Surveys for arboreal mammals, Long-Footed Potoroo and Spiny ...

SURVEYS FOR ARBOREAL MAMMALS, LONG-FOOTED
POTOROO AND SPINY CRAYFISH IN PROPOSED LOGGING
COUPES 840-502-0015 AND 840-502-0019, BROWN
MOUNTAIN CREEK CATCHMENT, BRODRIBB FOREST BLOCK,
ERRINUNDRA PLATEAU, JANUARY-MARCH 2009
Stephen Henry and Tony Mitchell
Biodiversity Group
Department of Sustainability and Environment
Orbost Office
Background
Brown Mountain Creek is a small catchment (approximately 450 ha) on the edge
of the Errinundra Plateau in East Gippsland. With the exception of about 50 ha at
the northern end of the catchment which is part of The Gap Scenic Reserve, the
area is State forest which is General Management Zone in the East Gippsland
Forest Management Plan. The part of the catchment west of Legge Road is in the
North Goongerah Icon Area identified for addition to National Park as part of the
2006 Labour Party Election policy platform.
The vegetation of the catchment is mapped as Wet Forest dominated by Shining
Gum and Messmate with scattered Errinundra Peppe rmint.
In 2007 three coupes (the two subject to this survey and 840-502-0020) were
approved as part of an amendment to the East Gippsland Timber Release Plan.
Between October 2008 and January 2009 coupe 840-502-0020 was harvested and
the other two were scheduled to be harvested in late summer and early autumn.
Conservation groups conducted protests in coupe 840-502-0020 while it was being
logged. They also conducted or sponsored surveys in the other proposed coupes
targeting arboreal mammals, large forest owls, Long-footed Potoroos and Orbost
Spiny Crayfish. All these animals have prescriptions for the protection of sites
through Action Statements or the East Gippsland Forest Area Management Plan.
These surveys indicated that sufficient Greater Gliders and Yellow-bellied Gliders
may be present to trigger the prescription for protection of the surrounding forest.
1