Issue No. 4 - Resource and Conservation Assessment Council - December 1996 From the Director RACAC received nearly twenty thousand written submissions on the draft interim forestry assessment. These ranged from petition signatures to substantial submissions from peak organisations like the Forest Products Association and the North East Forest Alliance. As RACAC was unable to respond personally to everyone, I'd like to thank all of you who took the time and effort to contact us regarding the future of these eastern forests. All submissions were analysed and the results of the analysis submitted to the Government for its consideration. Both the content of the submissions and their unexpectedly high number impacted on the decision which the Government ultimately made. RACAC will continue to consult widely during the upcoming comprehensive regional assessments. Viable and enduring decisions about our forests - and achieving the twin goals of conserving forests with high biodiversity, old growth and wilderness values and maintaining a viable, high technology sawlog industry - can only be made with community involvement and input. Thank you for your continuing participation. . Rex Bowen Director, RACAC AFTER THE INTERIM ... Photo by Macleay Argus The future of both forest conservation and the timber industry has been strengthened by the NSW Government's decision on the interim forestry assessment and its decision on the State's wilderness areas. The decision on the assessment - which aimed to find a balance between conservation and industry needs - has produced an outcome which gives industry a measure of resource security while protecting high conservation values. This edition of RACAC News outlines the Government's decision, what the next steps in the implementation of the Government's forest policy will be, and how the community will be involved in the comprehensive regional assessments (CRAs). Moving ahead With the interim assessment behind us, work is now underway on the comprehensive assessments which will look at a range of forest values, incorporating scientific and technical advice (through technical committees) and local community views and feedback (through Regional Forest Forums). On the basis of the CRAs regional forest agreements will be reached between the New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments. The Government's forest decision in September was an interim measure to provide assurances for stakeholders while comprehensive regional assessments are completed. The interim assessment provided a starting point for the comprehensive assessments, which will build on the data and processes already developed as well as undertaking new assessments. The CRAs will also consider not just the timber resource and conservation values of forests but other values and uses, such as cultural and Aboriginal heritage, water and soil quality and uses of forests like grazing, mining and beekeeping. The social and economic impacts will continue to be assessed. The level of stakeholder participation will be extended through the establishment of Regional Forest Forums. The State will be divided into regions for the comprehensive assessments (see map). Technical committees The comprehensive regional assessment will provide information necessary to arrive at regional forest agreements (RFAs). There are three broad CRA assessment streams: environment and heritage assessments economic and social assessments assessment of ecologically sustainable forest management Technical committees have been established to manage each stream. These include New South Wales and Commonwealth Government and non-Government organisation representatives. They will review existing data, identify data gaps, develop and implement projects, monitor progress and ensure appropriate standards of information gathering. An Environment and Heritage Technical Committee will be responsible for: - biodiversity - old growth - wilderness - endangered species - national estate values - world heritage values - indigenous heritage Economic and social assessments will be managed by the Economic and Social Technical Committee and a technical committee to manage the Forest Resource and Management System (FRAMES). These committees will consider the economic values and industry development opportunities for forested areas social values including demographic structure, community vitality/vulnerability and community aspirations Ecologically sustainable forest management (ESFM) will involve an independent assessment of existing forest management systems. This assessment will be managed by the Ecologically Sustainable Forestry Management Group which will consider: management approaches to assist, for example, in the protection of endangered species and species sensitive to forest operations assessed as part of biodiversity projects the range of uses and intensity of use in timber production forests and reserves the impact and contribution of forest uses other than wood production tenure and land use purpose (conservation reserve or State Forest) State legislative and management regimes, administrative structures and the availability of management resources regional ecosystem variation What The Interin Decision Means The Government's September interim decision was an initial step in the implementation of its forest policy. Initiatives arising from the interim forestry assessment will: ensure that areas which may be needed for a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system are not compromised in the meantime. reform the way sawlogs are sold to mills to encourage value-adding, greater competition, and remove the impediments of current supply area restrictions. reduce the level of commitments to supply sawlogs from State forests in exchange for 5 + 5 year tradable term agreements to allow industry a secure basis for investment and strategic decisions. encourage both the best use of timber and the use of timber on private land by increasing royalties paid on sawlogs by millers to State Forests. How are the initiatives achieved? The Government has deferred a total of approximately 816 000 hectares of State forest from timber production pending the outcome of the comprehensive regional assessments. These deferred areas are called the Interim Deferred Forest Areas (IDFAs). Logging will not be allowed inside these areas except under limited circumstances where wood supply committed in term agreements for sawlogs cannot be met elsewhere. Where logging is permitted it will be with the application of strict conservation protocols. Current supply area restrictions have been lifted. This means that timber supplies may now be drawn from any State forest area and will not be limited to supply from specified management areas, as was previously the case. There will be a reduction in the supply of quota grade sawlogs to sustainable levels. From July 1 1997 there will be a 10% reduction in the north and a 5% reduction in the south sawlog supplies, bringing them to 60% and 65% using 1995/96 levels as the base. There will be no reduction in supplies in the Tumut IFA area. The Government has guaranteed the security of sawlog supply for five years through contractual term agreements. This gives industry a basis for making strategic decisions about future investment and value-adding. At the end of that five years, a further five years will be granted if a licensee can demonstrate a commitment to value-adding. So that timber is used more efficiently, and to encourage use of timber from private land, there will be an average 30% increase in the royalties sawmillers pay for sawlogs to State Forests of NSW. This will be phased in over the next 12 months from 1 July 1997. More detailed information on the forestry reforms is available by contacting the RACAC Secretariat on (02) 9228 4153. REGIONAL forest forums Regional Forest Forums are being formed as part of the next phase of the forest assessment process in the Eden, South, North and Far North regions (A Central Regional Forest Forum will be formed after the comprehensive regional assessment commences later in 1997.) These Forums will provide the regional focus for the comprehensive regional assessments and will be the point of contact and liaison between the Steering Committee and local communities. The role of the Forums will be to enhance community awareness and invite and encourage participation of interested parties in the creation of a comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system. to liaise with the Steering Committee on regional information needs including the review of existing information for input to the CRAs. to provide a regional context for the comprehensive regional assessments through review of progress and advice to the Steering Committee. The members will be required to keep their representative bases regularly briefed and to seek their views on relevant issues and, where necessary, make representations to the Steering Committee. Organisations through which nominations will be invited for membership on the Forums include: - regional economic development organisations - regional tourism organisations - regional tertiary education centres - Forest Products Association - Australian Forest Growers - Forest Protection Society - Nature Conservation Council and regional environmental groups - Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW - Apiarists Association - NSW Farmers Association - NSW Aboriginal Land Council - Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union - State Minerals Advisory Council Nominations will also be invited for representatives from Total Catchment Management Committees through the State Catchment Management Coordinating Committee. Anyone interested in being on a Forum must be nominated by a relevant representative organisation. Government representatives will be appointed through the following organisations: - Local Government & Shires Association /Regional Organisation of Councils - National Parks and Wildlife Service - State Forests of New South Wales - NSW State Fisheries - Commonwealth Department of Primary Industry and Energy. INTERIM FOREST ASSESSMENT benefits to industry no change in quota sawlog supply levels until July 1997. industry receives term agreements, providing the security which it has been seeking to allow it 'breathing space' to make longer term investment decisions. restrictions have been lifted so that log supplies do not have to come from a specified management area but can be drawn from any State forest. non-quota sawlogs (piles, poles, girders, sleepers, veneer logs, small sawlogs, ungraded sawlogs, mining timber and other miscellaneous products) will not be subject to specific volumes but will be supplied from outside the NSW IDFA. the contribution of $120 million assistance for workers and businesses to restructure and/or adjust to changes in the industry. benefits to conservation deferral of approximately 816,000 hectares of State forest from logging until completion of comprehensive regional assessments. reservation of a 90,000 hectares national park in the south east, with a further 36,000 hectares deferred for consideration during the comprehensive regional assessment. creation in the north of the State of nine new national parks and nature reserves totalling about 45,000 hectares. establishment of a $5 million Milo Dunphy Wilderness Fund to support the acquisition of private and leasehold land for wilderness additions. $1m each year for five years will be provided for this purpose. protection of 12 new wilderness areas totalling 153,320 hectares in the new and existing national parks. Update from the Commonwealth: The National Reserve Criteria paper (known as the 'JANIS' paper) is now being finalised after public consultation. A decision is being made soon on Australia's first RFA in Victoria, following consultation on the discussion paper, East Gippsland, Towards the Regional Forest Agreement. The paper, based on stakeholder comments and prepared by Commonwealth and Victorian officials, outlined a number of scenarios and was designed to assist the community to consider matters they would like to see in the RFA. Tasmanian CRA reports have also been released for public comment. RACAC Update: A new position has been included on the Council to include the Director-General, Department of Mineral Resources and the Council welcomes Dr Garry Lowder. Mr Bob Smith is also welcomed with his recent appointment as Chief Executive Officer, State Forests of NSW and as acting Director-General, Department of Land and Water Conservation. s made in accordance with the Hawke-Greiner South East Forests Agreement; and 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 Mr Bob Smith, acting Director-General, Department of Land and Water Conservation Ms Robyn Kruk, Director-General, National Parks and Wildlife Service Mr Bob Smith, Chief Executive Officer, State Forests of NSW Dr Neil Shepherd, Director-General, Environment Protection Authority Mr Geoff Scott, Director-General, Department of Aboriginal Affairs Professor Andrew Beattie, Scientific Representative Mr Col Dorber, Industry Representative Mr Gavin Hillier, Union Representative Mr Dailan Pugh, Conservation Representative Mr Mark Blecher, Conservation Representative Mr Phillip Glyde, Commonwealth Representative Dr Garry Lowder, Director-General, Department of Mineral Resources Further information RACAC Newsis 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, please call the RACAC Secretariat on (02) 228 3166, or write or fax a request to: Rex Bowen, Director - RACAC Secretariat, GPO Box 3927, Sydney NSW 2001 Phone (02) 228 3166 Fax (02) 228 4967 You can also get information on RACAC on the Internet. Information on the interim forestry assessment is available through the Government home page: http://www.nsw.gov.au/racac and this will be updated soon with information on the comprehensive regional assessments 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. © Crown copyright December 1996 Resource and Conservation Assessment Council ISSN 1325-5045
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