Karri forest HCV assessment June 2018 /fpcwa www.fpc.wa.gov.au Copyright © 2018, Forest Products Commission. All rights reserved. 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: Copyright Officer Forest Products Commission Locked Bag 888 PERTH BUSINESS CENTRE WA 6849 AUSTRALIA Telephone: +61 8 9363 4600 Internet: www.fpc.wa.gov.au Email: [email protected] Recommended reference: Forest Products Commission 2018, ‘Karri forest HCV assessment’, Perth, Australia. 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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] Karri forest HCV assessment Page 1 of 58 Version control: V02/June 2018 Authority: Director Forest Operations Responsible Officer: Senior Coordinator Forest Management Systems Security classification: Public Uncontrolled when printed Contents Executive summary 3 Background 5 High Conservation Value 1 – Species diversity 8 High Conservation Value 2 – Landscape-level ecosystems and mosaics 22 High Conservation Value 3 – Ecosystems and habitats 27 High Conservation Value 4 – Critical ecosystem services 36 High Conservation Value 5 – Community needs 42 High Conservation Value 6 – Cultural values 44 References 53 Appendix 1 – Shortened forms 56 Karri forest HCV assessment Page 2 of 58 Version control: V02/June 2018 Authority: Director Forest Operations Responsible Officer: Senior Coordinator Forest Management Systems Security classification: Public Uncontrolled when printed Executive summary This Forest Products Commission (FPC) document provides an assessment of High Conservation Values (HCVs) in the karri Forest Management Unit (FMU) using the guidance of FSC Australia’s HCVs evaluation framework (FSC Australia, 2013). The karri FMU is the area of pure and mixed karri forest blocks available for harvest by the FPC. This HCV assessment and the associated management activities implemented, aim to demonstrate that HCVs are not threatened within the karri FMU. HCV 1: Species diversity HCV 1 values are present in the karri FMU. The karri FMU is part of a global biodiversity hotspot, as declared by Conservation International and contains a number of threatened flora and fauna. Management activities to identify and protect these values include targeted flora and fauna surveys, the use of the Fauna Distribution Information System (FDIS) and predator control. Silvicultural regimes are implemented to ensure habitat and structural diversity is maintained. Priority ecological communities are excluded from harvesting. HCV 2: Landscape-level ecosystems and mosaics All of the karri FMU is considered to comprise HCV 2 because the karri FMU is located within a larger contiguous area of jarrah and karri forest much of which is in formal reserves and is of regional significance at the landscape level. HCV 2 in the karri FMU is protected through a number of means including through the allocation of informal reserve systems. The FPC also ensures harvesting is within sustainable levels, limits the size of harvest areas and protects soil and water values. HCV 3: Ecosystems and habitats The karri FMU contains ecosystems that are rare. HCV 3 values present within the karri FMU includes old-growth forest (both Type 1 and Type 2 old-growth), and genetically distinct populations that are important for conservation. All Type 1 old-growth forest that has been identified has been placed in the reserve system. Type 2 old-growth forest that has been identified has been placed in temporary protection areas. All proposed harvest coupes containing mature karri forest require pre-harvest inspection to identify the presence of Type 1 and Type 2 old-growth forest. Fauna and flora surveys are carried out prior to harvest. HCV 4: Critical ecosystem services HCV 4 values have been identified in the karri FMU. The karri FMU provides basic ecosystem services for critical situations, such as clean water, irrigation supply systems and support for threatened and priority aquatic species. The karri FMU includes a significant proportion of the Lefroy Brook Catchment Area, which provides drinking water to regional areas. In order to conserve HCV 4, measures include risk assessments to monitor soil damage and contamination of water courses, and protection of water values through implementation of informal reserves around all watercourses. HCV 5: Community needs HCV 5 is not considered present in the Karri FMU, as local communities are not critically dependant on the resources in the karri FMU to meet their basic needs. However, the karri FMU is a source of water for some regional areas, but this is covered in HCV 4 section. The Parks and Wildlife Service within the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Karri forest HCV assessment Page 3 of 58 Version control: V02/June 2018 Authority: Director Forest Operations Responsible Officer: Senior Coordinator Forest Management Systems Security classification: Public Uncontrolled when printed Attractions designates areas where the public can collect firewood within the karri FMU. This is undertaken under strict conditions to protect HCVs. HCV 6: Cultural values Noongar and non-Aboriginal cultural heritage values are present within the karri FMU. In particular, Noongar peoples have a connection to the land and waters of the South West of Western Australia. Prior to disturbance activities, all Noongar and non-Aboriginal registered sites are checked through relevant databases. The FPC ensures compliance with relevant legislation and consults with a range of stakeholders including representatives for country to ensure protection of HCV 6 values. Other HCV 6 values present in the karri FMU include scientific, aesthetic and social values. These are also identified and protected through the pre-harvest planning process. Karri forest HCV assessment Page 4 of 58 Version control: V02/June 2018 Authority: Director Forest Operations Responsible Officer: Senior Coordinator Forest Management Systems Security classification: Public Uncontrolled when printed Background This karri forest HCV assessment (HCV assessment) should also be read in conjunction with the FPC’s Karri Forest Management Plan (KFMP) (FPC, 2018). The KFMP provides an overview of management of the karri FMU as required under the Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 (FMP 2014) (Conservation Commission, 2013) and also incorporates requirements of forest certification. This HCV assessment has been produced in conjunction with the KFMP to meet the requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council’s® (FSC®) Controlled Wood Standard (FSC-STD-30-010; FSC-C120630) and the associated FSC Australia’s High Conservation Values (HCVs) evaluation framework (FSC Australia, 2013). The area evaluated for this HCV assessment is as per the scope of the KFMP, which is restricted to pure and mixed karri forest blocks available for timber harvesting by the FPC. This area is known as the karri FMU. HCV is not typically a term historically used in the management of native forests in Western Australia. However, the principles associated with the identification and protection of HCVs closely align with existing policies and practices. This HCV assessment seeks to demonstrate how the FPC ensures that the HCVs that have been identified are not threatened by any management activities. The assessment of HCVs was undertaken using the guidance of FSC Australia’s HCVs evaluation framework (FSC Australia, 2013). The definitions and values listed for each of the potential HCVs include all those described in FSC Australia’s HCVs evaluation framework. However, the FPC recognises that over time the values could change or expand, as identified by stakeholders and experts. For example, although not explicitly mentioned as a value in FSC Australia’s HCVs evaluation framework, biodiversity hotspots are covered in HCV 1, 2 and 3 sections. FSC Australia’s Directory of Information Sources, which supports FSC Australia’s framework, was initially used to help ensure identification of potential HCVs in the karri FMU. This was consulted, along with additional sources (i.e. Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 (FMP 2014)), to provide an initial dataset providing an overview of all the potential HCVs within the karri FMU. The resultant Data audit and gap analysis (FPC, 2013) listed the HCVs and all of the sources consulted to identify these. This was made available to stakeholders in 2013, and in addition FPC’s assessment of HCV’s has been updated at least annually to incorporate stakeholder feedback and new information such as updates to listings of threatened species. The FPC’s comprehensive assessment of primary data sources was a first important step in ensuring that potential HCVs have been identified within the karri FMU. In addition, this HCV assessment describes how each step of the FSC Australia’s HCVs evaluation framework has been followed. It is important to note that HCV identification