VicForests is seeking feedback on the proposed changes to its Timber Release Plan. The TRP change proposes an additional 59 new coupes in the Benalla-Mansfield, North-East and Tambo Forest Management Areas. Source: Timberbiz
VicForests CEO Monique Dawson says that as part of this change process, coupes are proposed to be added to the TRP to ensure VicForests has flexibility to meet its contractual commitments to customers, contractors, and licensees.
The format of the TRP will also be changed to align with the information requirements in Section 38 of the SFTA. These proposed coupes are all in fire impacted areas and have been prioritised as they contain areas of fire killed Ash forest.
Any harvesting of these areas would be done in compliance with the fire salvage harvesting requirements contained within the Management Standards and Procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s State forests (2014) as well as VicForests’ own adaptive management procedures.
Ms Dawson says that in doing so, VicForests’ adaptive management approach to harvesting provides for the protection of habitat and forest regeneration.
VicForests is conducting its public consultation process from 26 June to 10 July 2020 to ensure suitable input and comment from affected and interested parties, including the community, regarding the proposed TRP change.
Ms Dawson says that in accordance with the timelines of the TRP process, VicForests wants to request any coupe-specific comments by 10 July 2020 but would welcome ongoing engagement on broader coupe issues throughout the year.
A schedule of the proposed TRP change, including an interactive map, and a sample of the TRP format change, is available at https://www.vicforests.com.au/static/uploads/files/vicforests-proposed-changes-to-trp-2020-wfbotfpgxzod.pdf
The file to the maps, which can be downloaded, is available at http://vicforeststrp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/PublicInformation/index.html?appid=f444e264e84842fba4aeaefaef06e6d6
The maps show detailed information on the coupes in the TRP including their location, forest type and planned area.
Submissions can be sent up to 5pm Friday 10 July 2020 to [email protected]
