Midlands Region
| The Midlands Forest Management Area (FMA) extends over 1.7 million hectares. Publicly owned native forest occurs mostly in large unconnected blocks straddling or lying near the Great Dividing Range between Kyneton and Ararat and south of Ballarat. State forest in the Midlands FMA comprises 114 300 ha. It supplies approximately 8% of Victoria's annual sawlog harvest and a similar proportion of the residual (including pulpwood) log harvest. State forest also has an important role in complementing the management of national parks and other reserves for conservation, recreation and a developing eco-tourism industry. Several cities and towns within and surrounding the FMA rely on the high quality surface water that comes from forested areas.  |  Current Issues - see below In this section |
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 | Protecting Victoria's Powerful Owl The Powerful Owl is one of Australia's most spectacular birds. With a head to tail length of up to 65cm, it is Australia's largest owl, but only rarely is this nocturnal predator observed. An Action Statement established under the Act guides the management of Powerful Owls and requires specific protection for the habitat of 500 pairs across Victoria. The major cause of habitat loss has been forest clearing for urban development and agriculture. As the owls build nests in large tree hollows in the canopy of mature forest, activities such as timber harvesting without careful planning can also impact on their conservation. In accordance with the Action Statement, habitat for 25 pairs of owls (approximately 25,000 hectares) is protected within the Midlands Forest Management Area, which includes the Wombat State Forest. In total, 114,867 hectares of teh Midlands are protected within parks, reserves and State Forest Special Protection Zones (areas of State Forest where timber harvesting is prohibited). Powerful Owl expert and DSE ecologist, Richard Loyn said that, "the strategy will protect core habitat for 25 pairs of Powerful Owls in the Midlands FMA, and 500 pairs statewide. The owls will range more widely than the designated areas, using mature forest and regrowth, as they show little respect for artificial boundaries". Outcomes will be monitored and the strategy reviewed if necessary. Provisional results from eastern Victoria show that the strategy has been effective in ensuring that Powerful Owls continue to survive and breed. Recently, concerns have been raised about habitat for a pair of Powerful Owls near Trentham. 500 hectares of mature forest, the most suitable habitat for owls, have subsequently been selected for protection in the West Victoria Regional Forest Agreement. This is in addition to the 25,000 hectares required under the Action Statement, and is part of the large number of protected areas within the Midlands Forest Management Area that are suitable owl habitat. Powerful Owl protected areas are based on a combination of actual records of the bird and where suitable habitat is located. The protected areas are established during forest planning projects such as the Regional Forest Agreements or Forest Management Plans. This ensures they form part of an integrated forest management system and their proposed establishment provides an opportunity for public consultation. Consultation with regional communities was a key element of the establishment of the West Victoria Regional Forest Agreement (RFA). As outlined above, community submissions resulted in the establishment of an additional protected area for Powerful Owls near Trentham. In signing the Agreement, the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments have agreed that it provides a balanced outcome for the environment, jobs and the economy in the region. Following completion of the Agreement last year, the Minister for Environment and Conservation arranged for a meeting between Actively Conserving Trentham, senior DSE Flora and Fauna policy staff, and experts on Powerful Owl conservation to explain Government's decision to establish the 500 hectare reserve near Trentham. As part of the Government's commitment to proper scrutiny in forest management, there is an ongoing opportunity for the community to actively participate in decisions for sustainable forest management through regional forest reference groups. For any inquiries, or to receive a copy of an information brochure, contact the Customer Service Centre on 136 186. |
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