Special values PRESENTED BY Paul Ashton 23rd February 2017

What are SPECIAL VALUES according to the plantation industry? Those plant and animal species that have a conservation status of rare, threatened, endangered or vulnerable Migratory bird species Priority plant and animal species Threated or priority ecological communities Significant wetlands ie. listed as RAMSAR or national significant Important Bird Areas (IBAs) Cultural heritage sites These are plants and animals that have been declared as rare, endangered. Special values include migratory birds, plants or animals that may be a priority to a local area or ecological communities that are significant to a local area. Wetlands of national significance or RAMSAR sites, Important Birds Areas and of course Cultural heritage sites

Process for identifying and managing SPECIAL VALUES Identify what is known or likely to occur on our properties Consult with stakeholders (where required) Determine management and monitoring programs So there is a process we go through to identify special values which is outlined here… Firstly identify what is known or likely to occur on our properties Consultation with stakeholders where required – so we might be required to by legislation or we may simply require more expertise, depends on the value. From here we determine a management program and work out a monitoring program as required. Andersonia sp. Jamesii Source: S. Barrett

Identifying SPECIAL VALUES Consult numerous sources Eg. NatureMap, Aboriginal Heritage Inquiry System There’s a number of databases we check through, two main ones are listed here. Both give a good over-arching picture of what is or might be expected to occur on a piece of land, and from there we can look to our next step. Western Bristlebird Photo: Graeme Chapman

Consulting stakeholders Consult relevant stakeholder associated with what information is required Examples include DPaW, SCNRM, Dept. of Indigenous Affairs, bird watching groups. From the database and field visits etc, we can contact experts, interested parties or “stakeholders” that can assist with information to guide us on management programs, treatments, protection programs and monitoring programs…

Management and monitoring All areas of remnant vegetation are ‘no go zones’ for machinery and vehicles. Various management tools are used to manage areas of special value: Weed control programs Feral animals control programs Revegetation Hygiene programs Monitoring – routine field inspections and annual assessments So some very basic and across the board “rules” for the plantation forestry industry in general to manage remnant vegetation revolve around treating the bush as a NO GO AREA for machines and vehicles This slide and the previous show weed control programs undertaken after consultation with Greenskills, in fact I believe they are in the middle of this sort of activity right now on an ABP property to the east of town. Photo: C Varley

Why does the plantation industry want to preserve biodiversity? Legal requirements under State and Federal legislation Certification requirements – Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) Community expectations of sustainable land management The fact that biodiversity is essential for healthy soils and ecosystem function, and thus the health and sustainability of plantations

? Porongurup Range Karri Forest Photo; S. Barrett