Forests

CHECK BEFORE YOU CHOP

Do you need a forest practices plan (FPP)? Check Before You Chop is a new interactive decision tool to help you find out if you will require an FPP or not. Most forest practices will need an FPP but there are a few exemptions. Follow the prompts in the tool to find out.

Check Before You Chop was designed by the Forest Practices Authority, who undertake forest and forestry-related training, planning and research in Tasmania. The tool will assist forest owners and managers, including farmers on any size of property, to understand their responsibilities about forest practices and threatened native vegetation communities.

E U C A L Y P T U S V I M I N A L I S W E T F O R E S T L I S T I N G

The Tasmanian White Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) Wet Forest vegetation community has recently been listed as a Critically Endangered Threatened Ecological Community under the EPBC Act.

White Gum Wet Forest is described as “a wet sclerophyll forest with a canopy dominated by E. viminalis and an understorey generally comprised of broad-leaved shrubs and ferns, occurring mainly on fertile, well-drained sites in the north of the state.” It usually occurs where fire has been infrequent and rainfall is high.

It is important habitat for a huge range of animals, including hollow-dependent species, and threatened species such as Wedge-tailed Eagles and Grey Goshawks. If you are lucky enough to be a host of this ecological community on your land, the EPBC listing gives it extra protection. There may be new guidelines related to clearing this type of forest. See more information at the FPA, DPIPWE, or DAWE websites.

F I R E R I S K I N W E T E U C A L Y P T F O R E S T

UTAS researchers have been looking at Tasmanian Tall Wet Eucalypt Forests (TWEF) in the south-east of the state, although the results are likely applicable to other wet Eucalypt forests.

Modelling by the authors suggested that as the forest stand develops and ages, the risk of high-intensity (destructive) fire declines because the floristic and structural diversity of the mature TWEFs ensures that the understory retains a high level of moisture.

Other findings of the research have implications for forest management. Widespread logging and uncontrolled wildfire increase the likelihood of severe, landscape-scale fire in this type of forest. Mechanical thinning and removal of the understorey, and an intact canopy, can reduce the risk.

Unlike other forest types, including dry Eucalypt forest, the authors found that fuel structure and understorey microclimate, rather than fuel load, are the driving factors for fire risk in TWEF (Furlaud et al, 2021).

J. Furlaud, L. Prior, G. Williamson, D. Bowman (2021) Fire risk and severity decline with stand development in Tasmanian giant Eucalyptus forest. Forest Ecology and Management.