#204 Logging of Pre-1900 Tree # 919 (Toolangi, Victoria)

06/15/2010 11:23 pm

On The Ground:

Alleged Breach 0204 Logging of tree over 100 years old.pdf 1.48 MB

Tree number 919 Circumference 7.50 metres at 1.3 metres in height

Latitude: 37°29'27.00"S

Longitude: 145°32'43.09"E

Breach Type: Alleged

Breach Rating: Major

Notification date: 15th June 2010

Notified to: VicForests

Undertaking Sought:

DSE to investigate the breach

If the breach is confirmed, we would appreciate details of who was the recipient of the wood and where it is now in the supply chain.

Breach Status: Notified

Breach Location: Toolangi Australia

Perpetrator: VicForests

Description:

#204 A Pre-1900 tree has been logged

A cross section of the tree 919 pictured above was studied by Dr Matthew Brookhose from the Fenner School of Environment and Society from the Australian National University in 2010. (Appendix 1). The executive summary found the tree to be 105 years old.

NB: the Central Highlands Forest Management Plan was written in 1998 and at the time of writing a pre 1900 tree was 98 years old.

This is the age that trees are considered to develop hollows and become habitat as highlighted in the following paper available here which was published at the same time

Furthermore on page 74 of the Central Highlands Forest Management Plan 1998 it states that “This Forest Management Plan applies until 2008 or until other circumstances warrant a major review” (see below). However it is now December 2010 and no review has taken place. If this review had taken place then the “pre 1900” oversight would clearly have been updated. Since the review has not taken place and since the intent of the 100 year age class is obvious for hollow development reasons, it is not correct to assume that trees now have to be 110 years old to be protected ie applying the same logic in 100 years time trees will have to be 210 years old to be protected from logging.

The tree has a circumference of 7.50 metres at 1.3 metres height

204.01 Forest Manager has allowed logging of a pre-1900 tree which breaches the Central Highlands Forest Management plan Appendix G

appendix G no pre 1900 are to be harvested

204.02 In accordance with the AFS standard 4.1.4 the forest manager has failed to ensure procedures were in place checking management plans and practices for compliance with legislation , does of practice and regional and local prescriptions, guidelines and other relevant controls.