Gippsland Times, 29 September 2023
The 2022 official audit of VicForests has found an average 96 per cent compliance with the state’s forestry environmental standards.
The latest independent audit was conducted in 32 coupes with harvesting operations in 2020–21 across the Central Highlands, Gippsland, East Gippsland and North East Regional Forest Agreement areas and showed a continuous improvement in VicForests’ audit results.
As part of its annual forest audit program, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) commissions an Environment Protection Authority accredited auditor to conduct an audit of VicForests’ operations.
This audit was conducted according to four themes: environmental values in State forests, conservation of biodiversity, operational planning and record keeping, and coupe infrastructure for timber harvesting operations.
The overall 2022 audit ranged between 87 per cent and 100 per cent, with an average of 96 per cent compliance (an increase from 94 per cent in our last audit) across all themes and sub themes of the audit, meaning either consistency or improvements in all areas.
Several areas of improvement include: protection of forest soils – 95 per cent (previously 92 per cent); protection of water flows, water quality and river health – 94 per cent (91 per cent); protection of biodiversity values – 96 per cent (95 per cent); road maintenance and closure practices – 99 per cent (88 per cent).
Incidents in 20 of the non-conforming aspects had potential for an environmental impact – an average of 1.4 per coupe. There were as many as six incidents in one coupe. the various impacts ranged between negligible and major, with moderate the most common rating.
Incidents with major potential impacts were all linked to defective waterway crossings. Other incidents involved risks to either terrestial or aquatic biodiversity values, or a small incursion into a Leadbeater’s Possum Special Protection Zone, and defective waterway crossings.
The 32 coupes audited were selected using a risk-based procedure that prioritised coupes with high-risk features and are associated with special values: waterway crossings; long lengths of in-coupe road; steep slopes; more erosive soils; rainforest vegetation in close proximity; presence of threatened flora and/or fauna; and Special Protection or Special Management Zones (SPZ and SMZ respectively) in close proximity.
Given coupe selection is risk-based, rather than fully randomised, the findings of this audit cover a portion of VicForests’ higher-risk operations, with lower-risk areas not audited.
VicForests said it was pleased with an average conformance score of 96 per cent against the applicable criteria.
“The findings are a testament to the work our passionate staff undertake in the forest,” the state forestry company said. ”Our staff are committed to continuously improving our practices and strive to demonstrate excellence in all that we do. Our sustainable forest management activities are informed by the latest research and guided by best practice.
“VicForests recognises, as always, that there is room for improvement, and welcomes the audit’s findings and recommendations in providing advice and direction on areas of focus for such improvement.”
VicForests is responsible for the harvesting of native forest areas, the commercial sale of the wood and the regeneration of the harvested areas.
The State government has begun the process to dissolve VicForests ahead of the closure of the native forest industry next January.
