Forests

Management of Old-growth Forest

7.1 Introduction
Whilst the study has delineated the current extent of old-growth forests in the Central Highlands it is important to understand that the results represent only a snap-shot in time. These and all other forests are dynamic entities and their distribution and composition will change over time as a result of both the forces of nature and of human intervention and management. Further, many of the values (fauna habitat, aesthetics, water catchment) usually associated with old-growth forests are not restricted to these types of forests. Management of these values will need to address more than just the management of old-growth forest.

One of the initiatives of the National Forest Policy Statement is that relevant management agencies will develop management plans to appropriately protect old-growth forests. Thus, the findings of the old-growth study are currently being interpreted for consideration in the various planning processes of both the State and Commonwealth Governments, and specifically in the management plans for State forest, national and State parks, and other reserves being prepared by NRE.

7.2 Land-use Planning - Land Conservation Council
The land use in the Central Highlands is described in detail in the LCC's 1994 Final Recommendations and summarised in Section 3.4 of this report. The Council in 1994 made specific recommendations in respect of old-growth forest. It considered that the representation of montane and wet forest old-growth in the recommended conservation reserve system (94%) is adequate. It also considered that dry forest old-growth, which occurs in the north-eastern part of the study area, was poorly represented (31%) within the existing and recommended reserve system in the study area. Whilst this region (in the Goulburn, Big and Aberfeldy River catchments) contains virtually all the dry forest old-growth identified in the Central Highlands, similar studies have not yet been completed for the adjoining area to the north east and hence it is not possible at this stage to identify a broader regional context for these dry forest old-growth stands.

The LCC recommended that, if in the future, additional reservation to provide adequate representation of dry forest old-growth and Montane Dry Woodland old-growth identified in the north-east part of the study area is shown to be warranted, then NRE should identify an area of sufficient size and take the necessary steps to provide for its permanent reservation.

Damp Forest old-growth (630 ha) is rare in the Central Highlands and essentially comprises forests dominated by Mountain Grey Gum and Messmate. Some 39% is included in the conservation reserve system, while the remainder occurs as small stands (generally less than 50 ha) scattered across the study area. The LCC recommended that all such stands be permanently excluded from timber harvesting and other disturbances and be designated as special protection zones in forest management plans.

7.3 Forest Management Planning
A system of integrated management planning required under Victorian Government policy is being implemented for land designated as State forest through a series of Forest Management Plans which address the requirements of the Forests Act 1958 and the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. The purpose of a forest management plan is to direct the management of State forest for the protection of environmental values while providing for the sustainable management of the natural resources. The requirements of the National Forest Policy Statement to protect old-growth forest will be addressed in the plan. A forest management plan is currently being prepared for the Central Highlands. Guidelines for the protection of conservation values and the management of uses have been developed based on the best information and expert opinion available to NRE.

A feature of the planning process is the zoning of State forest to meet both conservation and timber production objectives. In meeting conservation objectives, each value, including old-growth forest, is examined in a regional context across all public land tenures, prior to determining appropriate conservation requirements within State forests. The zones adopted are defined according to the type of management that will be permitted:.

• The Special Protection Zone will be managed for conservation, and timber harvesting will be excluded. It will include areas of special significance for flora and/or fauna, areas for protection of water quality and other values (such as rainforest, riparian vegetation), and other areas of special significance (like special landscape and historic value). Such areas will be linked to the parks and reserve system where appropriate.
• The Special Management Zone will be managed to conserve specific features, while catering for timber production under certain conditions. These include areas where timber must be harvested in a different manner than is normal to protect particular values; for example in areas where accelerated tree senescence is being induced.
• The General Management Zone will be managed for a range of uses, but timber production will have a high priority. While forests in this zone will be managed for sustainable production of timber and other forest products, secondary aims will include protection of landscape, provision of recreation and educational opportunities, fire protection and conservation to complement adjacent zones.

Pending the completion of the Forest Management Plan and the associated designation of the zoning system, NRE is managing State forest in accordance with the relevant recommendation of the LCC (1994) which states: "Where they have been identified as providing important habitat for hollow-dependent species, older-aged ash forests (essentially comprising trees established prior to 1900), mixed-age ash forests in which the older-aged trees predominate and individual, living older-aged ash eucalypt trees should be conserved."

For the long-term conservation of old-growth forest we must, however, look beyond those stands which currently constitute old-growth forest or forest with a senescing growth stage. There are many natural processes constantly shaping and re-shaping the extent and characteristics of these forests. New areas will be recruited as trees reach their older growth stages or as the effects of past disturbance become negligible.

The Forest Management Plan will also specify the representative conservation of the range of vegetation classes across the study area and preference will be given not only to old-growth forest but also to negligibly-disturbed younger forest and forest with a mature growth stage which has the potential to become the old-growth forest of the future. Banks (1993) has shown that sites such as in the O'Shannassy River catchment have experienced little or no impact from wildfire, confirming the view that selected sites, because of their location in the landscape, are more likely to contain old-growth both now and in the future.