Progress Report 2007-2008 - Department of Environment and ...

Criterion 1 – Biodiversity
Forest type and growth stage
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MIG Indicator 1.1.a: Extent of area by forest type and tenure (UNE, LNE, Southern regions)
Indicator 1.1: Extent of forest ecosystem types and vegetation types by growth stage (Eden region)
Sub-indicator 1.1.a.1: Understorey vegetation layer (Southern region)
MIG indicator 1.1.b: Area of forest type by growth stage distribution by tenure (UNE, LNE, Southern regions)
Indicator 1.1: Extent of forest ecosystem types and vegetation types by growth stage (Eden region)
Additions to the DECC estate resulted in increases to the extent of some forest ecosystems and
most growth stage categories. The extent of growth stage categories within State forests
remains relatively stable.
Area of forest by forest type and tenure
This indicator uses the area of each forest type over time as a broad measure of the maintenance of
forest ecosystems and their diversity. Reporting on forest tenure helps understand how different land
management administrations can affect forest biodiversity 7 . Changes in the extent of forest ecosystem
types are measured against modelled forest type extents that are listed in the RFAs 8 .
Change within the DECC estate
New gazettals 9 were responsible for increases in the area of forest ecosystems in all regions during
2007–2008.
There were increases in the area of forest, including candidate old growth, within the parks system for
both UNE and LNE regions during 2007–2008, due to new gazettals.
In the UNE region, new gazettals protected 8764 ha of forest, covering 81 of the 163 mapped forest
types, including 5851 hectares (ha) (59 types) mapped as candidate old growth.
For the UNE region during 2007–2008, there was an increase in the extent of 81 of the 163 forest
ecosystems, by a total area of 8764 ha across nine new reserve additions. For 59 (as above) of these
81 forest ecosystems there was an increase in the area of candidate old growth (COG) forest in the
parks system of 5851 ha and for 53 of the 81 forest ecosystems there was an increase in the area of
disturbed old growth (DOG) forest in the parks system by 1763 ha (Table 2-1A). Around 88% of these
additions are therefore classified as old growth forest in some form, containing significant areas of
habitat for those species dependent on old growth elements.
The area of threatened forest ecosystems given formal protection within the reserve system also
increased with the gazettal of additions in UNE in 2007–2008. This included an increase in the
reserved area of two endangered forest ecosystems, rainforest and swamp, which increased by areas
of 191 ha and 13 ha, respectively. The reserved area of eleven vulnerable forest ecosystems increased
7
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry,
www.daffa.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0004/451642/crit-indicators.doc
8
Modelled pre-1750 extent of forest types are contained in Tables 1A and 1B, Attachment 1 of the North East RFA; Table 1,
Attachment 1 of the Eden RFA; and Table 1, Attachment 1 of the Southern RFA.
9
The formal process by which land becomes part of the NSW parks system, whereby notices are published in the NSW
Government Gazette.
NSW FOREST AGREEMENTS AND INTEGRATED FORESTRY OPERATIONS APPROVALS