As the forestry industry in Tasmania recovers the Forest Practices Authority is well placed to respond to increased activity, according to its 2015-16 report. Source: Timberbiz
The Forest Practices Authority (FPA), an independent statutory body that administers the Tasmanian forest practices system on both public and private land, has emerged from a few years of reduced income and staff reductions in a strong financial position.
The latest report covers the governance period of a substantially new Board led by Chair, John Ramsay.
Angus MacNeil performed admirably as Acting Chief Forest Practices Officer (CFPO) for three-quarters of the year until the appointment of Peter Volker to the CFPO position in April 2016.
Staff have transitioned into new roles and responsibilities with little disruption to operations.
The report presents a number of interesting statistics about forest practices in Tasmania and it reinforces the strength of the forest practices system and the high level of compliance and continual improvement which is an objective of the system.
Highlights for 2015-16 are:
- Forestry activities for 2015–16 as reported through the forest practices system remained at a low level compared to historical activity in Tasmania.
- Specialists from the Forest Practices Authority (FPA) provided advice on natural and cultural values in response to 305 notifications (347 were lodged last year) lodged by Forest Practices Officers (FPOs). The FPA’s specialists collaborated with other experts from government agencies and universities to develop advice, and carry out research and monitoring and other activities.
- Forest Practices Officers certified 475 forest practices plans (FPPs) (591 plans last year), totalling 27,376 hectares (31,682 hectares last year) on public and private land. Of these FPPs, 83 were for native forest and 290 were for plantation operations.
FPPs were certified for the following:
- 53 hectares of new plantations on previously cleared land. This year 40 hectares of new plantations were established on cleared native forest sites (76 hectares last year)
- the conversion of 3354 hectares (2677 hectares last year) of plantations to non-forest use, primarily agriculture
- the conversion of 524 hectares (2160 hectares last year) of native forest to other uses, resulting in a decrease of 0.02% in the area of Tasmania’s native forest during 2015–16.
- The cumulative decrease in the area of Tasmania’s native forest between 1996 and 2016 is 157 171 hectares or 4.9% of the estimated 1996 native forest estate.
- The net effect of FPPs for clearing and new plantings of forest in Tasmania in 2015–16 was an overall decrease in the total area of forest by 3869 hectares during the year (last year there was a decrease of 4535 hectares).
- The annual assessment conducted by the FPA found that the implementation and effectiveness of FPPs across all land tenures were generally above the nominated standards for the majority of factors being assessed.
- Six (three last year) prescribed fines totalling $13,000 ($3500 last year) were imposed for offences under the Forest Practices Act 1985.
- There were no new prosecutions (none last year) under the Forest Practices Act 1985.
- The FPA raised $756 000 from transactions ($644,000 last year) which met its statutory requirement for self-funding.
