INVESTIGATION REPORT Tramline Road · En Shining Gum YES N/A Pl Victorian Christmas Bush YES N/A YES N/A YES N/A TOTAL: 9 Various but were not specifically recorded. CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

INVESTIGATION REPORT

Tramline Road480-508-0010 and 480-508-0007

Investigation into VicForests' Compliance with Cool Temperate Rainforest Ecological Buffer Prescriptions under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act Action Statement #238 for the Threatened

Ecological Vegetation Class Cool Temperate Rainforest

AbstractVicForests scheduled logging coupes 480-508-0010 and 480-508-0007 were investigated to determine planning and operational compliance with the regulatory framework relevant to the protection of rainforest during logging operations within Victorian State Forest. The "ecotone" between the rainforest and the sclerophyll forest within the study area was identified using the mandatory "differential species method" for identifying rainforest boundaries. All ecotone, logging activity and coupe demarcation location details were recorded and analysed using GPS mapping software. The results of this process demonstrate that the "ecological rainforest buffer" required to ensure protection of the rainforest stand on site has not been adequately provided and logging activities such as bulldozing, tree-felling and road construction have occurred within this protection zone.

Relevant LegislationCode of Practice for Timber Production (Section 2.2.2), Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2007 ;

Central Highlands Forest Management Plan (Chapter 3, Biodiversity Conservation), DNRE, East Melbourne, 1998;

Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1998) Action Statement #238 Cool Temperate Rainforest; Dry Rainforest (Limestone), Warm Temperate Rainforest (Coastal East Gippsland); Warm Temperate Rainforest (Cool Temperate Overlap; Howe Range); Warm Temperate Rainforest (East Gippsland Alluvial Terraces); Warm Temperate Rainforest (Far East Gippsland); Human activity which results in artificially elevated or epidemic levels of Myrtle Wilt within Nothofagus dominated Cool Temperate Rainforest, Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne, June 2009;

Management Procedures for timber harvesting, roading and regeneration in Victoria's State forests 2009, Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne, October 2009.

Organisations participant in breach• VicForests• Logging contractors operating in coupes 480-508-0010.

Status of SiteCoupe 480-508-0010 is currently active and coupe 480-508-0007 is taped out in preparation for logging (03/03/2013).

Date of Investigation03/03/2013

Date of report24/03/2013

SurveyorAndrew Lincoln

AuthorAndrew LincolnFauna and Flora Research Collective [email protected]

Location detailsWithin VicForests logging coupes 480-508-0010 and 480-508-0007 along Tramline Road accessed from Thomson Valley Road in the Thomson State Forests of the Erica Forest District.

Figure A. Detail from: "Approved TRP Map (with amendments applied) Central Gippsland FMA, Erica, (2011 - 2016)", VicForests, posted on website 03 November 2012

*Investigation location within blue box.

Method Used – CTRF-MWSF Ecotone/-1 mapping (ECOTONE_-1_10m)

Following the directions set out in “A Field Guide to Rainforest Identification in Victoria: Differential species keys for the delineation of rainforest boundaries”1, in particular the section dealing with “Central Highlands North-east Montane Cool Temperate Forest Floristic Field Identification Key”, species listed as either “Differential Species for Central Highlands Montane Riparian Cool Temperate Rainforest”(CTRF) or species listed as “Differential Species for Central Highlands Montane Wet Sclerophyll Forest”(WSF) were searched for on the topographical contour at the locations labeled in "green" in the “Results” section below.

Rainforest inspection began at the center of the the Montane Cool Temperate Rainforest Stand shown in Figure 1. From this location the rainforest stand ecotone was identified using the differential species approach; i.e. where there was an even ratio of sclerophyll and rainforest differential species present (i.e. 4/4; 1/1 ratio of differential species), or at least one more rainforest differential species, (i.e. 3 sclerophyll forest species and 4 rainforest species present), thus mapping a line closer towards the rainforest side of the ecotone than the sclerophyll forest. The ecotone was navigated in a clockwise direction, repeatedly applying the above methodology whilst marking waypoints along the way, until the surveyor returned to the starting location where the ecotone was first identified.

This “rainforest extent” path was recorded as waypoints on a GPS, usually at a distance of less than 10m, and is displayed in the following “Results” section [Table 1 and Figure 1].

1 Cameron, David, A Field Guide to Rainforest Identification in Victoria: Differential species keys for the delineation of rainforest boundaries, Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne, 2008

Results 1 Table A. Differential species participating in the ecotone at this location:

The following differential species were searched for to identify the ecotone on site:

RAINFOREST SPECIES

AbbreviationMyrtle Beech YES YES

Lg Mountain Tea-tree YES YESAm Southern Sassafras YES YES

YES YESCap Tall Sedge YES YES

YES YESYES YES

Om Snowdrop Wood-sorrel YES NOPretty Grass-flag YES YESCommon Finger-fern YES YES

Bf Ray Water-fern YES YESAlpine Water-fern YES NO

TOTAL: 12 10

AbbreviationAd Silver Wattle YES N/A

YES N/ACh YES N/ACar Mountain Clematis YES N/ACa YES N/AEn Shining Gum YES N/APl Victorian Christmas Bush YES N/A

YES N/AYES N/A

TOTAL: 9 Various

but were not specifically recorded.

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS SOUTH-EAST MONTANE COOL TEMPERATE FOREST FLORISTIC FIELD IDENTIFICATION KEY (for use in Alpine Ash and Shining Gum forests and for rainforest stands containing Mountian Tea-tree east of Noojee

in the Noojee and Erica districts in the general vicinity of the Baw Baw Plateau in the catchments of the Tanjil, Tyers and Thomson Rivers)

Botanical Name Common Name

Differential Species for CH Montane

Riparian Cool

Temperate Rainforest

Participating in Ecotone

at this location?

Nc Nothofagus cunninghamiiLeptospermum grandifoliumAtherosperma moschatum

Wv Wittsteinia vacciniacea Baw Baw BerryCarex appressa

Cn Coprosma nitida Shining CoprosmaAma Acrothamnus maccraei Subalpine Beard-heath

Oxalis magellanicaLp Libertia pulchellaGb Grammitis billardierei

Blechnum fluviatileBpm Blechnum penna-marina

SCLEROPHYLL SPECIES #

Botanical Name Common Name

Differential Species for CH Montane

Wet Sclerophyll

Forest

Participating in Ecotone

at this location?

Acacia dealbataPs Polyscias sambucifolia Elderberry Panax

Coprosma hirtella Rough CoprosmaClematis aristataCassinia aculeata Common CassiniaEucalyptus nitensProstanthera lasianthos

Pe Pteridium esculentum Austral BrakenLf Leptinella filicula Mountain Cotula

# Most Sclerophyll Forest Differential Species were identified on site as participating in the ecotone

Location/Coordinates Location/Coordinates

Logging Activity – Bulldozer Track/Felled Tree Logging Activity – Bulldozer Track/Felled Tree

652 55 H 438076 5816538 10713 55 H 438195 5816499

662 55 H 438083 5816544 10812 55 H 438198 5816512

673 55 H 438089 5816544 10912 55 H 438205 5816516

682 55 H 438090 5816535 11012 55 H 438210 5816520

692 55 H 438092 5816529 11112 55 H 438212 5816530

702 55 H 438100 5816526 11212 55 H 438214 5816535

712 55 H 438108 5816520 11312 55 H 438218 5816543

722 55 H 438115 5816515 11412 55 H 438222 5816552

732 55 H 438120 5816509 13512 55 H 437964 5816292

742 55 H 438121 5816503 13612 55 H 437974 5816300

752 55 H 438121 5816497 13712 55 H 437977 5816313

762 55 H 438119 5816495 13812 55 H 437979 5816335

772 55 H 438113 5816493 13912 55 H 437985 5816345

782 55 H 438109 5816483 14012 55 H 437987 5816353

792 55 H 438106 5816474 14112 55 H 437990 5816360

802 55 H 438101 5816465 14212 55 H 437994 5816369

812 55 H 438100 5816458 14311 55 H 437997 5816381

822 55 H 438102 5816452 14411 55 H 438001 5816388

832 55 H 438106 5816440 14511 55 H 438002 5816394

842 55 H 438105 5816433 14611 55 H 438007 5816402

852 55 H 438106 5816426 14711 55 H 438009 5816410

862 55 H 438106 5816418 14811 55 H 438013 5816419

872 55 H 438112 5816409 14911 55 H 438016 5816423

882 55 H 438114 5816405 15011 55 H 438018 5816433

892 55 H 438121 5816404 15111 55 H 438021 5816439

902 55 H 438134 5816401 15211 55 H 438026 5816445

912 55 H 438138 5816410 15312 55 H 438026 5816451

922 55 H 438150 5816410 15412 55 H 438031 5816456

932 55 H 438153 5816414 15510 55 H 438034 5816467

942 55 H 438159 5816413 15610 55 H 438039 5816469

952 55 H 438165 5816413 15710 55 H 438046 5816476

962 55 H 438173 5816419 15813 55 H 438051 5816479

972 55 H 438176 5816429 15910 55 H 438053 5816484

982 55 H 438180 5816434 16010 55 H 438049 5816488

992 55 H 438183 5816439 16110 55 H 438050 5816493

10013 55 H 438184 5816448 16210 55 H 438054 5816503

10113 55 H 438183 5816457 16310 55 H 438059 5816512

10213 55 H 438185 5816464 16411 55 H 438067 5816520

10313 55 H 438185 5816469 16511 55 H 438065 5816527

10413 55 H 438185 5816476 16611 55 H 438068 5816529

10513 55 H 438187 5816483 16712 55 H 438073 5816536

10613 55 H 438191 5816494

Coupe Demarcation Coupe Demarcation

11512 55 H 438208 5816545 12111 55 H 438177 5816622

11612 55 H 438207 5816561 12211 55 H 438170 5816638

11711 55 H 438209 5816577 12311 55 H 438170 5816649

11812 55 H 438210 5816584 12412 55 H 438171 5816654

11911 55 H 438199 5816596 12512 55 H 438183 5816676

12012 55 H 438187 5816613 12612 55 H 438185 5816680

Waypoint Waypoint Sym bol Waypoint Waypoint Sym bol

n - Logging Activity n - Logging Activity









































n - Logging Activity

n - Coupe Demarcation Tape n - Coupe Demarcation Tape






Results 2

Table 1. All logging activity/ecotone data recorded from within the coupe [PART 1].


22 55 H 438154 5816497 482 55 H 438164 5816466

32 55 H 438155 5816514 492 55 H 438166 5816459

42 55 H 438163 5816516 502 55 H 438162 5816450

52 55 H 438170 5816525 512 55 H 438156 5816445

62 55 H 438170 5816531 522 55 H 438152 5816437

72 55 H 438165 5816545 533 55 H 438143 5816440

82 55 H 438161 5816550 543 55 H 438140 5816428

92 55 H 438150 5816555 552 55 H 438129 5816424

102 55 H 438147 5816557 563 55 H 438129 5816438

112 55 H 438139 5816543 573 55 H 438127 5816447

122 55 H 438136 5816557 583 55 H 438119 5816460

132 55 H 438147 5816569 592 55 H 438120 5816464

143 55 H 438149 5816576 602 55 H 438126 5816471

152 55 H 438138 5816578 612 55 H 438130 5816480

162 55 H 438131 5816582 622 55 H 438138 5816489

172 55 H 438119 5816598 632 55 H 438142 5816490

182 55 H 438118 5816605 642 55 H 438146 5816490

192 55 H 438115 5816612 2159 55 H 437951 5816396

202 55 H 438110 5816619 2409 55 H 438030 5816518

212 55 H 438110 5816624 2444 55 H 438015 5816544

222 55 H 438109 5816624 2538 55 H 438005 5816571

232 55 H 438096 5816632 2592 55 H 438042 5816608

242 55 H 438094 5816639 2625 55 H 438054 5816649

252 55 H 438091 5816642 2632 55 H 438065 5816647

262 55 H 438123 5816662 2642 55 H 438063 5816653

272 55 H 438117 5816648 2652 55 H 438055 5816659

283 55 H 438124 5816639 2662 55 H 438058 5816663

292 55 H 438128 5816631 2672 55 H 438069 5816659

302 55 H 438140 5816622 2682 55 H 438080 5816669

312 55 H 438142 5816617 2692 55 H 438083 5816666

322 55 H 438145 5816610 2703 55 H 438100 5816661

332 55 H 438152 5816599 2713 55 H 438107 5816669

342 55 H 438161 5816577 2723 55 H 438089 5816636

352 55 H 438162 5816580 2733 55 H 438078 5816625

362 55 H 438171 5816569 2743 55 H 438085 5816625

372 55 H 438178 5816564 2753 55 H 438083 5816621

382 55 H 438185 5816559 2763 55 H 438074 5816615

392 55 H 438176 5816551 2773 55 H 438068 5816607

402 55 H 438183 5816542 2783 55 H 438064 5816593

412 55 H 438184 5816519 2792 55 H 438057 5816586

422 55 H 438176 5816515 2803 55 H 438057 5816576

432 55 H 438174 5816502 2813 55 H 438060 5816573

442 55 H 438166 5816496 2823 55 H 438050 5816565

452 55 H 438166 5816491 2833 55 H 438047 5816557

462 55 H 438155 5816477 2843 55 H 438044 5816549

472 55 H 438156 5816472 2853 55 H 438046 5816538


Ecotone Data Ecotone Data

l - Ecotone l - Ecotone














































Results 2 (continued)


Results 2 (continued)



2862 55 H 438042 5816538 21210 55 H 437947 5816366

2872 55 H 438041 5816538 21310 55 H 437954 5816377

16812 55 H 438049 5816538 21410 55 H 437952 5816390

16912 55 H 438050 5816528 21610 55 H 437949 5816406

17012 55 H 438043 5816521 21710 55 H 437952 5816413

17112 55 H 438039 5816511 21810 55 H 437960 5816419

17212 55 H 438029 5816505 21910 55 H 437963 5816425

17312 55 H 438031 5816499 22010 55 H 437967 5816434

17412 55 H 438029 5816490 22110 55 H 437981 5816438

17512 55 H 438027 5816482 22210 55 H 437986 5816441

17611 55 H 438017 5816482 22310 55 H 437988 5816447

17712 55 H 438010 5816480 22410 55 H 437976 5816455

17812 55 H 438007 5816476 22510 55 H 437972 5816459

17912 55 H 438010 5816469 22610 55 H 437964 5816459

18012 55 H 438009 5816459 22710 55 H 437969 5816467

18112 55 H 438007 5816455 22810 55 H 437978 5816468

18213 55 H 438004 5816447 22910 55 H 437983 5816470

18312 55 H 438002 5816434 23010 55 H 437994 5816472

18412 55 H 437997 5816434 23110 55 H 438002 5816474

18511 55 H 437991 5816420 23210 55 H 438008 5816484

18611 55 H 437985 5816410 23310 55 H 438002 5816495

18713 55 H 437985 5816406 23410 55 H 438004 5816508

18811 55 H 437977 5816397 23510 55 H 438012 5816503

18911 55 H 437974 5816390 23610 55 H 438016 5816512

19011 55 H 437972 5816382 23710 55 H 438012 5816516

19111 55 H 437973 5816376 23810 55 H 438020 5816517

19211 55 H 437971 5816372 23910 55 H 438025 5816509

19312 55 H 437967 5816368 24110 55 H 438034 5816522

19412 55 H 437955 5816362 24210 55 H 438027 5816524

19511 55 H 437956 5816356 24310 55 H 438029 5816541

19612 55 H 437947 5816349 24510 55 H 438013 5816545

19712 55 H 437940 5816340 24610 55 H 438024 5816556

19812 55 H 437939 5816330 24710 55 H 438036 5816551

19912 55 H 437941 5816327 24810 55 H 438039 5816560

20011 55 H 437939 5816316 24910 55 H 438031 5816567

20111 55 H 437941 5816312 25010 55 H 438031 5816570

20211 55 H 437939 5816305 25110 55 H 438023 5816574

20311 55 H 437930 5816303 25210 55 H 438016 5816573

20411 55 H 437920 5816304 25410 55 H 437997 5816583

20511 55 H 437909 5816321 25510 55 H 438005 5816588

20611 55 H 437912 5816328 25610 55 H 438022 5816606

20711 55 H 437917 5816338 25710 55 H 438030 5816596

20811 55 H 437928 5816344 25810 55 H 438033 5816607

20910 55 H 437937 5816357 26010 55 H 438037 5816617

21010 55 H 437946 5816360 26110 55 H 438047 5816629

21110 55 H 437948 5816367


Ecotone Data Ecotone Data














































l - Ecotone

Figure 1a.CTRF extent; Logging Activity; 40m Ecological Rainforest Buffer Projection; Part Scheduled coupe outlines (Waypoints displayed).

[See Discussion Section for Figure Legend]

Results 3

Figure 1b.CTRF extent; Logging Activity; 40m Ecological Rainforest Buffer Projection; Scheduled coupe outlines.

[See Discussion Section for Figure Legend]

Results 3 (Continued)

Results 3 (Continued)Figure 2.Overview of study location with satellite imagery indicative of Rainforest ecotone, 40m Ecological Rainforest Buffer, Scheduled Coupe Boundaries and Logging Activity locations. Note: satellite imagery not current to March 2013.

Discussion

1. The area of Cool Temperate Rainforest discovered on site was > 0.4ha.

2. The rainforest ecotone is shown as a green line in Figure 1. generated from the data in Table 1.

3. An area of Rainforest of 0.4ha in the Central Highlands of Victoria must be protected by a vegetated buffer of at least 40m (See Appendix A).

4. Figure 1. shows this 40m Ecological Rainforest Buffer as the “blue line” that extends at a distance of 40m from the rainforest ecotone.

5. Figure 1., generated from the data in Table 1., shows that logging activities within coupe 480-508-0010 have clearly occurred within this Ecological Rainforest Buffer and that coupe demarcation activities within 480-508-0007 indicate that this situation will be further exacerbated.

[See also Appendix B for photographs)]

6. Approximately 1.0ha of logging activity (over a distance of >1km adjacent to the rainforest ecotone) has been recorded as occuring within the 40m Ecological Rainforest Buffer.

Note: These coupes have not been surveyed in their entirety to ascertain all rainforest presence and logging activity proximity.

Conclusion

7. Logging activities within coupe 480-508-0010 has (and coupe demarcation activities within 480-508-0007 indicate that logging will also have) breached the “Guidelines and minimum prescriptions to protect FFG-listed rainforest communities during forestry operations on public land” under Appendix 1 to the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1998) Action Statement #238 Cool Temperate Rainforest; Dry Rainforest (Limestone), Warm Temperate Rainforest (Coastal East Gippsland); Warm Temperate Rainforest (Cool Temperate Overlap; Howe Range); Warm Temperate Rainforest (East Gippsland Alluvial Terraces); Warm Temperate Rainforest (Far East Gippsland); Human activity which results in artificially elevated or epidemic levels of Myrtle Wilt within Nothofagus dominated Cool Temperate Rainforest, Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne, June 2009.

Figure 1 LegendRed Boxes/LinesBrown Lines Coupe boundaries as scheduled on the current approved Timber Release PlanRed Flags/Pink Line Coupe demarcation tapes/Coupe boundary marked on site

Green Dots/LineBlue Line/Polygon

Logging Activity (i.e. Bulldozer Track/Felled Tree)

CTRF Waypoints/Ecotone40m Ecological Rainforest Buffer at 40m from ecotone

APPENDIX A

Exert from: Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1998) Action Statement #238 Cool Temperate Rainforest [et. al.], Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne, June 2009, pages 19 and 20.

APPENDIX A (continued)

APPENDIX B

Tramline Road (Thomson State Forest) – VicForests sheduled and active logging coupe 480-508-0010Images showing logging of the Ecological Rainforest Buffer. Note: Rainforest Differential species Nothofagus cunninghamii (Myrtle Beech) in the background. AL_FFRC

Documents

INVESTIGATION REPORT Tramline Road · En Shining Gum YES N/A Pl Victorian Christmas Bush YES N/A YES N/A YES N/A TOTAL: 9 Various but were not specifically recorded. CENTRAL HIGHLANDS