Progress Report 2007-2008 - Department of Environment and ...
Progress Report 2007-2008 - Department of Environment and ...
Progress Report 2007-2008 - Department of Environment and ...
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fifteen years <strong>and</strong> will provide valuable management information about techniques for managing BMAD<br />
<strong>and</strong> lantana.<br />
The Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre is carrying out research into eucalypt dieback in the<br />
Southern <strong>and</strong> Eden regions, <strong>and</strong> these trials may provide some valuable insight for managing<br />
l<strong>and</strong>scape level BMAD sites. Bell miner removal trials have taken place on private l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
invertebrate diversity <strong>and</strong> abundance are being monitored. BMAD continues to be a problem in the<br />
Blue Mountains World Heritage Area in the Southern region.<br />
The investigation carried out in the Jilliby Valley in LNE during 2005–2006 has been reported.<br />
In April <strong>2008</strong>, DECC released its Statement <strong>of</strong> intent 1: Infection <strong>of</strong> native plants by Phytophthora<br />
cinnamomi in response to the key threatening process listed under the TSC Act. This is the first in a<br />
series <strong>of</strong> proposed statements <strong>of</strong> intent. It outlines DECC’s approach to implementing actions over the<br />
next five years to manage the threat <strong>and</strong> minimise its impact on biodiversity. It is a resource for<br />
government <strong>and</strong> other organisations, l<strong>and</strong> managers <strong>and</strong> the public to tackle this threat into the future.<br />
Fungal diseases, insect pests or other physical agents can severely affect the biodiversity <strong>of</strong> an area<br />
<strong>and</strong> its future productivity by altering the growth rate <strong>and</strong> survival <strong>of</strong> trees. Forests NSW carries out<br />
regular surveys to monitor the extent <strong>of</strong> biological agents <strong>and</strong> critical nutrient deficiencies in both<br />
hardwood <strong>and</strong> s<strong>of</strong>twood plantations.<br />
Surveys are carried out in hardwood plantations for all agents, but only six agents were reported in<br />
hardwood plantations during <strong>2007</strong>–<strong>2008</strong>: herbivorous insects, leaf <strong>and</strong> shoot fungi, stem borers <strong>and</strong><br />
soil pathogens, Creiis lituratus, bell miner associated dieback <strong>and</strong> frost.<br />
As illustrated in figure 2-3A, while herbivorous <strong>and</strong> sap-sucking insects affected around 25% <strong>of</strong> the<br />
hardwood plantations in 1999–2000, the proportion has decreased to around 3% in <strong>2007</strong>–<strong>2008</strong>. Stem<br />
borers affected 5% <strong>of</strong> the hardwood plantations in <strong>2007</strong>–<strong>2008</strong> — up from 3% in the previous reporting<br />
period. Stem borers affected about 5% <strong>of</strong> the hardwood plantations in <strong>2007</strong>–<strong>2008</strong>. Leaf <strong>and</strong> shoot fungi<br />
were recorded as being present in 2% <strong>of</strong> the hardwood plantations. Two additional agents were<br />
reported in <strong>2007</strong>–<strong>2008</strong>, neither <strong>of</strong> which had been report in FA reports before. Bell miner associated<br />
dieback was reported in 0.5% <strong>of</strong> the hardwood plantations, <strong>and</strong> the psyllid Creiis literatus was reported<br />
in 4% <strong>of</strong> the hardwood plantations.<br />
Forests NSW surveys for six agents in s<strong>of</strong>twood plantations: Dothistroma (needle blight), boron<br />
deficiency, Sirex (wood wasp), possum damage, drought (thrips <strong>and</strong> Diplodia) <strong>and</strong> since 2004–2005<br />
Essigella californica (Monterey pine aphid).<br />
In <strong>2007</strong>–<strong>2008</strong>, the most extensive agent continued to be the Monterey pine aphid, which is now<br />
estimated to affect around 47% <strong>of</strong> State forests s<strong>of</strong>twood plantations (an increase <strong>of</strong> 7% since<br />
2006–<strong>2007</strong>).<br />
Dothistroma needle blight damage was estimated to affect 1% <strong>of</strong> the State forests s<strong>of</strong>twood<br />
plantations, while Sirex wood wasp affected 1.5%. Damage by possums was estimated to affect<br />
6% State forests s<strong>of</strong>twood plantations (up from 0.01% in 2006–<strong>2007</strong>).<br />
NSW FOREST AGREEMENTS AND INTEGRATED FORESTRY OPERATIONS APPROVALS 37