VICTORIA, 1971 FORESTS COMMISSION VICTORIA-AUSTRALIA FIFTY SECOND ANNUAL REPORT FINANCIAL YEAR 1970-71 PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT PURSUANT TO ACT No. 6254, SECTION 35 . .Approximate Cosl of llrport.-Preparation, not given. Printing (250 copies), $1,725.00. No. 14-9238/71.-Price 80 cents FORESTS COMMISSION, VICTORIA TREASURY GARDENS, MELBOURNE, 3002 ANNUAL REPORT 1970-71 In compliance with the provisions of section 35 of the Forests Act 1958 (No. 6254) the Forests Commission has the honour to present to Parliament the following report of its activities and financial statements for the financial year 1970-71. F. R. MOULDS, Chainnan. C. W. ELSEY, Commissioner. A. J. THREADER, Commissioner. F. H. TREYV AUD, Secretary. CONTENTS PAGE 6 FEATURES. 8 fvlANAGEMENT- Forest Area, Surveys, fvlapping, Assessment, Recreation, fvlanagement Plans, Plantation Extension Planning, Forest Land Use Planning, Public Relations. 12 0PERATIONS- Silviculture of Native Forests, Seed Collection, Softwood Plantations, Hardwood Plantations, Total Plantings, Extension Services, Utilization, Grazing, Forest Engineering, Transport, Buildings, Reclamation and Conservation Works, Forest Prisons, Legal, Search and Rescue Operations. 24 ECONOMICS AND fvlARKETING- Features, The Timber Industry, Sawlog Production, Veneer Timber, Pulpwood, Other Forest Products, Industrial Undertakings, Other Activities. 28 PROTBCTION- Fire, Radio Communications, Biological, Fire Research. 32 EDUCATION AND RESEARCH- Education-School of Forestry, University of fvlelbourne, Overseas and Other Studies ; Research-Silviculture, Hydrology, Pathology, Entomology, Biological Survey, The Sirex Wood Wasp; Publications. 38 CONFERENCES. 39 ADMINISTRATJON- Personnel-Staff, Industrial, Number of Employees, Worker's Compensation, Staff Training ; fvlethods ; Stores ; Finance. APPENDICES- 43 I. Statement of Output of Produce. 44 II. Causes of Fires. 44 III. Summary of Fires and Areas Burned. 45 IV. Type of Area Burned in State Forests and National Parks. 45 V. Classification of Fire Acreages in State Forests and National Parks. 45 VI. fvlonthly Outbreaks of Fire. 46 VII. Protection Works-Summary. 4 7 VII I. Contracts. Financial Statements- 48 IX. Works and Services Expenditure. 49 x. Statement of Revenue and Appropriated Expenditure. 49 XL Forestry Fund. 50 XII. Statement of Forestry Fund Expenditure. 50 XIII. Sundry Debtors. 51 XIV. Forests Stores Suspense Account and Forests Plant and fvlachinery Fund. 52 XV. Proposed Disbursements and Estimated Receipts, I971-72. FEATURES Area of reserved forest 5,656,629 acres Output of logs from State forest (including veneer logs)- Hardwood 425, 127,000 super. feet (approx.) Hoppus log volume Softwood 53,796,000 super. feet (approx.) Hoppus log volume Total 478,923,000 super. feet (approx.) Hoppus log volume Revenue- Royalties received from sale of forest produce $5,390,954 Total amount paid to Consolidated Revenue $6,454,313 Expenditure authorized by­ Forests Act 1958, No. 6254- Section 30-Forestry Fund $2,777,767 Section 32-Plant and Machinery Fund $81,489 Appropriation Acts $4,320,443 State Forests Loan Application Acts $3,515,996 6 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FORESTS COMMISSION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH JUNE, 1971 Forests and the Quality of the Environment The extent to which forests, as one of the community's most valuable Forests and the resources, can contribute towards improving the quality of the Quality of the environment, is becoming ever more widely recognised. While obvious Environment values such as the provision of raw material for industry can be measured in terms of economics, the indirect values of soil conservation, aesthetics, protection of water catchments, provision of habitat for native fauna and ideal conditions for public recreation and relief from modern-day tensions are becoming more and more appreciated. Forests have an age-old appeal for man and today he is turning to them in ever-increasing numbers in his search for leisure enjoyment. Management, protection and utilisation of the State forests so as to preserve and develop all of these values is multiple purpose management, the Commission's general policy for the State's forest resources. Anticipating a rapid increase in the public demand for the use of forests for recreational purposes, the Commission has established a Recreational Forestry Branch, and a new research programme for the identification of visitor use, desires and needs in the most popular multiple use forest areas. It is essential for planning and development to have realistic estimates of the extent and nature of future usage of Victorian forests. Experience of the United States Forest Service indicates that increase in visitor use could be of the order of twenty times within the next 20 vears. This increased demand will come from a population which is becoming increasingly urbanised and which travels by car, using the forest for a brief time on each visit. In addition to recognising such ever-increasing use of State forests, the Commission has made provision for special features in some parts of reserved forest to be preserved for all time by setting them aside as alpine reserves, forest parks, scenic reserves and reserves for a number of other special purposes. There are now 91 of these areas totalling some 64,000 acres, within which particular attention is given to specialised management to meet community needs, and in many cases with the assistance of highly qualified committees of management and advisory committees. The Timber Industry The total output of sawlogs from State forests of 478,923,000 super The Timber Industry feet HLV was the highest ever recorded. Although the production of hardwood logs at 425,127,000 super feet HLV was some 35 million super fef?t lower than in the previous peak year of 1956-57, the yield of plantation grown softwood logs has trebled since that date and at 53,796,090 super feet HLV now accounts for more than 11 % of total productic~n, and wi11 continue to increase as the accelerated planting programme which commenced in 1962 and was extended by the Commonwealth/States Softwood Agreement of 1966 begins to make its contribution. Forestry Finance The Commission again expresses concern at continuing increases in the Forestry Finance costs of supervision and protection of the State's forest assets due to factors beyond its control, principally increases in wages. This had reduced the number of trained and experienced forestry workers and restricted recruitment of young, active men able to give the maximum contribution should a major fire emergency occur in the summer months. The Commission has been obliged again this year, because of the inadequate funds provided through vote, to supplement general expense items to the extent of $202,493 from the Forestry Fund. This source of finance was originally intended by Parliament for the maintenance and development of the forests. 7 Management Forest Area Management The area of reserved forest as at 30th June, 1971, was 5,656,629 acres, Forest Area which is a net decrease of 42 acres in the year. Changes in reserved forest were:- Acres Excisions under Forests Act 1958, Section 42, sub-section ( 8) 320 Additions under Forests Act 1958, Section 42, sub-section ( 8) 278 In addition, 3,167 acres of alienated land were purchased for extension to softwood plantations and for miscellaneous forest purposes. Additional land in the Dandenong Ranges was purchased comprising 12 individual lots for addition to the fire protection belt, and 3 acres for other purposes. A compensating addition of 14,600 acres of reserved forest is still to be effected in accordance with the National Parks (Amendment) Act 1969. Surveys Surveys Cadastral surveys were conducted in nine forest districts to demareate new reserved forest boundaries resulting from land dealings involving exchange, purchase and dedication as well as alignment of forest access roads. At the Mt. Buller Alpine Village horizontal and vertical control surveys were provided to facilitate developments in that area. Topographic control surveys were undertaken to facilitate the mapping required for extensions of softwood plantations. Forest Mapping Forest Mapping New maps were prepared for softwood plantations in the Daylesford, Macedon, Myrtleford and Bright forest districts, and work continued on maps of plantations in Beechworth, Mansfield and Yarram forest districts. All existing plantations maps were revised with new infor­ mation on planted areas, species and dates of planting obtained by aerial photography and field survey. Aerial photographs taken with 70 mm and 35 mm cameras have proved efficient and economical for this purpose when small areas were to be mapped. Revisions of six topographical map sheets were made to include the latest information, and three new colour maps were prepared and are available for sale to the public. Aerial photographs in colour were obtained for mapping forest infor­ mation in detail in selected locations in Eastern Otways, Neerim, Tallangatta and Bruthen forest districts. Forest Assessment Forest Assessment The major projects undertaken were surveys of the timber resources of coniferous plantations and mixed species forests, and studies of log quality from mountain ash forests. The growing stock of coniferous plantations at Bright and Myrtleford was assessed by intensive sampling methods. The results of these assessments are being incorporated into a computer system for predicting growth rates and future growing stock. Growth measurements were taken in both