Management Guidelines for Private Native Forests by Peter Clinnick , Bob McCormack and Mike Connell October 2008 RIRDC Publication No 08/160 RIRDC Project No CSF-59A © 2008 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 1 74151 748 6 ISSN 1440-6845 Management Guidelines for Private Native Forest Publication No. 08/160 Project No. CSF-59A The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances. While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication. The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors.. The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication. This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4165. Researcher Contact Details Peter Clinnick and Bob McCormack Mike Connell c/- Phillip Polglase Eumoyni options Pty Ltd CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products 297 Butmaroo Road PO Box E4008 Butmaroo Via BUNGENDORE, NSW Kingston, ACT 2621 2604 Phone: 02 6238 0671 Ph: 02 6281 8214 Email: [email protected] Fax: 02 6281 8312 Email: [email protected] In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6271 4100 Fax: 02 6271 4199 Email: [email protected]. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Electronically published by RIRDC in October 2008 ii Foreword In many countries, small-scale forestry operations provide a major component of the industrial wood- supply. Native forests in Australia can provide both wood and non-wood values. These assets can benefit individuals (owners), as well as local, regional and State economics and assist with national conservation targets. Much of the private native forest resource might be suited to timber production forestry for a range of products and quantities. Sustainable timber production, according to the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management is both possible and desired. The opportunity to manage private native forest for biodiversity conservation or specific biodiversity outcomes is central to the recovery of degraded forest landscapes and the preservation of remnant vegetation particularly on private property. In particular small scale forestry operations with specific management purposes can be integrated into the farm or property activities, providing either economic, social or environmental outcomes – or some components of all. This publication considers the planning, implementation and marketing decisions – recommended and required – to sustainably manage private native forests either at property level or as part of the regional network of timber production and conservation. Specific case studies for (a) foothill mixed species forests of the south east of Victoria and New South Wales, and (b) for dry eucalypt forest of South East Queensland are presented as examples of more intensively managed forests and the biological, economic and legislative factors which affect their successful and sustainable utilization for wood products. While most of the information in this document is relevant to many areas of both private and public native forest nationally it is stressed that management of particular landscapes, forest types, species and products throughout Australia differ significantly and planning and management should give due regard to the relevant legislation, Codes of Practice, and local biophysical factors. The report aims to provide small-scale farm forestry enterprises with the general principles and decision strategies to successfully investigate options, source relevant resource information data and assist in planning, implementing and marketing their private resource. Giving guidance when to involve extension officers and or local government agencies. The management guidelines provide step by step assistance for inexperienced forest managers in evaluating and achieving timber production and conservation objectives. This project was funded from a co-operation of CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products (CFFP) and the Forest Technology Program (ftp). The revenue was matched by funds provided by the Australian Government through the RIRDC / Land & Water Australia / FWPRDC, together with the Murray Darling Basin Commission, as part of the Joint Venture Agroforestry Program. This report is an addition to RIRDC’s diverse range of over 1800 research publications. It forms part of our Agroforestry and Farm Forestry R&D program, which aims to integrate sustainable and productive agroforestry within Australian farming systems. The JVAP, under this program, is managed by RIRDC. Most of our publications are available for viewing, downloading or purchasing online through our website: • downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/fullreports/index.html • purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Peter O’Brien Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation iii Acknowledgments Following the departure from CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products of the main authors – Peter Clinnick & Bob McCormack – Mike Connell (Ex-CFFP) of Eumoyni Options Pty Ltd was requested by RIRDC to review and revise this document. In doing so considerable explanatory material has been added, and as such the review comments and information provided by Ken Matthews (Private Forestry Southern Queensland) is gratefully acknowledged and he is credited with substantial contribution especially in the revision of the Chapters on Inventory, and Marketing. Detailed case study information which provides working examples of private native forest management in Spotted Gum / Ironbark forests of SE Queensland was drawn from draft reports of Sean Ryan (Private Native Forests, MVSCFFA) and David Taylor (Native Forest Research, QFRI) and their input is especially appreciated. Detailed case study information from Silvertop Ash forests of SE NSW and Victoria was provided by both published and unpublished data from work carried out collaboratively (with SFNSW and DSE Victoria) by a number of authors while they were in the employ of CFFP. Special appreciation is offered to the following people who contributed to the contents and provided support and advice during the production of the Guidelines: • Bill Kerruish (Forest Technology Program) • Curly Humphrey (Forest Technology Program) • Frank Hirst ( Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment) • Gordon Banks (Cooloola Forest Growers Co-operative) • Peter Leppert (CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products). Acknowledgement is also made to the following individuals and organizations for their co-operation and support in providing background information and comment on early drafts: • David Carr (Greening Australia) • Dean Payne (Forests NSW) • Graeme Hughes (Cooloola Forest Growers Co-operative, QLD) • Ken Matthews (Private Forestry Southern Queensland) • Murray Goodman - sadly missed (Mobile Sawmillers Association, Qld) • Peter Taylor (Private Forests Tasmania) • Rob Dyason (Farm Forester) • Rob Towler (Department of Land and Water Conservation, NSW • Ross Henderson (Farmwood, Tasmania). Special mention must also be made of the efforts made by CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products library staff: • Ailsa George • Erica Leslie. iv Contents i Foreword iii Acknowledgments iv Contents v Executive summary vii Chapter 1. Introduction 1 The need for a management guide for private native forests ................................................. 1 Background to native forests in Australia.............................................................................. 3 Sustainable forest management.............................................................................................. 6 Chapter 2. Property management planning 8 Principles of property management planning......................................................................... 8 Planning and management cycle for private native forests.................................................. 10 Developing the forest management plan.............................................................................. 12 Chapter 3. Silviculture to improve forest condition and value 22 What is silviculture?............................................................................................................. 22 Silviculture to improve condition, growth and value..........................................................