Regional Forest Agreement for Southern New South Wales Annual Report

REGIONAL FOREST AGREEMENT for the SOUTHERN REGION of NEW SOUTH WALES

Progress on the implementation of the Regional Forest Agreement for the Southern Region 1 July 2004 – 30 June 2005

Introduction

Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) are separate Agreements between the Australian Government and the State Governments of NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia. Based on good science and extensive consultation, the Agreements set out broad strategies to achieve a balance between conservation and a sustainable and competitive forest industry. The Agreements are in place for 20 years.

In NSW there are three RFAs in place covering the North East, Eden and Southern regions. The Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP and the Premier of NSW, the Hon Bob Carr MP, signed the Southern RFA on 24 April 2001.

The RFAs are subject to annual reporting during the first five years and thereafter five-yearly reviews, to report progress against milestones. Progress reporting by the Australian and NSW Governments (the Parties) on the implementation of the NSW RFAs has been aligned to a financial year basis, being the period 1 July to 30 June each year.

This is the fourth report on the Southern RFA and provides details on the achievement of milestones for the period 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. 2 Progress on Milestones Note: References to NSW government agencies are as 30 June 2005.

Progress on Milestones - Note: References to NSW government agencies are as 30 June 2005.

Clause	Action	Timeline	Implementation
6	The Parties to determine the process for extending the Agreement for a further period.	As part of the third five-yearly review	Not required until the third five-yearly review.
34	NSW will have in place a forest agreement covering the Southern region and grant an integrated forestry operations approval applying to the Southern region.	30 June 2001	The NSW Forest Agreement for the Southern Region came into effect on 3 May 2002. The Integrated Forestry Operations Approval (IFOA) for the Southern Region was granted on 3 May 2002 and commenced on 13 May 2002.
37	Parties to report annually on the achievement of milestones in this Agreement.	Annually for the first five years	This is the fourth annual report on the achievement of milestones contained in the Southern Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) and covers the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005.
40	The Parties to determine the mechanism for the five yearly review.	Before the end of the five yearly review period	Milestone not yet required. However, approach is likely to draw on that being considered for the five yearly review of the RFAs for the North East and Eden regions of NSW.
41	Commonwealth will table the signed RFA in the Commonwealth Parliament.	Following signature	The signed RFA for the Southern Region was tabled in both Houses of the Federal Parliament on 20 June 2002.
41	Commonwealth will table in the Commonwealth Parliament the annual reports of achievement of milestones for the first four years.	Annually	This is the fourth annual report for the Southern RFA to be tabled in Federal Parliament.
41	Commonwealth will table in the Commonwealth Parliament the first five yearly review on performance against milestones and commitments.	Following first five yearly review	Not required until after the first five yearly review. [Refer clause 40]
47 (c)	NSW to complete and publish plans of management for areas dedicated under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW).	31 January 2006	Completion of plans of management for areas dedicated under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 are continuing. Of the 125 national parks/nature reserves/state conservation areas (SCAs)/historic sites/Aboriginal areas/regional parks in the Southern Region, 24 have plans of management adopted by the NSW Minister for the Environment. A further 15 draft plans have been publicly exhibited and another 46 are in preparation with 14 of these being in draft form, 40 plans have yet to be commenced. The increase in the total number of reserves is due to the inclusion of four new SCAs that were previously Crown reserves. Two Crown reserves remain in the Southern region. [Refer Att 1 (4)]
47 (d)	NSW to complete and publish Regional ESFM Plans for State forests.	31 December 2001	Two regional ecologically sustainable forest management (ESFM) Plans covering the South Coast and Tumut subregions of the Southern Region were placed on public display by Forests NSW1 (FNSW) in early 2005. Further public and State agency comment will be considered prior to finalisation. The final Regional ESFM plans are expected to be published in late 2005.

¹ Forests NSW (formally State Forests of NSW) is now incorporated into the Department of Primary Industries. The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) was formed in July 2004, and also incorporates NSW Fisheries, Department of Agriculture and Department of Mineral Resources.

Clause	Action	Timeline	Implementation
47 (e)	NSW to implement the Forest Management Zoning system for the Southern region.	31 December 2001	The Forest Management Zoning (FMZ) system for State forests was publicly announced in March 1999 with the release of the document entitled, Managing Our Forests Sustainably: Forest Management Zoning in NSW State Forests. Implementation of this FMZ system continues in accordance with this document. Maps showing the FMZ layer for the South Coast and Tumut sub-regions of the Southern region will be attached to final regional ESFM plans. [refer also to clause 47d]. The areal extent of FMZ’s, are reported on annually in FNSW’s corporate Social, Environmental and Economic (SEEing) report
47 (g)	NSW to implement the review and monitoring processes and develop the strategic and operational requirements of Sustainable Yield systems and processes to enable a review of Sustainable Yield.	1 December 2006	Development of sustainable yield systems and review of sustainable yield will be considered once the improvements to FRAMES [refer Att 8 (7)] are complete. The improvements to FRAMES and sustainable yield systems will contribute to improved strategic and tactical wood flow estimates, and a better understanding of sustainable yield available from the forest estate.
47 (h)	NSW to develop and implementenvironmental management systems.	30 April 2004	FNSW’s EMS system development has continued to progress. FNSW has conducted a review of the significant environmental effect of its business. FNSW have also continued to develop various EMS components including the implementation of a corporate document control system, application of corporate environmental systems and ensuring consistency in the regional standards of its environmental controls. In addition, Ecological Sustainable Forest Management (ESFM) plans [refer clause 47(d)] and associated supplementary plans, which form a component of FNSW’s EMS, continue to be developed. In 2004/2005 senior management of FNSW approved an audit program for native forest regions to assess the workings of its environmental management systems. The program did not include operational health and safety audits. Auditing in plantation areas was confined to compliance with the EPL and Codes of Practice during this period. FNSW aims to achieve certification to International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 14001, the international standard for an EMS, by early 2006 and it will apply to the plantation and native forest operational divisions. In addition, FNSW is considering the ramifications of certifying its forest area through one of two world certifying systems (Australian Forest Standard (AFS) or Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)). These systems work either better with native forest or plantation and currently management is uncertain on which system is best for both areas of FNSW business. DEC2 is developing a Park Management Program that will provide an important component of an EMS. The program will define DEC’s objectives for park management, and integrate park policy, planning, operations, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and feedback. It provides the tools to make better decisions and will also improve coordination across DEC to make it easier for staff to access information to guide park management. One of the components of the program is the State of the Parks program that will form an important part of the monitoring framework that will be part of an EMS. Implementation of the State of the Parks

² DEC incorporates the National Parks and Wildlife Service (now referred to as the Parks and Wildlife Division ), Environment Protection Authority, Botanical Gardens Trust and Resource NSW program in 2004/2005 is outlined at Att 6 Point 1(o).

Clause	Action	Timeline	Implementation
50	NSW to report on compliance of the Integrated Forestry Operations Approval applying to the Southern region and furnish the Comonwealth with a copy of these reports.	Annually	Annual reporting on compliance with the IFOA for the Southern region has been incorporated into the NSW Forest Agreement Implementation reports that are completed for each financial year (1 July to 30 June). [Refer Att 6 Point 2(g)]
52 (d)	Both Parties to further develop, review, and if necessary revise Sustainability Indicators.	In time for the first five-yearly review	A review of sustainability indicators is to be conducted as part of forthcoming five yearly review and will also take into consideration MIG outcomes to ensure consistency between reporting streams.
56	NSW to produce a code of practice for Timber Harvesting of native forest on Private Lands.	By the first five-yearly review	The Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997 was replaced by the Native Vegetation Act 2003 (NV Act). In accordance with the NV Act, private native forestry operations will be required to maintain or improve environmental outcomes in accordance with a native vegetation regulation. The code of practice will set minimum operating standards for private native forestry operations to satisfy the “maintain or improve” test that is required by the draft regulation. Initial planning for the draft code of practice is currently occurring and it is expected to be released for public comment in 2006.
57	NSW to complete Code of Practice for Plantations on Private Land.	30 June 2001	This milestone has been achieved through the implementation of the Plantations and Reafforestation (Code) Regulation 2001 in December 2001. The Plantations and Reafforestation Act 1999 and the Code provide certainty for harvesting, which was previously provided under the Timber Plantations (Harvest Guarantee) Act 1995. Plantations certified under the Timber Plantations (Harvest Guarantee) Act are deemed to be authorised under the Plantations and Reafforestation Act. A statutory review of the Act and Code commenced in January 2005. The first stage of the review was the release of a discussion paper in June 2005. The review will include consultation with stakeholders.
98	NSW to establish a Research Liaison Committee and publish a list of research priorities.	30 September 2001	No additional meetings of the Research Liaison Committee occurred during 2004/2005. The list of research priorities remains unpublished at this stage. [Refer also clause 100]
100	NSW to prepare a Compendium of New South Wales Forest Research.	By the first five-yearly review	No further work occurred on the Compendium of NSW Forest Research during 2004/2005. [Refer also Clause 98]
103	NSW and the Commonwealth to lodge archival copies of data.	30 June 2001	A joint NSW/Australian Government archive was completed in November 2004.
Att 1 Point 4	NSW to prepare Plans of Management for Crown Reserves.	31 January 2006	In late 2002 all but six Crown Reserves in the Southern Region were reclassified as State Conservation Areas (SCAs). Subsequently, in April 2005 four of the remaining six were reclassified as SCAs. The remaining two Crown Reserves - Mullengandra and Woomargama (both in the Tumut sub-region) are still subject to DPI Minerals3 objections to conversion to SCA. A process for the preparation of plans of management for the remaining two Crown Reserves has not yet been established. Despite the lack of a plan of management, general park management still occurs as required.

³ DPI Minerals were previously known as Department of Mineral Resources.

Clause	Action	Timeline	Implementation
Att 1 Point 5	NSW will finalise boundaries of CAR reserve with the exception of the Forest Management Zoning System.	30 June 2001	Boundaries were established following the assent of the National Park Estate (Southern Reservations) Act 2000 on 13 December 2000, and adjusted by notice in March 2001.
Att 1 Point 5	NSW will finalise the Forest Management Zoning System.	31 December 2001	Refer to clause 47(e).
Att 1 Point 8	NSW to establish all Dedicated Reserve components of the CAR Reserve System.	30 June 2001	[Refer to Att1 Point 5 “NSW will finalise boundaries of CAR reserve…” milestone above].
Att 1 Point 8	NSW to establish all Informal Reserve components of the CAR Reserve System.	31 December 2001	[Refer to Att1 Point 5 “NSW will finalise boundaries of CAR reserve…” milestone above].
Att 3 point 4	NSW will complete the Threat Abatement Plan for the European Red Fox.	31 December2001	Milestone completed for Southern RFA region (refer to 2003/04 annual report for further details).
Att 3 Table 1	NSW to develop Recovery Plans for species listed in Table 1.	Within five years of signing	Recovery Plans continue to be prepared. As at 30th June 2005, the preparation of 89 of the 121 recovery plans listed in the RFA are underway. Twelve plans are approved and ten are drafts that have been publicly exhibited. However, threatened species reforms in NSW proposed to come into effect in late 2005 will create changes to the statutory requirements for preparing threatened species recovery plans. DEC will be preparing a Priority Action Statement (PAS) that will set out recovery and threat abatement strategies that may be adopted for each threatened species. The PAS will also set out, under these strategies, a framework for developing relative priorities and recovery actions (or “priority actions”) which may include requirements for recovery and threat abatement plans. However, recovery plans will not be obligatory for all threatened species listed in RFAs. Priority actions are being prepared for a suite of species and are expected to be available in late 2005. [See the Threatened Species website for further detail, including a list of recovery plans].
Att 4 Point 14	NSW will identify and assess cultural heritage values in areas excluded from CRA assessments.	31 December 2001	Milestone completed (refer to 2003/04 annual report for further details).
Att 6 Point 1(o)	NSW to publish a State of the Parks report.	31 August 2001	The first State of the Parks report was released in November 2001 with this report providing an overview of the conservation values of NSW and their management within the parks system. The second State of the Parks survey was run in late 2004 with a public report released in June 2005. This report examined key issues for management within NSW parks and included data on the effectiveness of park management.
	NSW will publish Eco Field Guides for Southern region.	31 December 2001	The final draft of the Eco Field Guide for the South Coast Sub-region has been finalised. DPI is preparing to print. The Eco-Field Guide for Tumut Sub-region is in preparation.
Att 6 Point 2(c)	NSW to document the basis for silvicultural practices and publish the Native Forest Silviculture Manual (SFNSW).	31 March 2001	Milestone completed (refer to 2003/04 annual report for further details).
Att 6 Point 2(d)	NSW to document and publish a description of the NSW Forest Management System covering Public and Private Lands.	In time for the first five-yearly review	A likely approach for completion of this milestone will be to update the overviews of each of the NSW agencies that were contained in the Comprehensive Regional Assessment/Regional Forest Assessment (CRA/RFA) ESFM report, Description of Management Systems and Processes for Achieving Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management in NSW. No further progress on this milestone was made during 2004/2005.
Att 6 Point 2(e)	NSW to publish a description of the methods and results of calculating Sustainable Yield on Public Land.	1 December 2006	Not completed as the sustainable yield systems described in clause 47(g) have not been finalised.
Att 6 Point 2(e)	NSW to publish independent audits of Sustainable Yield as outlined in Attachment 8.	For the second and subsequent five-yearly reviews	Milestone not due until the second five yearly review.
Att 6 Point 2(f)	NSW will produce annual reports of progress for meeting targets in regional ESFM plans.	Annually	Reporting will commence following the full implementation of the Regional ESFM Plans. [Refer also clause 47(d)]
Att 6 Point 2(g)/td>	NSW will report on the forest agreement covering the Southern region and on compliance with the IFOA applying to the Southern region	Annually	Preparation of annual NSW Forest Agreement Implementation reports is continuing. These reports for the UNE, LNE, Eden And Southern NSW forest agreements provide progress on: achievement of milestones in the NSW forest agreements. monitoring of ESFM criteria and indicators (sustainability indicators) by PWD and FNSW. compliance with the IFOAs. [Refer also clause 50]
Att 6 Point 2(h)	NSW to table in each House of Parliament an annual report on the New South Wales Southern Region Forest Agreement in accordance with the Forestry and National Park Estate Act 1998 (NSW) which will include an ESFM report and the outcomes of compliance with any Integrated Forestry Operations Approval for the regions.	Annually	Tabling of annual Forest Agreement Implementation reports will occur as soon as final approvals have been granted.
Att 8 Point 2(b)	NSW NPWS will develop an Environmental Management System for lands dedicated under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.	30 April 2004	Refer clause 47(h).
Att 8 Point 2(c)	SFNSW to develop a Native Forest Management System as an Environmental Management System.	30 April 2001	Refer clause 47(h).
Att 8 Point 2(l)	NSW to incorporate provisions that address in an integrated fashion bush and other fires within Regional ESFM Plans and plans of management for areas dedicated under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW).	By the first five-yearly review	The Parks and Wildlife Division(PWD)4 of DEC and FNSW ensure an integrated approach to fire management (including prevention, mitigation and suppression) is achieved through their participation in the Bush Fire Coordinating Committee and District Bush Fire Management Committees (Refer to 2003/2004 annual report for more details). The PWD also address bushfire management through incorporating ESFM principles into bush fire risk management plans and reserve fire management plans (prepared at the individual reserve level). These address the provisions outlined and are important for risk management, threatened species management and recovery planning. The PWDs’ reserve fire management plans are consistent with bush fire risk management plans but have a greater level of detail. These are prepared for reserves where such detail is necessary and a specific document is warranted. Where this level of detail is not required, provisions are incorporated directly in reserve plans of management. Revised regional ESFM plans identify FNSW’s fire management commitments. Two revised regional ESFM plans, for the South Coast and Tumut sub-regions of Southern region, were on public display in early 2005 and are expected to be finalised in late 2005 [Refer 47(d)]. FNSW’s Corporate Fuel Management Plan (or the Corporate Fire Management Strategy/Plan, as it is referred to in revised ESFM plans) is under review by FNSW Fire Management Branch and it will be open for FNSW internal comment in 2006. This corporate plan will provide a strategic framework for integrated management of FNSW managed forests and be supplemented by regional fuel management plans and fuel management programs.
Att 8 Point 2(m)	NSW to incorporate within the Regional ESFM Plans and Plans of Management under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) integrated feral animal and weed control programs.	By the first five-yearly review.	FNSW has finalised the model (strategic) plans for weeds and for feral animals and introduced predators following discussions with NSW regulatory agencies. As discussed in revised regional ESFM plans, FNSW regions will develop a weed management plan and a pest animal management plan. These plans will be based on the model to ensure consistency. The plans will include details of the objectives, strategies and co-operative arrangements for the management of priority pest animals and weeds within each FNSW region. Finalisation of plans for each FNSW region is expected to occur by the end of 2007. DEC plans of management identify priority pest and weed problems and the need for actions which are in turn addressed by statewide threat abatement plans or regional pest management strategies. Regional pest management strategies outline objectives and strategies for managing priority pest animals and weeds across the DEC estate; aim to maximise the effectiveness of pest control programs; and outline how DEC will co-operatively manage pest issues across the landscape with other State government land management agencies, local government, Rural Lands Protection Boards, landowners and community groups.
Att 8 Point 2(n)	NSW to establish a process, including public reporting, for regular audits of compliance and reviews of Codes of Practice, Eco-Field Guides and Regional Prescriptions.	31 December 2002	FNSW has defined its audit procedure in Circular 2003/01 Monitoring and Measuring Compliance of Operations. FNSW publicly reports, at a statewide level, compliance and monitoring results in its SEEing report each year. As part of the implementation of FNSW EMS all operational control documents will be regularly reviewed and updated in accordance with the required time frames within the final documents or as per FNSW standard operating procedures. DEC audits and enforces FNSW’ compliance with the Threatened Species Licences (TSL) and Environment Protection Licence (EPL) which form part of the IFOAs. The audit program ensures that FNSW is taking the required measures to protect threatened species and the aquatic environment through responsible planning and operational activities. DPI Fisheries5 carry out opportunistic threatened species compliance activities in relation to forestry operations where they coincide with other fishery compliance duties. DPI Fisheries investigate complaints when received. Information on TSL and EPL compliance throughout the year is provided in the NSW forest agreement reports each year, as described under clause 50. Further details on compliance audits are shown at Att 8 Point 2(n) below.
Att 8 Point 2(n)	NSW to undertake audits as described above.	By the first and subsequent five-yearly reviews of the Agreement	During 2004/2005, EPL coverage applied to 61 separate FNSW operations in the Southern region. There were 16 operations where harvesting occurred without EPL coverage. The TSL applied to 77 forestry operations during the period in the region. DEC conducted two audits of operational and planning activities undertaken by FNSW. DEC identified one noncompliance with planning requirements of the EPL and one audit is still outstanding. DEC received three new community complaints regarding potential water pollution and threatened species breaches in the Southern region. These matters were investigated by DEC. As a result of these audits and investigations, DEC provided feedback to Forests NSW who was required to undertake remedial work at one site. Regulatory action for one audit is still outstanding. DPI Fisheries report that there were no known contraventions of the Threatened Species Licence under the Fisheries Management Act during 2004/2005. FNSW undertake internal monitoring of its compliance with the conditions of the IFOAs. These audits are undertaken independently of those undertaken by DEC and DPI Fisheries. Internal auditing by FNSW allows the identification of possible breaches of the conditions of the IFOAs and where better management/processes need to be implemented. During 2004/2005, FNSW identified 625 incidents of non-compliance out of 99 110 potential compliance checks (or 0.6% non-compliance rate). Most of the non compliance incidents recorded were related to soil and water quality (41%) and other issues such as safety (39%). Flora and fauna non compliance incidents accounted for 20%. No incidents related to fish habitat and passage were recorded.

⁵ DPI Fisheries was formally known as NSW Fisheries
 

Clause	Action	Timeline	Implementation
Att 8 Point 5	SFNSW will publish all FRAMES CRA reports for the Southern region.	30 September 2001	Milestone completed for Southern RFA region (refer to 2003/04 annual report for further details).
Att 8 Point 6(b)	NSW will develop a model to predict recruitment and maintenance of habitat trees.	By end 2010	Milestone under development.
Att 8 Point 6 (d)	Report production of all timber products.	Annually	This milestone is reported on in the NSW Forest Agreement Implementation report each year.
Att 8 Point 6(e)	Undertake additional FRAMES plot inventory measurements.	By the first five yearly review.	No additional FRAMES inventory plots have been set up during this reporting period.
Att 8 Point 6(f)	Monitor FRAMES performance through comparison of actual versus predicted volumes.	Annually	There are a number of issues related to information on actual yields against FRAMES estimates that have hindered comprehensive reporting. These problems are to be addressed by further studies of yield regulation processes and development of a systematic harvest event recording system built on geo-database technology.
Att 8 Point 7	NSW will establish and implement an ongoing FRAMES development program.	1 December 2006	A key improvement in the development of FRAMES for the Southern region during 2004/2005 was the conversion of wood scheduling data to Woodstock for yield scheduling analysis. Woodstock will provide for yield scheduling analysis and reporting at a range of spatial levels. However, the majority of the effort on FRAMES development continues to be specifically focussed on the North East region. These improvements will be applied to other RFA regions. FRAMES development for the Southern region will be able to proceed more rapidly once improvements to FRAMES systems in the North East region are finalised.
Att 8 Point 8	NSW agrees to commission and publish an independent review of the enhanced FRAMES systems and processes applying to both the South Coast and Tumut sub regions.	1 December 2006	Improvements to FRAMES are yet to be finalised [see Att 8 Point 7 and clause 47(g)]. Therefore, an independent review of enhanced FRAMES has not been commissioned.
Att 11 Point 7	NSW will have long term wood supply contracts in place for South Coast and Tumut.	By 1 January 2001 and 1 January 2002 respectively	Milestone completed (refer to 2003/04 annual report)

 

Acronyms

• CRA/RFA  - Comprehensive Regional Assessment/Regional Forest Assessment
• DEC  - Department of Environment and Conservation
• DMR  - Department of Mineral Resources
• DPI  - Department of Primary Industries
• EMS -  Environmental Management System
• EPL  - Environment Protection Licence
• ESFM - Ecologically Sustainable Forest Management
• FMZ - Forest Management Zone
• FRAMES - Forest Resource and Management Evaluation System
• IFOA - Integrated Forestry Operations Approval
• PWD - Parks and Wildlife Division of DEC
• RFA - Regional Forest Agreement SEEing Social, Environmental and Economic report
• SCA - State Conservation Area FNSW Forests NSW
• TSL - Threatened Species Licence