Module 5 - VicForests

3 STATUTORY OVERVIEW
The following key legislation is considered relevant to the Forest Audit Program. It is
important to note that the regulatory publications employed to assess compliance of
timber harvesting operations must be relevant to the date of harvest. A number of
coupes may have been harvested or regenerated under old prescriptions.
A comprehensive list of legislation, guidelines and other general references considered
applicable to auditing of the compliance elements within each module (modules 3–7),
are listed in Section 4 of the relevant module booklet. Additional legislation, policy and
guidance notes relevant to forest management for timber production are also listed in
Appendix A and Appendix B of the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2007.
3.1 SUSTAINABLE FORESTS (TIMBER) ACT 2004
The Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 (the Act) is the overarching legislative
document for the management of commercial timber harvesting within Victoria. The
Act describes the obligations for persons undertaking timber harvesting in State
forest, including complying with the Code. The Act establishes a framework for the
sustainable management of Victoria’s State forests and provides for the development
of a Sustainability Charter to establish criteria and indicators to monitor and report on
performance. The Sustainability Charter was subsequently published by DSE (2006)
and specifies objectives around maintaining items such as biodiversity, ecosystems,
and managing disturbance.
The Act enables the allocation of timber resources to VicForests for commercial
forestry operations. It also defines VicForests’ reporting and performance obligations.
Section 96 of the Act provides for the development of regulations governing the
licensing of commercial timber harvesting operations. This includes establishment of
a Timber Harvesting Operator Licence system and prescribes an enforcement and
penalty regime for breaches of specified environmental requirements.
3.1.1 Sustainability Charter
The Act provides for the development of a Sustainability Charter. The Act states that
the Sustainability Charter must set out objectives, consistent with the National
Principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development, for both the sustainability of
forests and the sustainability of the timber harvesting industry.
The Charter sets the direction for sustainable forest management in Victoria. It
commits DSE and VicForests to support the objectives set out in the Charter.
VicForests will respond to the Government's sustainability agenda by developing
initiatives and targets to progress the objectives of the Charter. It will include these
in its statement of corporate intent and report on the outcomes of these initiatives as
part of its normal business reporting. Subsequently, both DSE and VicForests are
working to achieve sustainable forest management.
FOREST AUDIT PROGRAM – MODULE 1 OVERVIEW PAGE 15