however this is not a source of fuel on which the local community is critically dependent as there are other sources of wood available and many other sources of energy available for heating, cooking etc. DPaW does make available areas where the public can collect firewood within the FMU, subject to strict conditions to ensure that HCVs are not threatened. The FMU is indirectly a source of water for the towns of Manjimup and Pemberton but this aspect is well covered under HCV 4 above.

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High Conservation Value 6

Forest areas critical to local communities’ traditional cultural identity (areas of cultural, ecological, economic or religious significance identified in cooperation with such local communities).

From the High Conservation Values (HCVs) evaluation framework (FSC Australia, 2013).

Definition of ‘cultural significance’: The HCV Framework has adopted the ICOMOS Burra Charter definition of Cultural Significance which is recognised at all levels of government and in legislation in Australia:

“Cultural significance means aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or spiritual value for past, present or future generations. Cultural significance is embodied in the place itself, its fabric, setting, use, associations, meanings, records, related places and related objects. Places may have a range of values for different individuals or groups.”

The Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter of Places of Cultural Significance 1999.

Definition of ‘cultural identity’: Certain communities are so closely bound to some areas that it is highly likely that these are critical to their traditional cultural identity and heritage. Cultural identity is dynamic and is not just tied to traditions that occurred hundreds or thousands of years ago. In some cases, as in Australia where Indigenous people were dispossessed from their lands by colonisation, knowledge about traditional places may have been lost for several generations, but has been revived in a way that suits the modern context. Significant places may not just relate to ‘traditional’ identity, but to how people see themselves today, which is a combination of traditions and intercultural history (for settler societies) and modernity.

Notes: While the focus on ‘traditional cultural identity’ highlights the importance of traditional owners and areas critical to their cultural identity, HCV6 also recognises places critical to non-Indigenous culture and heritage.

Examples: Areas may include religious/sacred sites, burial grounds or sites at which regular traditional ceremonies take place. They may also include outstanding natural landscapes that have evolved as a result of social, economic, administrative, and/or religious imperative (i.e., fossils, artefacts, areas representing a traditional way of life). “They may also include areas that by virtue of their natural properties possess significant religious, artistic, aesthetic or cultural association (such as traditional hunting/gathering) that have been used/recognised over the years.

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Values:

• Aesthetic values

• Historic values

• Scientific values

• Social (including economic) values

• Spiritual values

Step 1:

The FSC Australia’s Directory of Information Sources was consulted to identify relevant datasets and to prepare lists and maps of potential HCV accordingly. Historical and Aboriginal inventories at the national, state and local levels were consulted. This includes historical accounts and local knowledge.

The relevant datasets from this process have been interrogated, as well as additional datasets, as outlined in the Data audit and gap analysis report (FPC, 2013).

Step 2:

Step 3:

A field survey and expert report will be required if there is not substantial acceptance of the results obtained through steps 1 and 2.

Results

1) Indigenous heritage

Aboriginal people are known to have lived in the South West of Western Australia for over 40,000 years although they tended to avoid the karri forest due to the dense nature of the understorey which made both hunting and travel difficult, instead preferring the more open coastal country to the south and west and the more open jarrah forests to the north and east. This is evidenced by the very small number of registered aboriginal sites in the general vicinity of the FMU, just eight out of a total of about 27,000 throughout the State. These eight sites are listed in Table 5 and shown in Map 5.

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Table 5: List of Aboriginal and other heritage sites in the FMU and surrounding environment

Site Site name Site type Access Easting Northing Registered sites within FMU 5781 Dingup Man-Made Structure Open 426639 6209647 17123 Muirs Highway Site 5 Artefacts / Scatter Open 424255 6208811 Northcliffe Silcrete Quarry, Artefacts / 17296 Open 408019 6170097 Quarry Scatter Dombakup 17297 Artefacts / Scatter Open 407173 6169346 Archaeological Sites 20434 Blackwood River Mythological Open 396326 6237557 Registered sites outside FMU (within 1 km) 4563 Manjimup Burials Skeletal material/Burial Open 427499 6208091 Other heritage places within FMU Manjimup Ceremonial 4569 Ceremonial, Historical Open 424141 6199957 Grounds (Mica Hill) 4570 Lefroy Fish Traps Fish Trap Open 412654 6183729 4936 Old Mill 1 Artefacts / Scatter Open 413639 6199647 5723 Lefroy Brook Man-Made Structure Open 410639 6191647 5774 Pemberton Artefacts / Scatter Open 406639 6172647 5782 Muirillup Rock Man-Made Structure Open 430639 6165647 Muirs Highway 17127 Mythological Open 432919 6209527 Ethnographic Site 3 Donnelly River & 17979 Mythological Open 399096 6208662 Associated Wetlands 20213 Phillips Creek Mythological Open 415081 6208215 21907 Tone River Open 470840 6210861 Yeriminup / Frankland 21909 Hunting And Camping Open 488425 6197907 Areas Boya Bulla Lizard 22645 Man-Made Structure Open 442000 6159000 Trap 29672 Deep River Mythological Open 461883 6166315 Other Heritage Places outside FMU (within 1 km) 4519 Pemberton Burial Skeletal material/Burial Open 410189 6187497 5772 Manjimup. Artefacts / Scatter Open 423939 6205411 5779 Manjimup Artefacts / Scatter Open 422639 6210647 Muirs Highway 17126 Mythological Open 454003 6212124 Ethnographic Site 2

Of the sites listed in Table 5, eighteen sites are known to occur within the FMU with the remaining falling just outside the FMU’s boundary. The presence of these registered sites within the FMU boundary means that this HCV is assessed to exist in the FMU.

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Table 5 and Map 5 include those aboriginal heritage sites that have been made available to the public. It is also acknowledged that there are likely to be other unregistered sites within the FMU and processes are in place to identify and protect these (as detailed on the following page). In some instances these sites are not made available to the public to protect their integrity.

2) Other Australian cultural heritage

There are significant non-indigenous heritage sites within the FMU and these alone are sufficient for this HCV to be assessed as existing within the FMU. Some examples of non-indigenous culture within or adjacent to the FMU include old school sites, ‘significant trees’, old tramways and trestle bridges and sleeper cutter camps.

At the commencement of each harvest year non-Aboriginal cultural heritage sites are identified using the following resources: • The Heritage Council of Western Australia has information on the location of protected buildings, structures and sites. • The Local Government Historical Municipal Inventory provides a range of sites from structures to heritage trees. • DPaW harvest coupe base maps. • DPaW corporate data: Maps, Data Druid, and Recreation and Tourism Information Service (RATIS). • DPaW significant tree register. Liason with the DPaW district staff will occur to ensure the DPaW’s checklist relating to identifying and protecting non-Aboriginal heritage sites is followed. FPC staff will ensure cultural sites are entered into the DPaWs RATIS system if they have not already been entered.

Precautionary measures to ensure HCV6 is not threatened by management activities within the FMU

FPC applies a comprehensive range of management strategies to preserve this HCV within the FMU including but not limited to: • Searches of relevant databases, such as the DIA’s Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System, to determine the location of registered indigenous sites. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture) • Maintaining consultation and liaison with traditional spokespersons/custodians including field visits and formal liaison with the South West Land and Sea Council (SWLAC) to help with the identification of any possible unregistered sites. (Responsibility: Manager South West Native forests) • Staff are provided with training to assist them in identifying possible indigenous heritage sites. • FPC and DPaW staff undertaking other management activities report the presence of structures (railway formations, early settlements etc.) that may not have been previously recorded. (Responsibility: Operations Officers)

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• Searches of databases such as the Heritage Council of Western Australia’s State Heritage Register and the Local Government Historical Municipal Inventory available on the relevant Shire’s website, DPaW’s Recreation and Tourism Information System (RATIS) and significant tree register to identify non-indigenous sensitive sites. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture) • Location of known sites incorporated into DPaWs GIS system. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture) • Undertaking archaeological surveys where deemed necessary. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture) • Use of buffer/exclusion zones to protect identified values. (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture) • Modification of management activities to protect identified values. (Responsibility: Manager South West Native Forests) • FPC’s Guidelines for identifying, conserving, and protecting native title rights and sensitive heritage sites Guidelines for identifying and protecting sensitive heritage sites (FPC, 2013). (Responsibility: Manager Planning and NF Silviculture, Operations Officers)

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Map 5: Aboriginal and other heritage sites in the karri forest management unit (part 1)

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Map 5: Aboriginal and other heritage sites in the karri forest management unit (part 2)

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References

Allen, D., Macalady, A.K., Chenchouni, H., Bachelet, D., Nate McDowell, B.D., Vennetier, M., Kitzberger, T., Rigling, A., Breshears, D.D., Hogg, E.H., Gonzalez, P., Fensham, R., Zhangm, Z., Castro, J., Demidova, N., Lim, J.H., Allard, G., Running, S.W., Semerci, A., and Cobb, N. (2010). A global overview of drought and heat-induced tree mortality reveals emerging climate change risks for forests. Forest Ecology and Management 259 (4), pp 660- 684.

Bradshaw, F.J. (1998). Old Growth Mapping. A report prepared for the Western Australian Regional Forest Agreement.

Commonwealth of Australia (2010), Australia's Strategy for the National Reserve System 2009–2030, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. Canberra, Australia.

Commonwealth of Australia (1998). Comprehensive Regional Assessment. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Canberra, Australia.

Commonwealth of Australia (1995). National Forest Policy Statement. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Canberra, Australia.

Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Western Australia (1999). Regional Forest Agreement for the South-West Forest Region of Western Australia. Commonwealth and Western Australian Regional Forest Agreement Steering Committee. Canberra, Australia.

Conservation Commission of Western Australia (2002). Draft Forest Management Plan 2004-2013. Perth, Western Australia.

Conservation Commission of Western Australia (2003). Analysis of Public Submissions on the Draft Forest Management Plan. Perth, Western Australia.

Conservation Commission of Western Australia (2004). Forest Management Plan 2004- 2013. Perth, Western Australia.

Conservation Commission of Western Australia (2012). Draft Forest Management Plan 2014-2023. Perth, Western Australia.

Conservation Commission of Western Australia (2013a). Analysis of Public Submissions on the Draft Forest Management Plan 2014-2023. Perth, Western Australia.

Conservation Commission of Western Australia (2013b). Proposed Forest Management Plan 2014-2023. Perth, Western Australia.

Christensen, P.E.S., Liddelow, G., and Hearn, R. (2001). Fauna Assessment in Timber Harvesting Coupes in Western Australia. Unpublished report. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.

Department of Environment and Conservation (1990), Karri Regeneration Surveys. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Australia.

Department of Environment and Conservation (1992), Karri Thinning Guideline. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Australia.

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Department of Environment and Conservation (1997), Establishment Guidelines for Karri Forest Regeneration Following Harvesting. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Australia.

Department of Environment and Conservation (2003). Phytopthora cinnamomi and diseases caused by it. Volume 1 – Management Guidelines. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Australia.

Department of Environment and Conservation (2005), Silvicultural Practice in the Karri Forest, Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Australia.

Department of Environment and Conservation (2008), Guidelines for the Management and Rehabilitation of basic raw material Pits. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Australia.

Department of Environment and Conservation (2009a). Soil and Water Conservation Guideline. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Australia.

Department of Environment and Conservation (2009b). Manual for the Management of Surface Water. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Australia.

Department of Environment and Conservation (2009c). Guidelines for Protection of the Values of Informal Reserves and Fauna Habitat Zones. Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Australia.

Department of Environment and Conservation (2010a). Manual of Procedures for the Management of Soils Associated with Timber Harvesting in Native Forests. SFM Manual No. 1. Department of Environment and Conservation, Western Australia.

Department of Environment and Conservation (2010b), Guidelines for the Selection of Fauna Habitat Zones, Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth, Australia.

Ferguson, I.F., Adams, M., Bradshaw, J., Davey, S., McCormack, R., and Young, J. (2003). Calculating sustained yield for the Forest Management Plan (2004-2013). Report to the Conservation Commission of WA by the Independent Panel. Conservation Commission of Western Australia, Perth.

Ferguson, I.F., Dell, B. and Vanclay, J. (2013) Calculating the sustained yield for the south- west native forests of Western Australia. Report for the Conservation Commission and the Department of Environment and Conservation of WA by the Independent Expert Panel. Conservation Commission of Western Australia, Perth.

Forest Products Commission (2013), Data audit and gap analysis report. Forest Products Commission. Perth, Australia.

(FSC Australia) Forest Stewardship Council (2013), High Conservation Values (HCVs) evaluation framework, FSC, Melbourne, Australia.

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Hearn, R., Williams, K., and Comer, S. (2002). A Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia’s 53 Biogeographical Subregions in 2002 – Warren. Department of Conservation and Land Management, Western Australia.

Lindenmayer, D.B,, Franklin, J.F., and Fischer, J. (2006). General management principles and a checklist of strategies to guide forest biodiversity conservation. Biological Conservation, 131, pp 433-455.

Mattiske Consulting Pty Ltd. (1998) Regional Forest Agreement in Western Australia. Review of Old growth Areas raised by Stakeholders. Western Australia.

Slatyer, C., Rosauer, D., and Lemcker, F. (2007). An Assessment of Endemism and Species Richness in the Australian Anura. Journal of Biogeography, 34, pp 583-596.

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Appendix 1 – Table of acronyms

BAM Act 2007 Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007

BRM Basic raw materials

CALM Act 1984 Conservation and Land Management Act 1984

CAR reserve system Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative reserve system

DEC Department of Environment and Conservation (now split into the Department of Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Environmental Regulation)

DPaW Department of Parks and Wildlife (formerly known as the Department of Environment and Conservation)

EMS Environment Management System

EPA Environmental Protection Authority

EPBC Act 1999 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

ESFM Ecologically sustainable forest management

FDIS Fauna Distribution Information System

FHZs Fauna habitat zones

FMP Forest Management Plan guides the forest management practices and sets out the broad strategies, performance indicators and measurable outcomes for forest management of Western Australia state forests over a ten-year period.

FMU Forest management unit

FPC Forest Products Commission

FSC Forest Stewardship Councils

GMOs Genetically modified organisms

HA Hectares of land.

HCVs High conservation values

IBRA Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia

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LMU Land management unit

NGOs Non-government organisations

NTA 1993 Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth)

RATIS Recreation and Tourism Information System

RFA Regional Forest Agreement

TSSC Threatened Species Scientific Committee

WA Western Australia

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