Contents Fishing for a jewel beetle - fpa.tas.gov.au · June 2010 Forest Practices News vol 10 no...

Forest Practices News - June 2010 Vol 10 no 2 ISSN 1441–1288

Tasmania’s independent forest regulator administering the Forest Practices Act • Advising • Researching • Monitoring • Enforcing

Banner photograph: Anne Chuter, Ecologist with the FPA, finds a ptunarra brown butterfly on a coupe sur vey in the Central Highlands. Management prescriptions for the conser vation of this threatened species will be incorporated into the Forest Practices Plan.

Contents

All photographs by the Forest Practices Authority, unless otherwise stated.

The winds of change in forest policy 3

Photo competition 4

Visit by foresters from Laos 5

Editors’ corner 5

Training in cultural heritage awareness 6

Training on Astacopsis gouldi 7

Another very familiar animal inhabits tree hollows 8

FPO Training Course cancelled for 2010 8

Birmingham wether bell weathers the weather 9

FPA Earth Science Training Courses 2010 9

Monitoring and assessment protocols released 10

Update on FPA-funded research projects 12

New research from the CRC for Forestry 14

Research on headwater streams 15

Tasmanian skink in ecotoxicology study 16

Updates from the CFPO 17

Landscape reflections 18

Bities in the bush: exotic Hymenoptera 20

Southern connections 22

A recent fly-fishing excursion to Great Lake resulted in only a small brace of fish but a significant entomological find for an FPO and an aspiring FPO. An early February boat fishing-trip to Great Lake by workmates John Tabor and Daniel Bowden, two forest planners from Forestry Tasmania's Mersey District, resulted in the surprise discovery of a Miena jewel beetle Castiarina insculpta. Listed as extinct in the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995, the find was significant as it is the fourth specimen ever found. The previous most recently collected specimen was in 2004.

Fishing for a jewel beetle

John Tabor, Senior Forest Officer, Forestry Tasmania (left)

Daniel Bowden, Forest Officer, Forestry Tasmania (right)

The fishing had been pretty slow for the day with quite a number of trout sighted high in the waves but they were wary and a long distance from the boat, making presenting a dry fly to the fish quite a difficult task. The fish that were seen were seeking terrestrial insects like gum beetles that had haplessly been blown onto the water. The day was perfect for terrestrial insect activity being cloudless, with a light, warm northerly wind blowing down the lake. Although the day’s fishing resulted in the capture of a fish each for both John and Daniel, they both ended the day a bit disappointed.

The Miena jewel beetle found by an FPO and an aspiring FPO in unlikely circumstances and identified by them thanks to training delivered by the Forest Practices Authority (photograph by Chris Spencer & Karen Richards).

c-grove

Typewritten Text

Trim 2010/127055

2 Forest Practices News vol 10 no 2 June 2010

The current crisis for the forest industry in Tasmania requires both short-term and long-term solutions. The forest workers who have been badly affected by the downturn need urgent assistance. Our forests need a longer-term plan.

Forest policy is never static. It changes in response to changes in economic, social and environmental values. The policies and practices of the past were conceived in good faith to serve the public interest at the time. However, knowledge and attitudes move on and the paradigms of the past are not necessarily those that will continue to serve the public interest into the future.

The winds of change in forest policy – the opportunities for the future

Graham Wilkinson, Chief Forest Practices Officer, Forest Practices Authority

In 1996, Tasmania set out to redefine its forest policy framework through the RFA. The RFA process was systematic, comprehensive, transparent and highly participatory. It delivered outcomes that were broadly supported at the time. It provided for regular reviews and continuing improvement but, in hindsight, it ultimately failed to recognise and adequately respond to the rate and extent of change in community attitudes. The ‘Community Forest Agreement’ of 2005 failed to win broad support because, ironically, the process failed to adequately engage the community or key stakeholders.

The forest policy debate in Tasmania over the last 20 years has too often been polarised by political and media commentators into one of ‘forests or jobs’. That is, forests are either ‘protected’ in reserves or else ‘destroyed’ by logging on the sacrificial altar of jobs and economic prosperity. Political solutions have generally tried to deliver the increasingly undeliverable objective of more reserves without any loss of wood production or jobs. This has resulted in an intensification of wood production within the remaining native forests and plantations, which has severely challenged the capacity of forest managers

This feeling didn’t improve when, on their arrival back at the Brandum Bay boat ramp, they saw another two anglers arrive with a dozen fish.

Daniel dropped John off at his Deloraine residence and whilst retrieving gear from the boat Daniel noticed the metallic green underbelly of a shiny beetle on the boat’s carpeted floor. Turning the dead beetle over and showing the beetle to John they were both instantly drawn to the characteristic yellow blotches of the beetle’s wing coverings (elytra). Having both attended the FPA's threatened fauna courses, Daniel most recently in his FPO training, they both

Fishing for a jewel beetle

recognised the beetle as a jewel beetle. They were unsure whether it was actually the Miena jewel beetle, and so decided to check the DPIPWE threatened species web site. Here they found information and pictures of the beetle and from the given description, pictures and dimensions it appeared their specimen was the Miena jewel beetle. However, John and Daniel weren't going to make any claims of their find without further expert advice.

Photos were taken of the beetle and emailed to Technical Officer Chris Spencer of the FPA and he confirmed that they had indeed found a Miena jewel beetle.

The photos clearly depicted the key characteristics of this species: a short, sharp spine at the end of the elytra and distinctive grooves and yellow blotches along the wing case. The beetle has been donated to the Tasmanian Forest Insect Collection held at Forestry Tasmania's head office.

Daniel is still amazed by their find. ‘If we had not attended the FPA's threatened fauna course, it is unlikely that either of us would have been able to recognise the beetle as potentially being the Miena jewel beetle. The only other specimen that we had heard of was found on the back of a ute-load of firewood in 2004. It is then ironic that we found one on the floor of my boat. Where our specimen actually came from we can only guess. Maybe it flew in whilst we were tying down the boat on the trailer or it bounced off the windscreen and into the boat on the trip home. That is something we will never know. Many more of the beetles would probably be found if the public were made more aware of such a distinct species of insect.’

Author’s contact:

[email protected]

From left: Castiarina leai; C. insculpta (Miena jewel beetle); and C. australasiae. Note the distinctive pronounced spurs on the end of the wing covers (elytra) on the Miena jewel beetle (photograph by Chris Spencer & Karen Richards).

3June 2010 Forest Practices News vol 10 no 2

Native forests can be sustainably managed to provide a range of environmental, economic and social services, including nature conservation, wood production, watershed protection and grazing. Effective policy and management practices are necessary to maintain both reserved and non-reserved forests in good ecological condition.

to adequately manage other values such as biodiversity and water, thus fuelling genuine concerns about the overall sustainability of forest practices. In addition, whilst the area of forest in reserves has increased (by 49% since 1996) this has been accompanied by a significant reduction in the total area of native forest (of almost 5%), primarily through conversion to more intensively managed plantations.

The current forest policy debate is unfortunately distorted by misinformation and entrenched myths, including-

1. The myth that logging destroys forests. The reality is that most of our forests are ecologically tuned to respond to natural disturbance regimes such as wildfire. Logging is different, but at the right scale and intensity it can closely emulate natural ecological processes.

2. The myth that forests can simply be ‘reserved’ and maintained in good ecological condition without undue cost on the public or private owner. The reality is that most forests, especially those accessible to people, need some form of active management to maintain infrastructure and assets and to control pests, weeds, wildfire and illegal activities.

3. The myth that all conservation values can be adequately captured in reserves and that forests outside reserves can be used for resource extraction or other economic activities without undue constraint. The reality is that Tasmania’s forest estate is fragmented within a mosaic of land uses. Species, especially those that require large ranges for foraging and breeding, do not respect tenure boundaries. All forests, woodlands and scattered trees in paddocks contain potentially significant habitat for threatened and other species. These areas do not necessarily need to be ‘reserved’ but they need to have practical measures applied in order to conserve important habitat attributes such as trees with hollows.

After years of trench warfare on forest policy in Tasmania we now find ourselves with an unprecedented policy crisis. It’s not the fault of the international markets, the Australian dollar, corporate greed or green

activists. It’s our collective fault to respond more proactively to the signals for change. Practices such as large-scale clearfelling of native forests, poisoning wildlife and releasing large quantities of smoke into populated areas were accepted by the community in the past. They are no longer accepted. The public good will not be served by another trade-off that simply sees further forests being placed in reserves and a continuation or intensification of current wood-production practices in remaining forests. Nor will the public good be served by a decision to end sustainable resource use from native forests simply because it’s all too socially and politically difficult. The public good is best served by a comprehensive analysis of the options for a sustainable future for our forests and forest industries. This will take time. It will require meaningful

The winds of change in forest policy – the opportunities for the future (continued)

engagement with all stakeholders, including land managers scientists, practitioners and regulators, and a willingness by the parties to set aside the paradigms of the past. The first critical task should be to develop an agreed definition of ‘sustainable forest management’. The second task should be to agree on the specific objectives and outcomes for the environmental, economic and social services that we wish the forest estate to provide into the future.

Without such objectives and measurable outcomes there can be no way of ever answering the most important question of all: ‘Are Tasmania’s forests being managed on a sustainable basis?’

Author’s contact:

[email protected]


You never stop learning! Tim Leaman and Dydee Mann from the FPA searching for the a rare herb Stellaria multiflora in a coupe adjacent to Den Hill Forest Reserve, Bothwell, in April this year. In this case the rare plant was found outside the coupe and it was concluded that harvest posed no threat to the species. Thanks to Planning FPO Jason Bolch for sending in this photograph.

The first ever Forest Practices News forest practices photo competition has been extended once more, and will definitely close on 16 August. Hopefully some of you will have more time over the winter to send us in a few photos. The winners will be announced in the September issue.

Who can enter?

Anyone can enter. To eliminate any personal bias, the judges will not know who took the photos that they are considering. This means that even FPA staff can enter!

What kinds of photos can I enter?

You can enter as many photos as you like in any or all of the following categories:

• Working in the forest

• Natural values – flora

• Natural values – fauna

• Natural values – rocks and water

• Cultural values

• Forested landscapes

• Quirky

What format should the photos be in?

The photos must be in electronic format. Please ensure that the images are of high enough resolution to print well – if in doubt, please email [email protected].

How do I enter my photos?

Please download the electronic form on the news section of the FPA website’s home page, fill it in and email it to [email protected], attaching the electronic image(s). Please make sure that the file name matches the name you have entered on the form. Entries must be received by close of business on Monday 16 August

2010. If you do not have internet access, please call Chris Grove on 6216 4455.

What are the conditions of entering the competition?

Entry is free, but the FPA may use your photo in future publications. If this occurs, you will be acknowledged as the image’s author.

What are the prizes?

There will be one winner in each category, and one overall winner. The winning photos will be published in a colour supplement of the April issue of Forest Practices News.

Who will judge the competition?

The competition will be judged by a three-member panel including the Chair of the board, an FPA staff member and an external judge.

Forest Practices News photo competition Free entry!

Extended

to August

2010!


Editors’ corner

It’s great to see a few contributions from Forest Practices Officers in this issue – thanks for sending them in and keep them coming!

Forest Practices News aims to publish material that you, the reader, find relevant, useful and inspiring. The forest practices system is based on adaptive management and we are always keen to document these adaptations. If you are working on developing a new approach that you would like to share, please get in touch and we will work with you on writing an article.

We are also keen to publish case studies of challenging coupes which show the forest practices system in action. Or you may have another great idea to include in the next issue. So, please get in touch!

If you would like to send in a contribution to Forest Practices News, please contact the editors. Include illustrations and a photo of yourself with your contributions. Contributions can be supplied either as hard copy or electronically. If forwarding material electronically, please ensure that

figures/pictures are sent as separate files and not embedded in Word documents. Our address is: [email protected]

Chris Grove and Peter McIntosh Forest Practices News Editors

Deadline for contributions to next Forest Practices News:

Monday 16 August 2010

The Tasmanian forest practices system continues to attract strong international interest. In April, the FPA hosted three foresters from Lao PDR, including the Director General of the Department of Forestry Inspection, Mr Phoumy Phoumanivong. The foresters were interested in seeing how the Tasmanian system is implemented in the field, with a focus on monitoring and assessment. The visit provided an opportunity to meet with FPA staff, Forest Practices Officers and industry with the goal of strengthening the implementation of codes of practice in Laos.

The foresters heard presentations on the forest practices system and the nature of the industry and also made several field visits to a number of Forestry Tasmania sites in the Huon and Derwent districts to see a range of silvicultural systems. They were particularly impressed with the level of training and skills demonstrated by both the forest contractors and Forest Practices Officers and greatly appreciated the time given by contractors and foresters alike. Local sawmills and a wildlife park were also visited. Interestingly the Laos foresters are involved in combating illegal trade in

wildlife, an issue that foresters in Tasmania fortunately don’t have to confront.

The Laos foresters considered their visit to be very beneficial, providing them with information which could assist in further improving the monitoring and assessment of forest standards in their country. The FPA

Visit by foresters from Lao PDR

Mick Schofield, Compliance Manager, Forest Practices Authority

wishes to thank those involved in making the trip a success, particularly Forestry Tasmania, Forest and Forest Industry Council and staff of the Torrenius and Kelly sawmills.

Author

[email protected]

Left to right: Rodney Bye, Jonathon Rudd, Bert Butler, Phoumy Phoumanivong, Peter Huett, Glenys Bye, Scott Marriott, Thongphanh Ratanalangsy and Khamma Xaisombat at a selective harvesting operation in FT coupe WW023a.


The front page article of the previous issue of Forest Practices News (vol 10 no 1 pp. 1–3) documented the discovery of the remarkable McKenzie coal mine in Forestry Tasmania’s Huon District. The finding of the McKenzie coal mine site prompted Huon District staff to review the processes used to respond to sightings of potential heritage items in the bush.

During preparation of the Forest Practices Plan covering the area which included the McKenzie coal mine, areas of thick understorey and cutting-grass proved impossible to check, despite several valiant attempts by staff. As roading, harvesting and then reforestation progressed and the ground became more and more visible, items started ‘turning up’. Some were significant – a bogey and several mine shafts – but others were less obvious. Bits of steel, odd bricks, and mounds emerged as their cutting-grass shroud was removed.

Recognising that these individual items indicated the presence of a broader cultural heritage site took time and it took longer than it should have to notify the FPA cultural heritage specialist. Consequently the district identified cultural heritage awareness as an issue and proposed a training session as a response.

The McKenzie coal mine case is an example of the forest practices system in action; an issue is identified and staff members are trained in how to avoid the issue occurring again, resulting in immediate and positive outcomes. This case also highlights how the forest practices system emphasises planning, training, education and continual improvement.

The session was held at the Geeveston Bowls Club on 22 April and was attended by 51 district staff, ranging from forest workers to managers. After a welcome and introduction from District Manager Mike Farrow, Denise Gaughwin, the FPA’s Manager of the Heritage and Landscape Program, gave an overview of the Huon’s history and examples of sites that exist through our forests. FPO Terry Ware

presented an assortment of items he has found and described how they told a story about their locations’ past, and fellow FPO Amy Robertson outlined what information the users of an FPP would need in a well-prepared FPP.

The message was that everyone has a role to play in looking out for cultural heritage, and that our key response should first be ‘report, report and report’ – to communicate what we find so that we can get specialist advice and work out what to do with it. The old adage that one person’s

junk is another’s treasure is very relevant here.

The session finished with a wonderful morning tea provided by the ladies’ bowls committee… Energised by the food and informed by the training, one staff member was quick off the mark and went bush that afternoon only to find a new hauler site – so something worked!

Author’s contact:

[email protected]

Training in cultural heritage awarenessForestry Tasmania – Huon District

Amy Robertson, Strategic Projects Officer, Forestry Tasmania – Huon District

The hauler site in Franklin block found by Harvey Watson, of Forestry Tasmania’s Huon District, the same day that he attended the training in cultural heritage awareness.


In early March 2010 the FPA biodiversity program, with the help of specialists Dr Peter Davies and Laurie Cook (Freshwater Systems), descended upon Scottsdale and the forests of north-eastern Tasmania to hold the much-anticipated second juvenile Astacopsis gouldi (giant freshwater crayfish) training day. The aim was to introduce Forest Practices Officers and forest planners to the potential habitat map planning tool, and followed a course run in the north-west last year (Forest Practices News 2009 vol 9 no 3).

The map of potential habitat was developed in 2007 by Freshwater Systems, in collaboration with the FPA and Forestry Tasmania, from the results of a research project. It illustrates potential ‘habitat suitability’ for juvenile A. gouldi across the natural range of this species. The map uses stream and landscape variables to identify potential habitat and to categorise streams into potential high-, moderate- or low-suitability habitat. The map and additional site specific information are used to guide management decisions, including protection and restoration of high-suitability habitat.

The training day was specifically aimed at introducing FPOs and planners to the map and its application in the management of headwater (class 4) streams. In the morning session, held in the Scottsdale Ecocentre,

Introducing foresters in north-eastern Tasmania to the map of potential habitat for Astacopsis gouldi

Anne Chuter, Ecologist, Forest Practices Authority (left)Karen Richards, Ecologist, Forest Practices Authority (right)

two talks reviewed the background to the development of the potential habitat map and detailed how it should be used to guide class 4 stream management in forests. Following some excellent scones and jam, the group headed out into the forest near McKenzie Rivulet to look at the tool’s practical application.

The afternoon produced some pleasant weather for assessing a range of class 4 streams. The field training involved assessing a high,- moderate- and low-suitability habitat stream to familiarise the participants with the characteristics required for juvenile A. gouldi. Habitat factors – including substrate type, stream-flow permanence and the volume of logs and boulders in streams – were discussed to ensure that everyone was clear about what high-quality habitat is and what management is needed to maintain it.

The field session was peppered with live specimens of pre-prepared A. gouldi as well as chance encounters with A. franklinii (a close relative of A. gouldi) and Engaeus leptorhynchus (a species of burrowing

crayfish). The live displays were thanks to the expertise of Laurie Cook and Chris Spencer.

By the end of the day everyone had an understanding of the habitat requirements for juvenile A. gouldi in class 4 streams, and the management required to maintain habitat quality.

The FPA biodiversity program has prepared a draft technical note on assessing juvenile A. gouldi habitat in class 4 streams. The technical note provides a background to the potential habitat map and direction on how it should be used in conjunction with field assessments to develop appropriate management in forestry situations. Experience of its application in the field, and subsequent discussions, have been useful in guiding further development of the document. Thanks to all who contributed comments.

Authors’ contacts;

[email protected]

[email protected]

A lucky find: Laurie Cook (Freshwater Systems) with Astacopsis franklini, fortuitously uncovered in a high suitability class 4 stream.

Peter Davies (Freshwater Systems) takes centre stage to describe the characteristics of a high suitability class 4 stream for juvenile giant freshwater crayfish.


Inspired by the recent booklet Tree hollows in Tasmania: a guide* by the FPA and the CRC for Forestry, I decided to add a hopefully humorous approach (although my writing skills may not be up to it!) by including humans into the list of animals that both create and use tree hollows. This note is intended to be the first of a series on people and trees.

I was recently sent a post card by a member of the Forest History Society entitled Big Tree Camp, Victoria, Austr.

Handwriting on the obverse side indicates that it was sent to Master R.B Pherson , C/o Mr Nichols at Clyde Bank via Sale by ROSE from Melbourne in August 1907. One wonders what Master Pherson made of the written message which seems obsessed with health: Dave’s Gannan [Grand Nan] has died, Rose has to have her tonsils out but Willie and Mrs Grimes are ‘all right’ but most importantly ‘The creeper is pulled down in our place’.

The choice of the card is interesting and suggests that our Master Pherson has a job

Another very familiar animal inhabits tree hollows

Denise Gaughwin, Manager, Heritage and Landscape, Forest Practices Authority

working in the bush. I wonder what the card says to Forest Practices Officers.

This is how I read it: our sleeping moustachioed occupant appears to be a timber worker, as illustrated by the prominent position of the axe (at this point we have to remember that this is a posed shot and a photographer is behind the lens). He appears to work for himself, perhaps a contractor, for why wouldn’t he have a decent hut? He lives in his hollow tree with his skin blanket and sleeping mat as his swag. His only other possessions are his hat and, of course, his billy. And, although these are not illustrated, he must have had some traps or a gun to have caught his dinner. We know that he resides in an area that does not have dingoes or foxes for it is unlikely that a seasoned bush worker like our man would have left his rabbits in such an accessible position while he naps in his little cave in the tree. Or maybe the card is incorrectly titled and the tree was actually in Tasmania or the photograph is much posed. And yes – it is a big hollow in a big tree.

* The booklet Tree hollows in Tasmania: a guide was featured in the previous issue of Forest Practices News (vol 10 no 1).

Author’s contact:

[email protected]

FPO Training Course cancelled for 2010

The FPO Training Course will not be run this year due to the low number of nominations for the course. The FPA has made the decision in consultation with industry stakeholders. Hopefully the business environment will allow the course to be run next year.

2010 Course nominees will be advised in due course of their automatic acceptance onto the 2011 FPO Training Course.

Information regarding FPO Training Course module prerequisite skills and knowledge are available on the FPA website under publications/FPO Training Resources/FPA Training Resource Manual.

If anyone has any queries regarding the FPO Training Course including prerequisite skills and knowledge required by nominees to be accepted onto future courses, they are

welcome to contact me, as the FPO Course Coordinator.

Author Contact:

[email protected]


In a coupe survey in dry eucalypt forest on Tim Payne’s property near Orford, FPA Soil and Water scientist Peter McIntosh recently came across an unusual find – a cowbell with its leather strap and ‘donger’. The cowbell, 9 cm wide at its widest point, was lying on the ground with the donger and the leather strap a few centimetres away, apparently exactly where it fell. The bell itself is made of an alloy which has not rusted. The donger has partly rusted, and the leather strap was brittle but in good condition. The top of the bell is stamped with the words J. BARWELL 1 Tn BIRMINGM.

An internet search showed that the firm of J Barwell produced bells (including church bells and handbells) in Birmingham from 1870 to 1920. Mr Payne said the bell was actually carried by a bell-wether (a castrated ram used to lead a mob of sheep) that he bought with the property when it changed ownership in 1969, so it may have been lying on the ground for about 40 years.

Birmingham wether bell weathers the weather

Peter McIntosh, Senior Scientist, Earth Sciences program, Forest Practices Authority (left)Rob Smith, Private Forests Advisor, Private Forests Tasmania (right)

Tim Payne, Landowner, Boot Bay, Ringrove

Generally the correct policy to follow when items of archaeological or historical interest are found in the bush is to leave them in place but in this case, because of the risk of the bell being lost or damaged, the location of the find was recorded and the bell returned to its owner.

Author:[email protected]

The Earth Sciences section of the Forest Practices Authority plans to run four one-day non-residential courses in July and August this year. These courses are designed to train newly appointed foresters in the practical application of soil and water and geomorphological knowledge to coupe management and also to serve as refresher courses for those who wish to be brought up to date with recent developments.

Courses will be held in the north and south of the state and will be entirely field-based. Attending these courses will satisfy the Soil & Water and Geoscience prerequisites for a place on the FPO course, which is likely to be held in 2011. Field notes will be provided.

The cost of attending one course will be $150 plus GST. Please reply to Peter

McIntosh ([email protected]) by 30 June to reserve a place on a course and indicate your preferred billing address and order number, if relevant. Invoices will be sent out before the course and prepayment will be required.

The number attending on any one day will be limited to 15. Extra courses may be run if there is demand.

(Please note that these field-based courses are independent from the FPO refresher courses planned by the FPA for later in the year.)

Soil & Water refresher course:

Characteristics of soils ranging from low to high erodibility; identification of major soil types; where and how these soils form in the landscape; management implications;

stream erosion and applying the Class 4 stream guidelines.

Geomorphology refresher course:

Types of sinkholes and sinkhole management; identifying glacial erratics and landslide features (Mole Creek/Cethana venue only); fluvial and terrace landforms; cave management.

27 July 2010: Soil and Water Refresher Course, Bridport/Scottsdale

10 August 2010: Geomorphology Refresher Course, Mole Creek/Cethana

18 August 2010: Geomorphology Refresher Course, Lune River

26 August 2010: Soil and Water Refresher Course, Buckland/Wielangta

FPA Earth Science Training Courses 2010


The Board of the Forest Practices Authority has endorsed the monitoring and assessment protocols used in the FPA Compliance Program to plan and carry out the annual Forest Practices Plan assessment.

As FPOs will be aware, the annual assessment of FPPs is an important function of the FPA as it is the basis of the independent report on the standards achieved in planning and implementing FPPs.

By developing and endorsing the protocols, the board is aiming to inform the Compliance Program assessors, FPOs, industry and the public about how the assessment program is planned and implemented.

The ‘Monitoring and Assessment Protocols’ are available on the FPA website www.fpa.tas.gov.au/Monitoring . Appendix 3 is of particular interest as it outlines the ‘Assessment Guidelines’ used by individual

Monitoring and assessment protocols released

Mick Schofield, Compliance Manager, Forest Practices Authority

assessors to rate responses to each question. Having these documented should ensure a fair and consistent approach in each assessment.

The list of questions used as a basis for assessments is in Appendix 4 – ‘Assessment Performance Rating (Worksheet)’. As part of the assessment program, the standards for responses to each question are rated from one to four, with four being the highest standard. This worksheet, in addition to being the basis for rating responses, would be a suitable document for FPOs when completing Certificate of Compliance reports and could be used as a yes/no checklist.

The 2009–10 assessment program is almost complete: most FPP assessments for Forestry Tasmania and forest companies have been completed but work is continuing on some private independent coupes. Overall, a high performance has been

achieved. The FPA will hold debrief sessions in the coming months, once individual district and company results have been finalised. This year, the FPA will also provide two presentations for consulting FPOs. The presentations will be held in Hobart and Launceston and the dates for these will be advised.

The full results of the assessment program are published in the annual forest practices compliance and assessment report and a summary of the results is published in the FPA’s annual report. These reports are available on the FPA’s web site under the publications tab.

The following photographs from the 2009–10 assessment showcase a few examples where high standards have been achieved.

[email protected]

Good road drainage and minimal clearing width through a wildlife habitat strip, achieved by skilful directional felling in tall wet eucalypt forest on a steep slope. Forestry Tasmania Huon District coupe off Boney Road, FPP TJW0135 (photograph by Tony O’Malley).


Predominantly native vegetation in buffers left on class 4 streamside reserve, in a Great Southern Plantations’ coupe on Bridport Road, FPP SAC0023 (photograph by David Tucker).

Successful native forest reforestation by Timberlands within a previously cleared class 2 stream in a pine coupe at Coxs Road, Towerhill, FPP CPR0086.

Monitoring and assessment protocols released (continued)

While leafing through our etymological dictionary, which explains the origins of English words, Simon and I came across these two words which have apt but unexpected origins. Ironically, ‘forest’ did not originally mean anything to do with trees whereas ‘code’ originates from tree trunk.

Forest does not originate from treesThe word ‘forest’ has an unexpected origin. Forest is thought to come from the Mediaeval Latin expression forestem silvam, meaning the outside woods. In Mediaeval England, Kings enclosed areas for hunting which included a mixture of open space and woodland. Trees outside the walls of these parks were regarded as wild woods and were called forestem silvam. Over the years, the phrase has been shortened to the first word, which ironically is the word referring to the outside and not the word referring to the trees (silvam). Forestem originates from Latin foris for outside (literally out of doors). Many foresters choose their profession because they like being outside, so the original meaning of forest must ring true to some of you.

Cracking the meaning of codeDid you know that there is a connection between the meaning of ‘code’ and trees? The meaning of ‘code’ as a system of laws dates from around 1300 in England – it was mentioned in Mannyng’s Handlynne Synne in 1303. The word ‘code’ came from Old French code, which was borrowed from Latin codex. Codex was derived from caudex, Latin for tree trunk, because in early Roman times a block of wood was split into flat tablets for writing – including writing laws. It’s quite appropriate then that our Forest Practices Code is derived from the word for tree trunk.

From the Chambers Dictionary of Etymology, 1988, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd.

Authors’ contact:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Word origins


The FPA’s Senior Research Biologist Sarah Munks has been busy co-supervising FPA-supported research projects. Sarah provides an update on the latest fauna research carried out by CRC for Forestry students and announces some new funding for treefern research.

FPA offers students biodiversity projects with funding!The last issue of Forest Practices News (December 2009 vol 10 no 1) filled us in on the progress of the FPA’s treefern survival project, examining the survival of Dicksonia antarctica following logging operations. The project is now in the final stages of data collection and analysis.

Update on FPA-funded research projects

Sarah Munks, Senior Zoologist, Forest Practices AuthorityNina Roberts, Tree Fern Officer, Forest Practices Authority

Although this part of the project is concluding, there are many questions remaining – and so lots of opportunities for great student projects! The FPA has compiled a list of several treefern-related student research topics suitable for honours through to PhD-level projects and is currently seeking interest from students and potential supervisors. These include topics relating to both flora and fauna. Students undertaking such projects would be eligible for FPA student research grants ($1000 each) to assist with their work, as well as possible in-kind support from the FPA. Anyone interested in finding out more about these projects should contact Nina Roberts at FPA ([email protected]).

The light at the end of the tunnelOne FPA-supported PhD student has recently submitted her thesis and another thesis is nearing completion The FPA’s Karen Richards has submitted her PhD thesis on the systematics and habitat preferences of a number of species of Beddomeia – small freshwater snails of the family Hydrobiidae. It has been a long struggle, but the findings will be useful for reviewing Hydrobiidae management in Tasmania. Karen will be writing an article for Forest Practices News once her PhD is finalised. Erin Flynn has almost finished her PhD assessing the effect of environmental disturbance on milk composition and physiological parameters in the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Erin updated us on her research in Forest Practices News December 2009 (vol 10 no 1).

Trapping mammalsForest Practices News last heard from PhD student Helen Stephens in June 2009 (vol 9 no 3). Helen’s project, supervised by Julianne O’Reilly-Wapstra at the University of Tasmania, aims to determine if aggregated

retention in old growth forestry usefully contributes to conservation of small- to medium-sized native mammals. This will be achieved by monitoring mammal use of operational aggregated retention coupes in the Styx and Huon valleys, with clearfell coupes and non-adjacent unharvested native forest sites used as control sites. In addition to this, she will evaluate the influence of aggregate characteristics and habitat variables (e.g. vegetation type and cover, presence of hollows and coarse woody debris) on mammal activity, biodiversity, population demographics and diet.

In November and December 2009, Helen spent two weeks trapping native rodents in aggregated retention coupes in the Huon and Styx Valleys. The aim was to collect additional DNA samples for a genetic study that is investigating the potential for inbreeding in swamp rats in island aggregates within aggregated retention coupes. Over the two weeks, she collected an additional 42 samples from individuals to add to the 76 she collected during the

Lisa Cawthen gives the 'thumbs-up' to one of her new bat survey-stations (photograph by Lisa Cawthen).

Erin Flynn with a Tasmanian devil trapped during her PhD research.


winter trapping season in 2009. In one of the Styx coupes, Hugh Fitzgerald and Helen were called upon to give an impromptu talk and demonstration of rodent processing techniques to a group of Year 9 students from Collegiate School. They thought the swamp rat was pretty cute but weren’t too keen to help clean traps!

Detecting funding for bat-detectorsLisa Cawthen wrote an article for Forest Practices News in September 2009 (vol 9 no 4) when she left her position as project officer with the FPA to embark on her PhD. Lisa captures bats throughout Tasmania and is developing a bat-call identification key that will, in future, be made available for public use. Lisa will use the key to facilitate the analysis of her bat-call recordings. Lisa's data – on species composition, demographics and remnant use in logged areas surrounded by different amounts of mature forest – will help her to determine how the availability of mature forest in a production forest landscape affects insectivorous bats.

In her article, Lisa called for volunteers and equipment such as bat-detectors. Bat-detectors allow Lisa to collect data 24 hours a day on the species, activity patterns, foraging and socialising behaviours of bats throughout Tasmania's timber production forests. If you would like to hear what some of Tasmania’s bats sound like, listen to the recordings of bat calls recorded using these detectors on Lisa’s web site http://tassiebatproject.jimdo.com/.

Thanks to the Forest Practices Authority, Forestry Tasmania, Norske Skog and other donors, Lisa has been able to purchase seven new bat-detectors and accessories ready for deployment in the field in the coming months.

At present Lisa is nearing the end of a fruitful first season of field-work. One of the highlights of the summer was a visit from two bat experts who accompanied her into the field. One of the visitors, Chris Corben, invented the bat-detectors that Lisa uses. He was visiting Tasmania to collect calls of Tasmanian Gould's wattled bats and was more than willing to share some of his knowledge, particularly in bat-call analysis. His visit coincided with that of Markus

Utesch, a German chiropterologist who has worked previously on bats and platypus in Tasmania with the FPA. He was visiting Tasmania with his family and volunteered over many nights to teach Lisa how to mist-net – a technique that is used widely in Europe to capture bats but has rarely been used for that purpose in Tasmania. Thanks to Markus, Lisa has incorporated mist-netting into her methodology with great success: more bat captures and more species!

Flying higher than an eagleFor the past three years the FPA has been monitoring occupancy of eagle nests in Tasmanian production forests (see Forest Practices News December 2009, vol 10 no 1). Using fixed-wing aircraft and binoculars, the FPA’s Jason Wiersma and the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment’s (DPIPWE) Bill Brown spent 42 hours completing this year's aerial surveys. In the last twelve months the number of eagles' nests surveyed was nearly doubled from 84 to 142 sites.

With the third year of eagle monitoring coming to a close, some interesting new data are emerging. This year over 30 chicks were observed in nests. It appears that the frequency of eagle breeding is more spasmodic than previously thought. Although some birds appear to breed every year, most breed less frequently. This has the potential to dramatically change previous estimates of reproductive output. While this study has provided just a 'snapshot' in

time, the trends observed will improve our understanding of wedge-tailed eagle biology and management.

Spotting quollsShannon Troy’s PhD on the landscape ecology of the spotted-tailed quoll was outlined in Forest Practices News June 2009 (vol 9 no 3). She is in the midst of creating habitat models for the Tasmanian spotted-tailed quoll, to determine the environmental factors that influence the presence and distribution of quolls throughout their Tasmanian range. Shannon is using 53 000 records of presence-absence, which were provided by the DPIPWE’s Save the Tasmanian Devil program. Geographic data were obtained from various sources and the FPA’s Daniel Livingston (FPA’s Geographic Information Systems Officer) assisted in wrestling it into the habitat models.

Shannon also recently received support from the Australian Geographic Society, who ran a fundraiser to raise awareness of the conservation status of the spotted-tailed quoll Australia-wide. Money raised during the fundraiser will be used to cover the cost of fieldwork for Shannon's regional quoll survey (beginning May 2010), which aims to test the predictive power of her Tasmanian spotted-tailed quoll habitat models and determine the importance of fine-scale habitat attributes for quoll abundance.

These snippets about these FPA-funded projects are based on information in the CRC for Forestry’s online publication Biobuzz prepared by Dot Steane http://www.crcforestry.com.au/newsletters/biobuzz/biobuzz11.html.

Author’s contact:

[email protected]

Update on FPA-funded research projects (continued)

Jason Wiersma and Bill Brown conduct aerial surveys in the Cessna 206.

Spotted-tailed quoll (photograph by Erin Flynn).


The FPA’s Senior Research Biologist, Sarah Munks, attended the 2010 Annual Science Meeting of the CRC for Forestry in Fremantle in May where five of the FPA-supported students presented their work. The student poster sessions are often the highlight of these meetings, with a rich variety of projects exploring a wide range of questions relevant to production forestry presented and discussed. Contact Sarah if you would like more information on any of the projects in the table below.

Sarah was part of a four-member panel in the ‘Forestry Q and A session’ held before the start of the main meeting. This involved lively (but friendly) off-the-record discussion about some of the challenging, contemporary issues in forestry and forest management. Despite the best efforts of the

facilitator to keep the questions focussed on Australia-wide issues, the discussions always seemed to end up focussing on Tasmania!

The main meeting started with a summary of the work done in the five main program areas of the CRC for Forestry, followed by presentations from researchers involved in each of the programs.

Of note were the results of a study by Lain Dare on community engagement which has led to the production of a Handbook for operational community engagement with Australian plantation forest management. See Forest Practices News September 2008 (vol 9 no 1) for more details on Lain’s work.

A presentation by Gary Sheridan on fire, water quality, flow and forest management was also of interest. This study has found

New research from the CRC for ForestrySarah Munks, Senior Zoologist, Forest Practices Authority

that headwater stream buffers of 5–10m can significantly reduce runoff and hence significantly reduce the impact of prescribed burning on water quality.

Main discussion points throughout the meeting included the possibility of another international conference, following on from the successful 2008 Old Forests New Management conference, and the future of the CRC for Forestry. Everyone involved seemed keen to ensure the work of the CRC for Forestry is ongoing, particularly in the area of developing strategies that consolidate the industry’s social licence to operate.

Author’s contact:

[email protected]

No. Name University Poster title

1 Myralyn Abasolo SCU Seasonality of flowering in Corymbia citriodora subsp variegata (spotted gum)

2 Muhammad Alam UMelb Selection of suitable harvesting systems using LiDAR technology and digital imagery

3 Himlal Baral UMelb Mapping and Valuation of Ecosystem Services in the Lower Glenelg Basin, Victoria, Australia

4 Matthew Baxter UMelb Equipment replacement strategy in forestry harvesting operations

5 Jie-Lian Beh ANU What lies beneath: can trees tell us about soil properties?

6 Kasia Bialkowski Murdoch Using soil respiration to monitor the restoration of native remnants within plantations in WA

7 David Blackburn UTas Genetic variation in wood stiffness and sawn board checking traits in Eucalyptus nitens

8 Ryan Burrows UTas Nutrient retention of headwater streams in natural and disturbed catchments

9 Jane Cawson UMelb Prescribed burning and water quality: some early results with management implications

10 Lisa Cawthen UTas Assessing the effectiveness of forest retention measures for insectivorous bats

11 Melissa Gordon UTas Adoption of community engagement in Australian forest plantation companies

12 Sara Hadjigol UTas Evidence for natural selection on lignin and cellulose biosynthesis genes

13 Sandra Hawthorne UMelb The long term impact of different thinning treatments

14 Corey Hudson UTas High genome homology between Eucalyptus species

15 Mayumi Knight UMelb Birds, bats, remnant forest and plantations: biological responses to dynamic landscape mosaics within the Green Triangle

16 Steve Lane UMelb The functional regression tree method for diameter distribution modelling

17 Matthew Larcombe UTas Managing gene flow from plantation to native eucalypts

18 David Lazaridis UMelb Using statistics to predict forest health

19 Edwina Loxton ANU Social impacts and individuals’ responses to withdrawal of native forests for timber production

20 Dinesh Babu Madhavan UMelb Studies on soil carbon fractions in relation to nitrogen availability in forest soils

21 Timothy Sexton SCU Trans-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms in eucalyptus wood quality genes

22 Adam Smith USC Estimation of the below ground carbon pool in plantation spotted gum

23 Helen Stephens UTas How are native rodents enjoying the new look? Aggregated retention as an alternative forestry practice

24 Saravanan Thavamanikumar

UMelb Association genetics in Eucalyptus globulus Labill.

25 Shannon Troy UTas Marsupial carnivore abundance in relation to landscape-scale forest attributes in north-west Tasmania

26 Suzanne Witteveen UMelb How do forested catchment flow regimes behave under below average rainfall?

Posters presented at the CRC for Forestry 2010 Annual Science Meeting


Meet Ryan Burrows – PhD candidate on ecosystem processes in headwater streams

Ryan Burrows, one of the students who has received an FPA Student Award, presented a poster about his research at the CRC for Forestry meeting.

In 2009, Ryan moved to Tasmania to start a PhD investigating the ecosystem processes and biogeochemistry of headwater streams in southern Tasmania. Ryan graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2007 with a BSc (Honours) in Natural Resource Management, where he researched the fine-scale spatial patterns of litter distributions in jarrah forest under the supervision of Drs Matthias Boer and Pauline Grierson.

This work has links to his current research. Building on previous FPA-supported research by Dr Joanne Clapcott, his overall aim is to better understand the impacts of landscape variation and disturbance (including but not limited to harvesting) on the structural and functional components of small headwater streams in wet eucalypt forests of southern Tasmania. These numerous streams are difficult to map, and may comprise well over half the total stream length in catchments. They play an important

role in key ecosystem processes such as nutrient retention and carbon dynamics in aquatic habitats in forested landscapes. Structural changes in these streams (such as changes to in-stream habitats and the nature of litter inputs) can affect the way that small headwaters retain or export nutrients and carbon.

Ryan recently presented some preliminary results at the annual CRC for Forestry science meeting in Fremantle, which was attended by forest scientists and managers from across Australia. The poster reported the findings of two nutrient addition experiments, which assessed the nutrient retention ability of streams flowing through mature unharvested coupes and coupes harvested by the clearfell, burn and sow (CBS) method. The experiment indicated that the stream running through a CBS-harvested coupe was only half as efficient at retaining nitrogen and phosphorus as the stream flowing through the mature unharvested coupe.

Future experiments are planned to validate these preliminary findings and to estimate how long it takes for nutrient retention to return to pre-harvest levels in headwater streams in harvested coupes.

This project will enable Ryan to evaluate the effectiveness of current and proposed forest practices (under the Forest Practices Code) in protecting the ecosystem function and structure of these small headwater streams in the landscape. The project complements current water quality research by Dr Sandra Roberts (Forestry Tasmania) who, together with Associate Professor Leon Barmuta (Zoology, University of Tasmania) and Dr Regina Magierowski (Landscape Logic & Zoology, University of Tasmania), is helping to supervise the project. Ryan has received technical support from the Forest Practices Authority and is a recipient of an FPA student award. For more information about the project contact Ryan Burrows ([email protected]).

Ryan presenting his head-scratchingly impressive poster at the CRC for Forestry 2010 Annual Science Meeting in Fremantle during March.


Laura fills us in on her PhD project, for which she was recently awarded an FPA Student Award.

After working in environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology for 10 years, Laura decided to leave the workforce and commence a PhD in ecotoxicology. Laura works on endocrine disruption in live-bearing lizards, and is supervised by Prof. Sue Jones and Dr Ashley Edwards in the School of Zoology at UTas.

Endocrine disruption is a broad term used to describe interference in any process of the endocrine (hormone) system by a chemical of natural or man-made origin. There are over 15 000 chemical contaminants recognised as endocrine disruptors. These include several classes of pesticides, the contraceptive pill, and phthalates which are used in cosmetics and plastics. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can cause mild to extreme changes in the function of the endocrine system and can mimic, block or accelerate the production of hormones, or change the way the body transports, reacts to or removes hormones.

One of the most infamous EDCs is the herbicide atrazine. Atrazine has been found to be an oestrogenic EDC – atrazine can accelerate oestrogen production and

Tasmanian skink in ecotoxicology study

Laura Parsley, PhD student, University of Tasmania

therefore has a feminising effect. Research to date has linked atrazine to impaired reproductive tissue function and hormone secretion in a wide range of vertebrate species, resulting in reduced sperm count or sterility, deformed gonads, abnormal brain development, altered sex ratios or hermaphroditism.

The potential impacts of atrazine on Tasmanian vertebrate wildlife have never been explored. Atrazine is a selective herbicide: it controls broad-leaf and grassy weeds while leaving major crops unaffected. Despite the clear advantages of atrazine in controlling weeds in major crops, use in Tasmania has been significantly reduced.

Growing evidence in the scientific literature identifying atrazine as a potent endocrine disruptor, and the ongoing debate about atrazine use have been contributing factors to my selection of this project as a PhD.

My PhD project is about how oestrogenic EDCs, including atrazine, can impair development of the gonads and sexual organs. Disruption at this critical stage is particularly worrying because the effects are permanent. I am working on Tasmania’s most common skink, the metallic skink Niveoscincus metallicus. Although common, this species is special because, like the majority of Tasmanian skinks, it gives birth to live young. Viviparous (live-bearing) lizards are like a combination of egg-laying birds and placental mammals because they have a large yolk and a placenta for each embryo. This makes them a particularly interesting subject on which to study endocrine disruption because of the many potential routes through which embryos may be exposed to EDCs: across the placenta; though accumulation in the yolk; and through altered placental function.

My project is the first of its nature in Australia. I am really excited about doing this work because it gives me an opportunity to contribute information to the debate about the effects of atrazine on wildlife.

Author’s contact::

[email protected] in the lab (photograph courtesy Laura Parsley).

Laura’s research subject, the metallic skink Niveoscincus metallicus (photograph courtesy Sue Jones).


Halt to the review of the Forest Practices Code The FPA has suspended the review of the Forest Practices Code whilst it seeks clarification from the government on matters of future forest policy, which include:

• objectives for the management of biodiversity within forests

• the type and intensity of silvicultural regimes applied to native forests

• the management of smoke from planned burns

• the impact of plantations on water catchments

• public engagement in forest policy and planning.

These matters form part of the overarching policy framework under which the forest practices system must operate. They have important social, economic and environmental implications that belong within the realm of broader governmental legislation and policy. The FPA is of the view that changes in policy are needed before these matters can be expressed in the form of operational guidelines in a revised Forest Practices Code to best serve the future.

The FPA warmly thanks those FPOs and specialists who have generously given their time and knowledge to the review process so far. These efforts are greatly appreciated and will not be lost. We hope that we can resume the revision of the code once the higher level policy directions from government are clearer.

Changes to the Policy on the Permanent Native Forest Estate FPOs were advised in December 2009 that the Tasmanian government had made important changes to the policy on the maintenance of the permanent native forest estate (PNFE). The key changes include:

Updates from the CFPO

Graham Wilkinson, Chief Forest Practices Officer, Forest Practices Authority

1. clearing and conversion on private land may not exceed 40 hectares per property in any 12 month period (previously no limit on area)

2. forest communities within each bioregion must be maintained at no less than 75% of the 1996 area or a minimum of 2000 hectares (whichever is the higher). The retention level was previously 50%.

The new policy applies to all applications lodged with the FPA on or after 21 December 2009. Any application received prior to that date will continue to be processed by the FPA in accordance with the previous policy. Note that for the purposes of this policy, an ‘application’ is taken to mean a notification submitted to the FPA Biodiversity Program and lodged on the FPA’s notification database.

Additional guidelines on the application of the new policy were distributed to FPOs in February 2010.

In addition to its annual reporting on the levels of retention of native forest across the state, the FPA now posts quarterly updates on its website. The figures as at 1/4/10 showed that the forest loss had reached 147 538 ha or 4.6% of the area of native forest that existed in 1996. Under the government’s policy conversion must cease when the statewide threshold reaches 5%. The FPA estimates that this will occur within the next 18 months at current rates of clearing.

Revised agreed standard procedures for the management of threatened speciesThe FPA and DPIPWE have revised the standard procedures for the management of threatened species under section D3.3 of the Forest Practices Code. The revised procedures clarify the roles and responsibilities of the two agencies, with the

following objectives in mind:

1. avoid duplication, time delays and cost of current ‘duplication’ in processing FPPs

2. focus on key roles

3. reinforce the co-operative approach of the two agencies to managing threatened species as required under the Forest Practices Code and the Threatened Species Protection Act 2002.

In summary, the revised procedures include the following changes:

1. New section on roles and responsibilities of FPA and DPIPWE (section A) to highlight that the key role of DPIPWE is to focus on the overarching strategic approaches to the management of threatened species whilst the FPA is primarily responsible for the day-to-day provision of planning and management advice to FPOs.

2. Combining previous flora and fauna sections into one section (section B3)

3. Recognising that the Scientific Advisory Committee and the Forest Practices Advisory Council are advisory bodies that should be consulted and their advice taken into account with respect to any new or altered standard management prescriptions for threatened species (section B3.3).

4. Removing the current provision that allows an FPO to proceed if advice is not received from the FPA within six weeks. The existing provisions of the Forest Practices Act 1985 (s.19(2)) are considered to adequately deal with the right of applicants to the timely processing of an application (section B 4.3).

The revised procedures have been discussed with the Forest Practices Advisory Council. They can be down loaded from - http://www.fpa.tas.gov.au/fileadmin/user_upload/PDFs/Admin/FPA_DPIPWE_procedures_2010.pdf


The challenge of landscape-level managementTraditionally, special values (visual, cultural and environmental) in Tasmania have been managed on a coupe-by-coupe basis. However it is becoming increasingly important to consider and manage values at broader landscape-levels. While the Forest Practices Code talks about the importance of coupe dispersion for landscape-level management, little guidance is currently provided on how to manage multiple values at this scale. Landscape-level management requires an integrated approach at different scales, such as coupe, catchment and regional scales. This potential shift in forest management from the coupe-scale to the landscape-scale has raised many discussion points.

Learning from international experienceIn late March, the Forest Practices Authority (FPA), in conjunction with the Cooperative Research Centre for Forestry (CRC) held a symposium and field day to discuss managing multiple values (social, cultural, environmental) at a landscape level in Tasmania’s production forests. The symposium was held at the CRC and was well attended by forest managers and planners, researchers and other interested people.

Landscape reflections

Anne Chuter, Ecologist, Forest Practices Authority (left)Sarah Munks, Senior Zoologist, Forest Practices Authority (right)

Bruce Chetwynd, Senior Landscape Planner, Forest Practices Authority

The aim of the symposium was to expose the audience to a range of issues with managing multiple values in forestry situations, and to discuss the objectives and approaches to integrated planning at a landscape-level. The symposium drew on expertise from a range of disciplines to deliver a series of talks on different values related to forestry practices.

An overview was provided by Janet Stephenson, a social scientist from the University of Otago, New Zealand, who carries out research on how people and communities interact with their environments and the dynamics of societal and environmental change. Janet’s presentation focused on the different ways people relate to landscape values and examined the relationship between physical values, practices (i.e. historical use of the landscape) and intangible values (i.e. the stories and symbology of a landscape).

The local perspectiveJanet’s presentation set the scene for the symposium and had the audience thinking about integrated approaches to landscape planning. Next followed a series of talks on visual and cultural values, which included a second guest speaker, Rebecca Ford, from the University of Melbourne. Rebecca recently completed research into the social acceptability of forest landscape options and she presented a local perspective, drawing

on a case study of social perceptions of forestry from Geeveston. Rebecca’s work highlighted how responses to a landscape, aesthetic or thought-based, depend on the background and the beliefs of the individual. The case study from Geeveston indicated that people have a set of beliefs that determines how they perceive a forest landscape. However, if they are presented with specific information about forest management scenarios, people will generally use this information to judge the landscape.

A series of talks by other specialists, researchers, forest managers and planners from FPA, CRC, University of Tasmania, Forestry Tasmania and Gunns were presented throughout the day. The talks ranged from historical perspectives, different approaches to the management of specific values at the landscape-scale and recent research to the challenges of integrated planning of forestry activities. A number of speakers stressed the importance of taking into account the history of landscape development when making decisions on current land-use. David Bowman (UTas) gave a sobering talk reminding us all of the potential catastrophic future change to Tasmanian landscapes as a result of climate change. Ted Lefroy (UTas) illustrated the fact that different drivers of landscape change dominate at different spatial scales.

The difficulties associated with identifying and using threshold levels – ‘How much is enough?’ – in landscape planning were

The landscape symposium participants discuss this plantation established on private land which was designed to protect the landscape values. Note the planting is restricted to the lower slopes of the hills, is set back from the main tourist road and has retained scattered native forest remnants through the plantation landscape for improved visual and botanical diversity (photograph by Peter Volker, Forestry Tasmania).


discussed by several speakers and the need for flexibility was highlighted. A general discussion was held at the end, with a summary from Janet Stephenson which highlighted the need to have clear goals and objectives for what forest practices is trying to achieve, in order to be able to develop sound landscape planning for multiple values. Communication, particularly with the broader community, was identified as an important factor if landscape planning is to be successful. The presentations highlighted the complex nature of landscape planning and the need for a flexible approach and a willingness to change in light of new perspectives, despite complexity and uncertainty.

Local examplesThe following field day was held on the Tasman Peninsula at a number of sites (native forests, plantation estates and ‘multiple-use’ sites) that demonstrated approaches to planning at different spatial scales. The field day promoted discussion on natural and cultural perspectives of landscape, and the challenges for integrating landscape values to deliver good forest practices.

Visual, cultural and physical landscape values were on show during the morning, with stops at a private property block at Nugent, the Eaglehawk Neck lookout and Koonya. The private property block was ex-farmland which had been recently planted with Eucalyptus nitens plantation. The plantation had been restricted to the flats and mid slopes of the hills, was set back from the main tourist road and retained scattered native forest remnants through the

plantation landscape for improved visual and botanical diversity. This site produced some lively debate on the visual issues of land-use change and highlighted how even historically modified landscape (i.e. farmland) can be visually significant.

Eaglehawk Neck lookout provided an excellent site to take in the Tasman Peninsula and for Adrian Slee, the FPA’s Geoscientist, to discuss the geological history of Tasmania and the peninsula in particular. It also gave an opportunity for some lagging compatriots bearing morning tea supplies to catch up with the group. After a short break to take in the spectacular scenery, it was on again along the nationally-rated tourist route to Koonya where Denise Gaughwin described the cultural history of the Cascades. Through explanation and discussion, Denise demonstrated the importance of maintaining cultural heritage at a landscape-level and that each historical event or icon will have significance to both locals and visitors.

Koonya Farm has a collection of well preserved convict era buildings, now fully utilised for tourist accommodation and appreciation of national heritage qualities. Importantly, as noted by the current owners, the farm retains an undisturbed and distinctive cultural landscape: wide convict-cleared paddocks; early exotic trees; and a complete native forest backdrop unbroken by any modern buildings or plantings.

After lunch the group headed up to Palmers Lookout, a privately owned lookout which

allows the public access to view the Tasman Peninsula. The lookout provided a quiet spot where the group could look out across private land and State forest to contemplate the difficulties of managing multiple values at the landscape scale. A lively discussion was held at the lookout.

One clear message that came across throughout the symposium and the field day was the willingness of individuals from different professional backgrounds to share information and discuss the future of managing values at the landscape-level. Landscape management is definitely a meeting point for disciplines and communities. While the diverse perspectives on landscape issues present challenges, the participants’ ability to share information and communicate ideas was encouraging. We thank everyone for their contributions to the symposium and field day.

Author’s contact:

[email protected]

Landscape reflections (continued)

The FPA’s Senior Landscape Planner Bruce Chetwynd (second from right) discusses the landscape values viewed from Palmers Lookout.

Forest Practices Officers: are you moving?

To help us maintain an accurate database and to ensure that circulars reach you, please advise us if you are transferring, resigning or retiring. Thanks.

Phone:(03) 6233 7966 Email: [email protected]

Denise Gaughwin, the FPA’s Heritage and Landscape Program Manager, leads a discussion at Palmers Lookout.


In this sixth article in the ‘Bities in the bush’ series, Chris and Karen feature the exotic Hymenoptera species found in Tasmania. The previous issue of Forest Practices News included the prequel to this article, which introduced us to the few native wasp species that may be regarded as a threat to humans (Forest Practices News vol 10 no 1 December 2010, which can be found on the FPA’s website <www.fpa.tas.gov.au>).

Vespidae: exotic waspsTwo introduced species of vespid wasps are currently found in Tasmania. European wasps (Vespula germanica) were first recorded in Tasmania in 1959 (Spradbury & Maywald 1992), apparently having come via New Zealand. They very rapidly spread across the state and currently are absent only from the far south-west. The first English wasps (Vespula vulgaris) were recorded here in 1995 (Matthews et al. 2000) and an intensive survey conducted in 2000 showed the species was mostly confined to the wetter southern forest region.

Both species are voracious hunter-gatherers, taking sugar, including plant and insect/arthropod exudates, throughout spring and summer. During the early autumn they switch to taking protein as the queen begins to produce royal eggs. The resulting queen larvae need a protein-rich diet which enables them to store the fat needed for winter hibernation and to produce eggs for the coming spring. By autumn, the colonies are at their largest and the workers respond

to chemical signals emitted by the queen, becoming insatiable hunters capable of dismembering larger prey and transporting portions back to the colony.

Mating usually takes place inside the nest or shortly after leaving, when males pursue females in a nuptial flight. After mating, the stingless males (drones) live for only a few days and the fertilised queens seek a sheltered cavity in which they overwinter.

The following spring, nests are constructed from masticated wood (papier mâchée), often in a cavity underground, but also in other sheltered locations. Nests have been found beneath ‘skirts’ of dead treefern fronds, inside wall cavities and unused chimneys, in tree hollows, inside hollow logs, beneath boulders and in the accumulated material associated with roading and timber-harvesting operations, where they are recognised by forest industry employees as a considerable OH&S risk.

These animals are vicious and if the nest is threatened they will attack in vast numbers, relentlessly pursuing a fleeing and very sorry intruder. There have been no human fatalities recorded in Australia; however they are greatly feared due to their savage nature and total commitment to the colony, their ability to inflict multiple stings and the sheer number of individuals occupying a large colony. A single fertile queen is the centre of the colony which increases in size through the warm months. Nests in the soil seldom survive the winter due to water damage and cold (this may change with global warming), but nests in dry sheltered locations are capable of surviving indefinitely and may become huge.

The precise environmental impact of these exotic wasps remains largely unreported. However, there is a wealth of anecdotal information on negative impacts due to increased predation on our arthropod and insect fauna. For example, they have been implicated in the disappearance of the threatened butterfly species Oreixenica ptunarra (ptunarra brown) from various

sites in Tasmania. See Forest Practices News June 2009 vol 9 no 3 for more details on this and an innovative translocation project reintroducing ptunarra browns to sites from which they have disappeared.

Exotic wasps also impact heavily on the viticulture and orchard industries. Apiarists suffer economically from the wasps’ predation on bees and their plundering of hives which often results in death of the colony and abandonment of the hive.

These insects are extremely efficient generalist predator/scavengers and they also prey on a wide range of insects that we regard as pest species. However, we feel certain that older readers long for the days when barbecues and picnics were not invaded by these persistent stingers.

Apidae: honeybeesMost of us love honey and are very aware of the importance of industrious honeybees as pollinators of many of our food-producing crops. Apiarists ferry hives of their charges across the state, pursuing the nectar flow or taking advantage of the opportunity of pollinating farm crops.

In the bush things are very different, as many machine operators and tree fallers can testify. Apis mellifera will attack any individual they perceive as a threat to the hive. They have also been known to attack machinery. As a teenager, Chris recalls watching in amazement (from the safety of a tightly closed utility) as a hoard of aggravated individuals engulfed the bulldozer from which he had fled. Needless to say, his day’s work was over and on returning the following morning he was greeted by a few remaining live workers ferrying brood (larvae and pupae) and honey from the doomed nest which he had unwittingly destroyed, to some new locality, and by a host of cooked corpses littering the now cold machine.

Worker bees, like those of most social insects, are undeveloped females. They are all armed with a sting (as is the queen).

Bities in the bush: exotic Hymenoptera

Chris Spencer, Technical Officer, Forest Practices AuthorityKaren Richards, Ecologist, Forest Practices Authority

An nest exhumed from inside a disused rabbit burrow, showing the entrance (photograph by Chris Spencer & Karen Richards).


Bities in the bush: exotic Hymenoptera (continued)

The underside of the start of a colony showing eggs, larvae and pupae (in closed cells) (photograph by Chris Spencer & Karen Richards).

A dorsal view of the same, showing the central hanging point (photograph by Chris Spencer & Karen Richards).

However, the act of stinging is fatal to the bee because the sting tears out of the body, removing the attached venom gland and crippling vital organs.

The queen is the only sexually mature female in the colony and she maintains order with a stream of chemical signals. When the colony becomes too big for the hive, certain larvae are fed a substance known as royal jelly, which chemically alters them and allows for sexual development. Upon the emergence from its pupal case, a new queen will exit the colony with an entourage of stingless males (drones) and a company of workers and seek a new location to found a hive, a process known as swarming.

Bee-stings should be removed as quickly as possible since venom is injected by the constricting action of nerve impulses, which continue after delivery. Great care must be exercised to avoid squeezing

the attached venom sac as this will also cause the injection of venom. Stings may be successfully removed with a scraping motion, using a credit card or similar item, or alternatively by using fine forceps to grip the sclerotised (hard) barbed thorn at the point of entry.

Apidae: bumblebeesBumblebees (Bombus terrestris) are extremely placid animals; they will only sting if molested and if unable to escape from their attacker. Whilst excavating a colony recently (to collect data) Chris was surrounded by a cloud of 90 individuals and still was able to complete the operation without receiving a sting despite not wearing any protective clothing. Unlike honeybees, bumblebees retain their sting and so are capable of inflicting multiple stings. However, only very minor discomfort is usually experienced.

Recent arrivals, these animals were first recorded in Tasmania at Battery Point in 1992 (Semmens et al. 1993). They have spread quickly and are now present all over the state, excluding the far south-west. Their colonies are usually much smaller than those of honey bees and nectar is stored in open-topped waxen barrels. Multiple queens may share a colony and in the wild state the colony invariably dies in winter after any healthy fertilised queens have dispersed to seek secure sites in which to hibernate. As with honeybees, the male drones are stingless and live for a short time only – their sole purpose is to fertilise queens.

Most people will experience some relief from the stings of these exotic species with the application of a cold compress or a cool soothing preparation. However, for those individuals predisposed to sting allergy, a single sting may place them in grave danger, and medical aid must be sought urgently.

DiscussionDespite the potential human hazards presented by this group of insects, they provide a wealth of services to mankind and ultimately to global ecology. Without the pest population control provided by the predatory wasps and the free plant pollination services that can be attributed to most of these animals, the growth of food crops would be impossible and many plants of great importance would soon become extinct. Wasps and bees have contributed greatly to our way of life and there is little doubt that they still have the capacity to further influence and enhance humankind’s existence.

ReferencesSpradbury, JP and Maywald, GF 1992, ‘The distribution of the European or German wasp, Vespula germanica (F.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Australia: past, present and future’, Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 495–510.

Matthews, RW, Goodisman, MAD, Austin, AD and Bashford, R 2000, ‘The introduced English wasp Vespula vulgaris (L.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) newly recorded invading native forests in Tasmania’, Australian Journal of Entomology 39: 177–179.

Semmens, TD, Turner, E and Buttermore, R 1993, ‘Bombus terrestris (L.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) now established in Tasmania’, Journal of the Australian

Entomological Society 32: 346.

Author’s contact:

[email protected] left to right: Vespula germanica drone (male) (European wasp), V. germanica female (queen), V. germanica female (worker) Vespula vulgaris female (worker) (English wasp) (photograph by Chris Spencer & Karen Richards).


Southern ConnectionsThe VI Southern Connections Congress was held from February 15–19 in Bariloche – a small city nestled into the eastern Andes of Argentina, amongst lakes and mountains and with forests of Nothofagus prominent in the landscape. The aim of this conference series was to allow researchers and practitioners, primarily from temperate areas of the Southern Hemisphere, to share information on biodiversity-related matters.

There was a strong Tasmanian contingent at the conference, including Simon Grove and Mark Neyland from Forestry Tasmania and Fred Duncan from FPA. Following the conference, the plan was for the three amigos to head south from Bariloche, through the Patagonian heartland, to Tierra del Fuego, where they were to give presentations at a course on forest management to be conducted in Ushuaia – the world’s southernmost city.

The congress had many opportunities for liaison with other researchers between presentations, and during a field excursion where we walked through Nothofagus pumilio (lenga) forest with an understorey dominated by golden Alstroemeria in full flower, before we emerged onto stark ridges

above the treeline, which supported rockery ‘gardens’ of herbs, grasses and succulents. Beyond this were impressive views of the surrounding mountain and glacial landscapes, with condors and eagles circling gracefully above. As we walked back through the forest, the sight of red-capped woodpeckers battering an old-growth tree into submission finished off an excellent day.

There were many useful sessions for forest aficionados attending the congress, including the session on the role of long-term research sites in cool-temperate forests. Simon and Mark gave presentations on research and forest management in the Warra Long-Term Ecological Research Site and in the broader landscape of Tasmania's southern forests. South American contributions included talks on involvement of local communities and tourists in forest management in Tierra del Fuego and southern Chile, and research on different silvicultural systems in southern Argentina

A session on management and conservation of temperate grasslands underlined the precarious position of this vegetation type, and put forward priorities for management actions. Some positive scenarios emerged from different continents, including a presentation by Fred (co-authored by Louise

Gilfedder of DPIPWE and Robert Onfray of Gunns Forest Products), which described how forest managers were actively managing montane grasslands in Tasmania's north-west to protect threatened flora and fauna, threatened communities and cultural values, and to provide connectivity across the landscape. Some of this work is described in recent Forest Practices News articles – see December 2006 (vol 7 no 4)and June 2009 (vol 9 no3).

Other topics of interest included control of feral pests such as broom, gorse and pine wildlings (a growing threat in South America). In New Zealand, the Varrao destructor mite that is adversely affecting the honey industry may decrease the rate of spread of gorse by reducing the abundance of bees – an important pollinator. Not surprisingly, climate change and the role of fire and carbon cycles made several guest appearances as presentation themes.

Details of the conference and abstracts are available on: www.sccongress2010.com.ar. The next congress will be held in New Zealand in 2013.

PatagoniaAfter the congress, a two-car convoy of five Tasmanian and Argentinean dignitaries left Bariloche, heading south for almost 3000 km along the legendary Ruta 40. After winding past snow-capped mountains, turquoise lakes and verdant forests for a day, the bitumen gave way to a gravel carriageway – its vanishing point disappearing into the vast emptiness of Patagonia. We dodged potholes, numerous roadworks, mirages and the odd oncoming vehicle. The magnificent monotony of the wind-blasted grasslands and low shrublands was intermittently punctuated by small streams (invariably with a riparian fringe of willows and poplars) – vestiges of the glacial forces which shaped this landscape. We saw guanacos, rheas (small ostrich-like birds) and native foxes, and flamingos and other waterfowl laying claim to occasional soaks. Other highlights included staying in the quaint pueblo of Bajo

Southern connections: the forests of Tasmania, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego

Fred Duncan, Biodiversity Program Manager, Forest Practices Authority (right)Mark Neyland, Principal Research Officer, Native Forests, Forestry Tasmania (left)

Southern Connections – Patagonia and Tasmania: Guillermo Martínez Pastur, Pablo Perí, Fred Duncan, Mark Neyland, Simon Grove (photograph by Mercedes Villarreal).

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Caracoles (where Fred was unjustly accused of stealing the towels from his hotel room), and visiting the nearby Cueva de Las Manos (Cave of the Hands) – a World Heritage site comprising a canyon wall with thousands of stencils of hands, guanaco and guanaco hunters – dating back 7000 years. Further south we admired Glacier Perito Moreno – with its groaning, heaving icefield, which casually expelled large chunks of ice into the turquoise waters of Lago Argentino.

Forests came back into the picture as we skirted the mountains again – on an estancia (ranch) near Rio Turbio we met up with Pablo Perí and fellow researchers in low forest of ñire (Nothofagus antarctica). A major aim of their investigations was to ensure adequate regeneration of ñire in the face of determined opposition from sheep and guanaco. Pablo has visited Tasmania a couple of times, and it was good to see the enthusiasm and dedication of his team and the relationships they developed with landowners to enhance their low-budget research trials. The entourage continued following the Southern Cross to Tierra del Fuego, which incorporated a southern crossing of the Straits of Magellan, and a day looking at commercial forestry operations and silviculture – mainly in lenga forest – at Russfiin in the Chilean (western) sector of Tierra del Fuego. Browsing of regeneration by guanaco was a serious problem here, and the normally placid Mark was almost driven to impale them with his fishing rod.

Tierra del FuegoBy the time the trans-Gondwana expedition had reached Ushuaia, it was evident that Simon – who had not been well since we arrived in Argentina – needed to get a professional medical assessment. The diagnosis was a great shock to all of us – it indicated that Simon had leukaemia and that his white blood cell count was exceptionally low. It speaks volumes for Simon’s dedication that he gave his presentation in Bariloche, participated in our journey and had gone a long way towards preparing his presentations for the Ushuaia course. Now he needed to get back to Australia without delay, and he needed to be accompanied. Mark became Simon’s companion for the homeward travel, managing the logistics, medical and other difficulties of the trip back to Australia.

In Hobart, further medical tests showed that Simon had acute myeloid leukaemia. Recent tests after three rounds of aggressive chemotherapy indicate that the treatment has been successful, and Simon is now in remission. To make things more difficult for the Grove family, shortly after Simon was admitted to the Royal Hobart Hospital, he was unexpectedly joined by his wife Chris (Forest Practices News editor) after she broke her leg in a fall in their vegetable garden. It has been a difficult time for them, and they have appreciated the support of family, friends and colleagues as they have dealt with such a hard set of circumstances. All who know Simon and Chris will wish them well, and we know that their perseverance and strength are getting them over these hurdles.

Meanwhile, back in Tierra del Fuego, the three-day course commenced, with Fred holding the fort in the absence of Mark and Simon. The course was attended by 25 or so researchers, foresters, staff of regulatory agencies and land managers from Chile and Argentina. Information was presented on the ecology, soils and silviculture in the forests of Tierra del Fuego; and similarities and differences in ecology, silviculture and regulation in Tasmania, with the Tasmanian component of the course being delivered by Frederico, whose Spanish language skills were stretched to the limit. There was a strong focus on use of variable retention – in Tierra del Fuego it is being trialled as an alternative to the use of shelterwood or dispersed retention systems, where retained trees can be subject to collateral damage during logging, and wind-throw (facilitated by wet and shallow soils) in the Patagonian gales. Other management problems in Tierra del Fuego include wildfire (which can permanently remove trees and regeneration), browsing by livestock and guanaco, and the industrial-scale forestry operations conducted in riparian environments by beavers (introduced to the island in 1947) – these have affected up to 7% of some forest areas. The final day of the course was spent in the field – examining different forest environments and visiting current and past operations and a sawmill. During the course and excursion, there was vigorous discussion about forest ecology and management, with South American passion coming to the fore. A lot

of useful information was exchanged, with the overall aim of promoting sustainable use of native forests.

After the Ushuaia course, Fred had follow-up meetings in Buenos Aires with senior staff of Argentina’s national forestry department and with the Australian ambassador – who had taken a personal interest in our project. There are many resonances between the forests of Tasmania, Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, and there is great value in enhancing the Southern Connections between researchers, practitioners and institutions with an interest in their ecology and management

Mark, Simon and Fred thank the Council on Australia Latin American Relations (Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade) for financial support; the Australian ambassador to Argentina (John Richardson) for his interest in this project; many Argentinean friends and colleagues (notably Vanessa Lencinas, Mercedes Villarreal, Pablo Perí, Romina Lasagno and Rosina Soler), and particularly Guillermo Martínez Pastur who organised the course in Tierra del Fuego, and was a genial companion and guide on our journey through Patagonia.

Author’s contact:

[email protected]

Southern connections (continued)

Two silvicultural treatments in lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) forest, Tierra del Fuego –shelterwood or dispersed retention (foreground) and aggregated retention (background).

Published by the Forest Practices Authority 30 Patrick Street Hobart Tasmania 7000 Phone (03) 6233 7966 Fax (03) 6233 7954 [email protected] www.fpa.tas.gov.au

Banner photograph: Participants on a swift parrot field day learn how to identify swift parrots (photograph by Geoff Wilkinson).

The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Forest Practices Authority.Articles from this newsletter may be reproduced. Acknowledgment of the author & FPA is requested.

Printed on paper from sustainably managed sources.

Southern connections (continued)

Lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) forest near Bariloche, with an understorey dominated by golden Alstroemeria aurantiaca.

Guanaco on the wind-swept plains of Patagonia (photograph by Guillermo Martínez Pastur).

The hunted, the hunters and their hands – Cave of the Hands, Patagonia (photograph by Guillermo Martínez Pastur).

Assessing forest management research trials in ñire (Nothofagus antarctica) forest – a cold day at Cancha Carrera ranch, Patagonia.

Mark Neyland and Guillermo Martínez Pastur looking for regeneration of Nothofagus pumilio (lenga) in a logged coupe in Tierra del Fuego.

Logs of lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) on a landing in Tierra del Fuego.

Leaves of lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) take on their autumn colours.

Contents Fishing for a jewel beetle - fpa.tas.gov.au · June 2010 Forest Practices News vol 10 no...

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Transcript of Contents Fishing for a jewel beetle - fpa.tas.gov.au · June 2010 Forest Practices News vol 10 no...