Guy Barnett
The Forest Practices Authority (FPA)has officially released its updated forest practices code and a training guide for forestry contractors. The FPA-hosted launch event was attended by Resources Minister Guy Barnett, who described wood like the “ultimate renewable” resource championed by the government. Source: Timberbiz
Revisions to the Forest Practices Code has occurred three times since 1987 – in 1993, 2000 and again this year.
FPA chief forest practices officer Peter Volker said the revisions were proof of the authority’s commitment to improvement and was updated to reflect changes in technology and legislation.
One of the significant revisions in this iteration of the code was the inclusion of digital sensor and tracking technology used by contractors to map locations and track distance.
Mr Volker said the code also included changes to make it easier for farmers to harvest from areas they used for re-vegetation.
He said the code “reduced the regulatory burden” from farmers, to help them with their re-vegetation plans and future harvesting.
Mr Volker said the code was created with contractors and industry professionals in mind and included graphics and illustrative pictures to ensure the code was easy to digest.
FPA chairman John Ramsay said the authority had consulted widely on the changes to the code.
“Tasmania has the most comprehensive forestry regulation system in Australia as it’s the only one which applies to all tenures,” Mr Ramsay said.
The new code is the result of public consultation, which opened in 2019 and received 170 submissions and comments. The updated code will come into effect on January 1, 2021.
Mr Barnett said there was no stronger supporter of Tasmania’s forestry industry than the Tasmanian Liberal Government.
“We are continuing to back this important sector that supports thousands of jobs across the State, many in our regional areas.”
Mr Barnett said the new Forest Practices Code and contractor training courses would ensure contractors had the tools and knowledge they needed do their jobs effectively, while continuing to follow environmental care procedures.
The Tasmanian Forest Practices Code is the key planning tool for managing forest practices in Tasmania, providing a set of guidelines and standards to ensure that forest practices are conducted in a manner that protects natural and cultural values over the long term.
The Code was the first in Australia and is central to the forest practices system. It is the only forest code in Australia and one of a very few world-wide to apply equally to public and private land.
The code is legally enforceable under the Forest Practices Act 1985 and is applied in accordance with a guiding policy that explains the contribution to be made by the code towards sustainable forest management in Tasmania.
“Our forestry industry is world-class and sustainable, and the new Forest Practices Code and contractor training courses will ensure it continues to protect important natural and cultural values while producing high-quality Tasmanian timber products,” Mr Barnett said.
“The Government has been working hard to rebuild the forestry industry since the disastrous Labor Green days that saw two out of every three jobs lost, and this is another positive step forward that confirms our forests are sustainably managed with some of the most stringent environmental protections in the world.”
The new code can be found here: https://www.fpa.tas.gov.au/
