Forest Practices Authority

In need of an informative, yet entertaining read while you lounge by the river this summer? The latest edition of Forest Practices News is hot off the press (they are literally still warm) and available on the FPA website here: https://lnkd.in/g6H-itFs Have a relaxing and joyful holiday season! The FPA

🌱 Sustainable Timber Tasmania is excited to share a major environmental initiative on Bruny Island! Over the past year, we’ve been hard at work establishing a 55-hectare forest dedicated to supporting the island’s rich birdlife, on land previously used for grazing. By 2026, we’re set to plant over 30,000 black gum and blue gum seedlings, creating vital habitats for threatened species like the swift parrot and other Tasmanian endemic birds. Early monitoring of these seedlings has shown promising results, with surveys confirming healthy growth and the site meeting its ecological stocking target of 400–500 stems per hectare. The blue gum and black gum plantings across the fenced paddocks are thriving, with early growth suggesting they are well established. The project is registered under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme and will serve as a research platform to assess how seed zones respond to changing environmental conditions. We’re excited to share more updates on this important initiative as we continue working to create immediate conservation results and long-term ecological resilience on Bruny Island.

The FPA joined environmental regulators from across the state yesterday, following the AELERT-INECE 2024 Global Summit. A seminar was held to highlight presentations from the summit that were of particular interest to Tasmanian environmental regulators. The Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulators network (AELERT) is an internationally recognised professional network run by regulators, for regulators. This was a unique opportunity, and first of many, for people from the FPA, Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Tasmania, Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service, Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas), Biosecurity Tasmania and others to connect, share strategies and build collaborations that will ultimately lead to a better-served lutruwita/Tasmania. Many thanks to the AELERT team and to Comtrac_ for supporting the event.

The FPA has just delivered the 4 day Forest Practices for Supervisors Course 24. Experienced Forest Practices Officers assisted us in presenting and leading field trips for the 16 learners. The course covers the knowledge and skills required to apply and supervise forest operations in accordance with the Forest Practices Code and certified forest practices plans.

Wet and windy weather made for an interesting FPA site at the Flinders Island Show last Friday, but didn’t dampen the spirits of the FPA team! Kids and the young at heart played our games on identifying scats and we had some great conversations explaining the ins and outs of the forest practices system. An added bonus was meeting some islanders and Her Excellency the Honourable Barbara Baker AC, Governor of Tasmania, at the reception organised in her honour the night before the show.

Last week the FPA hosted the Forest Practices Awards ceremony, which has recognised excellence in people applying Tasmania's forest practices system since 2007. The Directors of the Board congratulate the nominees, not only on their outstanding professional achievements, but also on the manner in which that work has, and will continue to, contribute to the ongoing achievement of sustainable management of forests in Tasmania. The forest practices system is based on continual improvement and cooperation between all parties. It’s the high standard achieved by those who implement the forest practices system which enables this co-operation and continual improvement. For details about each nomination, check out the FP Awards Booklet on the FPA's website. https://lnkd.in/gz6xnd5u

Call for Expressions of Interest: Forest Practices Advisory Council EOI period closes Sunday 29 September 2024 Chairperson and Member The Minister for Business, Industry and Resources is seeking expressions of interest from persons suitably qualified for appointment to the Forest Practices Advisory Council (FPAC). There are two vacancies in the following categories: 1.   Chairperson – a person with knowledge or expertise in sustainable forest management (s37A(2)(a) of the Forest Practices Act 1985). 2.   Member – a person with expertise in, and operational experience of, forest harvesting or forest contracting (s37A(2)(ac) of the Forest Practices Act 1985). The Forest Practices Authority is an independent statutory authority responsible for the regulation of forest practices under the Forest Practices Act. The role of the FPAC is to promote discussion among stakeholders and to provide advice on forest practices matters to the Authority.  For more information about the role of the FPAC, visit https://lnkd.in/gsXWesYA.     Enquiries regarding the role of the FPAC should be directed to Ms Anne Chuter, Chief Forest Practices Officer on (03) 6165 4090 or via e-mail at anne.chuter@fpa.tas.gov.au. In accordance with the State Government’s Women on Boards Strategy 2020-2025, women are strongly encouraged to submit an application to fill a vacancy. To submit an expression of interest, please email boards@stategrowth.tas.gov.au with a maximum two-page statement that outlines your relevant qualifications and experience relevance to the position, a current curriculum vitae and the details of two referees. Expressions of Interest close at 5:00pm on Sunday, 29 September 2024.

Ditto Pam! What a discovery by FPA's Peter McIntosh and Adrian Slee!

NSW company 516 BHP Pty Ltd fined $120,000 for illegal land clearing Following an extensive investigation by the Forest Practices Authority (FPA), the Hobart Magistrates Court has convicted NSW company 516 BHP Pty Ltd for unlawful and unauthorised forest practices. The offences involved clearing and conversion of 6.8 ha of a wetland, which is a threatened native vegetation community, and clearing of 12.8 hectares of melaleuca forest for agricultural development in West Montagu, near Smithton.  “The decision of the Magistrates Court sends a clear message about the serious nature of these offences,” FPA’s Chief Forest Practices Officer, Anne Chuter said. “The forest practices system provides a process for identifying and considering environmental and other sensitive values. This unlawful impact on the wetland, a sensitive and important ecosystem, would have been avoided if the forest practices process had been followed. It is important that landowners check the FPA’s website or contact the FPA to find out about clearing regulations before they start operations.” Information on land clearing regulation can be found on the FPA’s website at www.fpa.tas.gov.au.