Module 5 - VicForests

FOREST AUDIT PROGRAM TOOLBOX
ensure they are suitable for the type of audit that has been requested. The generated
list would try to ensure that relevant activities had occurred during the period of time
that was relevant to the audit period. For example, it would not be appropriate to
conduct a Module 5 audit at coupes where harvesting has not yet commenced.
Sampling Intensity
In order to apply appropriate rigour to the audit process, DSE will try to achieve a
sampling intensity to allow meaningful conclusions to be drawn on the success of
operations against the management objectives. In any given year, this will be reliant
on available resources.
Auditors will receive advice from DSE about the type of audits required and the
number of coupes to be selected for audit. This advice will be based on consideration
of the total resources available to the FAP and the anticipated cost per coupe figures
provided by the Auditor during the Request For Proposal process. The Auditor and
DSE will need to reach agreement on the adequacy of sample size prior to finalisation
of any commercial contract.
Absolute Risk Rating
The Auditor will determine an absolute risk rating (ARR) for all potential audit targets
based on the following environmental risk parameters for the Module 5 audits:
• Slope (S);
• Soil erosion hazard (SE);
• Silvicultural system (SS);
• Special land protection requirements (PR); and
• Compliance theme(s) (CT).
Details of these risk parameters are discussed in Annex A.
Each coupe in the Master Coupe List should be assigned an absolute risk rating (ARR)
by multiplying the risk values obtained for each variable element as follows:
ARR (coupe) = S x SE + SS + PR + Σ(CT)
The ARR derived for each coupe is used to place the coupe into one of three relative
risk groups (RRGs) as follows:
Low Risk Moderate Risk High Risk
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