Module 5 - VicForests

6 Glossary
6
Auditee
An auditee is a person or organisation being audited. DSE administers audits of organisations or
individuals whose activities relate to Victorian timber harvesting in State forest. Relevant timber
harvesting operations include those managed by VicForests in eastern-Victoria, as well as those
managed by DSE in other parts of the State
Auditor
A highly qualified and skilled individual with extensive experience in environmental science and or
engineering, as well as environmental auditing appointed pursuant to the EP Act to conduct an
independent and objective assessment of the nature and extent of harm (or risk of harm) to the
environment posed by a process or activity, waste, substance or noise.
Biodiversity
The natural diversity of all life: the sum of all our native species of flora and fauna, the genetic
variation within them, their habitats, and the ecosystems of which they are an integral part.
Compliance Element
The subject, activity or operational component being assessed for compliance against the regulatory
framework. Generally referred to as ‘focus areas’ in the former audit program operated under EPA.
Compliance Theme
Topics and/or issues deemed to overlap a number of compliance elements and/or auditing modules
that may require additional focus on a recurring basis. Themes can be seasonal or regional,
associated with biodiversity, coupe or forest type and/or other special prescriptions.
Clear-felling
Silvicultural method of harvesting a coupe whereby all merchantable trees, apart from those to be
retained for wildlife habitat, are removed.
Coupe
An area of forest of variable size, shape and orientation from which logs for sawmilling or other
industrial processing are harvested. Erosion risk The likelihood of erosion occurring due to soil
erodibility, rainfall erosivity, slope and soil disturbance.
Forest Coupe Plan
A plan that must be prepared for each harvesting operation in public native forest and will contain a
map identifying the area and a schedule incorporating the specifications and conditions under which
the operation is to be administered and controlled.
Forest Management Area (FMA)
Basic units for forest planning and management in Victoria. Currently Victoria is divided into 15 Forest
Management Areas as defined in the Forests Act 1958.
Forest Management Plan (FMP)
Forest Management Plans are produced
by DSE to address the full range of values and uses in
FMAs, which have been designated as the units for planning forest management activities.
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