What's been done so far?

Questions and Answers

For more information contact the Resource and Conservation Assessment Council Secretariat.

WORLD FIRST in forest assessment

As part of its contribution, State Forests has undertaken a Wood Resources Study, which involved surveying forests within Management Areas to provide information on a wide range of forest attributes. These attributes describe both the existing forest and provide the information for subsequent modelling of both growth and sustained yields of timber.

Computer models

Local knowledge was used to sub-divide forest compartments into 'resource units' which are homogenous in their group of species, accessibility for timber harvesting and forest structure (that is, whether it was regrowth, mature regrowth, over-mature or various mixed classes). Other data included year last logged, forest type, site growth potential and timber volume currently available for harvesting.

'This information is used to model a range of potential harvest patterns', says Dr Tony O'Hara, the manager of the study. 'Another computer model then selects the harvest pattern which best ensures a harvest volume from the whole forest that is sustainable over time.'

'When it comes to compartment level negotiations in designing reserves, this study will show which compart-ment is more valuable in terms of timber supply if there is a choice between two compartments to be set aside from logging. The impact of inclusion of a compartment in the DFA on sustained yield can also be assessed readily.'

New tool for field foresters

While developed specifically to assess at a part-compartment level both timber volumes and sustained yield for the Interim Assessment Process, Dr O'Hara sees the project as eventually providing field foresters with another useful management tool.

'Because resource unit boundaries and all associated attributes are recorded digitally (in a Geographical Information System), the Wood Resources Study provides a basic way to translate GIS technology from earlier corporate applications into a foresters' tool for displaying on a computer map the details of the current forest as well as forest growth and future yields. Data can also be analysed as required and the results mapped, a process which makes field management more efficient and effective.'

Wood Resources Study

The Interim Assessment Process has highlighted the need for an accurate tool for assessing existing and future commercial timber supplies from State forests.

A 'state of the art' interactive computer system has been devised to assist in deciding which compartments should be deferred from logging as part of the Interim Assessment Process.

The result of work by Bob Pressey and Simon Ferrier of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the interactive computer system is at the cutting edge of geographic information system (GIS) developments, in that it links together existing GIS technology with natural resource software and a data base management system.

Bob Pressey describes the project as a classic merging of research results and GIS. Information on forestry resources is also incorporated so this can be monitored through the process.

'We have created a way for GIS to talk to natural resource software,' he said. 'What you come up with is a map showing the "irreplaceability" of compartments. It indicates on a scale of one to one hundred the likelihood that any given forest compartment will be needed as part of a future reserve system.'

Open decisions

'The computer allows you to select certain forest compartments to be deferred from logging and then see how your decision has affected the whole picture and how much closer you are to achieving agreed conservation criteria,' Bob Pressey said.

'The philosophy of the whole process is to be open and transparent and for different interest groups to be able to negotiate over individual compartments,' he said. 'There is a requirement in the (interactive computer) system that every decision needs to have a reason given ­ and they can be printed out at the end of the process so that people can see exactly why a decision was made.'

'The advantage is that this system allows you to satisfy conservation requirements and minimise the impact on the timber industry.'

'Negotiation teams will sit down and work through areas on a region by region basis,' he said. 'We recognise that there are lots of ways of making reserve systems. Where you have a choice, you have the potential to avoid areas that are valuable to the timber industry.

Measuring the diameter of trees in a Permanent Growth Plot to provide data used by the study.

RACAC Working Group on Socio-Economic Matters

One of RACAC's key sub-committees is the Working Group on Socio-Economic Matters. It will be providing RACAC with an analysis of the economic values and social effects of different configurations of forest reserves.

The Working Group draws on a range of expertise. The Chair, Dr David James, has had extensive experience on conservation and resource advisory bodies. Other members include representatives from conservation groups, the forestry industry and trade union, academia, the structural adjustment assistance committee, and the Commonwealth Government. There are also economists from relevant NSW Government departments: the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, the Environment Protection Authority, State Forests of New South Wales and Department of Land and Water and Conservation.

Local and regional impact

The Working Group has responsibility for designing and managing consultancies looking at how possible changes will affect the forest and forest products industry at the micro level and also regional implications. Studies will identify what the adaptive responses are likely to be. Community profiles and possible social impacts will also be assessed.

'We will be drawing on a suite of studies already done by the Common-wealth, looking at towns and the adjustment processes that might be expected in those communities when forestry decisions are made. Our own consultant studies will complement these existing studies,' Dr James said.

He emphasised that quality control has been a priority in managing the consultancies. 'All consultants' reports will undergo peer assessment, followed by workshops attended by both the consultants and the peer reviewers, to ensure professional integrity,' Dr James said.

The Socio-Economic Working Group will finalise its reports and submit them to RACAC to meet the July sign-off date for the IAP.

Bob Pressey giving a demonstration to Council of the computer system being used in the Interim Assessment.Dr David James with RACAC conservation representative Dailan PughMarch 1996RACAC news Issue No. 2

Bird's eye view of old growth

RACAC's largest scale project has been the mapping of 3.313 million hectares of public land, using aerial photography interpretation (API) to locate old-growth forest. The Aerial Photography Mapping for Old Growth Forest on Public Land in Eastern NSW project was completed in just six months.

The project manager, Ashley Love of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, believes this is one of the largest mapping programs ever attempted using aerial photography over such a short time.

The mapped area included 2.2 million hectares of State forest, 850 000 hectares of national parks and flora and fauna reserves (excluding the extensive national parks of the Sydney sandstone belt) and 250 000 hectares of vacant Crown land and Crown leasehold.

Twenty four air photo interpretive contractors were engaged to interpret from aerial photos the current growth stage and disturbance.

The project was a cooperative one, with State Forests providing trained aerial photography interpreters to make detailed checks of the air photography. A minimum of ten percent of all mapping was field checked.

'There has been a strong emphasis on maintaining consistency in interpretation between the 24 interpreters,' Ashley Love said.

'This involved initial training, regular follow-up meetings, and API coordinators for each 3 or 4 interpreters. The coordinators participated on all field work undertaken by interpreters.'

'We devised a methodology and piloted it in seven locations throughout New South Wales' Ashley Love explained. 'The pilot indicated that the best way to proceed was to map forests in terms of the proportion of regrowth trees, mature trees, over-mature or senescent trees and obvious past evidence of logging or fire damage in each stand. The minimum mapping area was 25 hectares ­ in other words the sub-compartment level.'

All interpretation is now completed, and information is being digitised into a computer data base. Recently developed software is being used to correct distortion in API.

As a result of this project, old growth information will be available in GIS to be analysed against forest type mapping to calculate the existing extent of old growth for each forest type.

The mapping of forest growth stages is also being used by two expert fauna panels to help create models for the distribution of endangered and threatened species.

RACAC members

Mr Gerry Gleeson, Chair

Mrs Gabrielle Kibble, Director-General, Department of Urban Affairs and Planning

Mr Roger Wilkins, Director-General, The Cabinet Office

Dr Col Gellatly, Director-General, Department of Land and Water Conservation

Ms Robyn Kruk, Director-General, National Parks and Wildlife Service

Dr Hans Drielsma, General Manager, State Forests of NSW

Dr Neil Shepherd, Director-General, Environmental Protection Authority

Mr Geoff Scott, Director-General, Department of Aboriginal Affairs

Professor Andrew Beattie, Scientific Representative

Mr Col Dorber, Industry Representative

Mr Dailan Pugh, Conservation Representative

Mr Gavin Hillier, Union Representative

Mr Phillip Glyde, Commonwealth Representative

Further information

The RACAC News is an occasional publication. It will keep you up to date with relevant information, including details of projects, consultations and general progress. If you wish to be placed on the RACAC News mailing list, or have any general queries or comments, please let us know by calling the RACAC Secretariat on (02) 228 3166, or write or fax a request to the following:

Rex Bowen, Director
RACAC Secretariat
GPO Box 3927, Sydney NSW 2001

Phone (02) 228 3166 Fax (02) 228 4967

© Crown copyright March 1996

Resource and Conservation Assessment Council

ISSN 1325-5045

Printed on recycled paper

DISCLAIMER

Any representation, statement, opinion or advice, expressed or implied in this publication is made in good faith but on the basis that the State of New South Wales, its agents and employees are not liable (whether by reason of negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any representation, statement, or advice referred to above.