The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning with the Conservation Regulator has put out a call for feedback on procedures for the identification of old growth forest across the state.
The Department said the procedures would be applied to the native timber harvesting industry – to its operations in State forests – and the Conservation Regulator to implement the Victorian Government’s announcement to end timber harvesting of old growth forests.
The Conservation Regulator said the draft procedure sought to provide clear, transparent and independent guidance for the identification and protection of old growth forests in the field.
The Regulator said the definition of old growth forest was reflective of the existing definition of old growth forest in the Management Standards and Procedures for Timber Harvesting Operations in Victoria’s State Forests 2014 (an incorporated document to the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014).
“Community feedback into the effectiveness and practicality of the method will be used to shape the final guidelines that we will look to release in early 2020,” the Regulator said.
The Regulator said the draft method for identifying old growth forests was currently open for public feedback until 23 December.
The 30-page draft as well as information on how to have a say can be accessed at this PS News link.
