FPN vol 11 no 2 January 2012 - The Forest Practices Authority

Updating the FPO registerGraham Wilkinson, Chief Forest Practices Officer‘Hello, is it me you’re looking for?’Lionel Richie’s evocative lyrics of the 1980scould well be the theme song for the FPOregister. Our records show that we have234 FPOs on our books. But do we? Therehave been massive movements and lossesof FPOs during the current downturn inthe forestry sector. On top of this we havethe ongoing retirement of baby boomers.Some FPOs simply vanish and don’t leave aforwarding address.As a result we have written to FPOs that wethink may no longer be active. For some wehave no way of contacting you so we haveassumed that you are no longer active as anFPO in Tasmania. If you are reading this andhave any doubts about your status pleasecontact the FPA.most professional accreditations – youneed to demonstrate that you are up todate and actively exercising your powersand functions if you want to maintain theaccreditation. FPOs that are no longeractively exercising these powers, but arestill working in an advisory or managementrole within the forestry sector, can elect totransfer to the position of ‘Forest PracticesManager’. This allows you to keep abreast ofdevelopments in forest practices, receive theinformation that is provided to FPOs andattend training courses etc. Please contactus if you wish to make this change.Once Lionel Richie and I have found you,we will place the register of active FPOs onour web site. You should contact us if youare not on the list and you think you shouldbe, or you are on the list and think that youshould not be!Ultimately our aim is to ensure that we havean accurate picture of how many FPOs arestill active and available to service the forestpractices system into the future, whateverthat future holds.Author’s contact:Graham.Wilkinson@fpa.tas.gov.auStream issues field dayOn the matter of ‘status’ I need to clarifytwo things:1. FPO warrants are granted to suitablyqualified persons for the purpose ofexercising statutory powers underthe Forest Practices Act 1985. Thosepowers relate to entering uponproperty, inspecting operations andtaking enforcement action to ensurecompliance with the Act and theForest Practices Code. FPOs can retaintheir warrant while they are diligentlyexercising these powers.2. Delegation to certify forest practicesplans is provided to FPOs (Planning).This delegation is only provided toFPOs who are actively certifying atleast two FPPs per year. CertifyingFPPs is like driving a car; you need tokeep your skills and experience upto date. You would be a nervousdriver (and potentially a liability) if youhaven’t driven since getting your licence10 years ago! If you are not activelycertifying FPPs you cannot retain yourdelegation but you can retain yourFPO warrant if are still actively involvedin other forest practices such asinspections and compliance reports.In summary, being an FPO is the same asJames Fergusson and Stuart Swanson (both from FT) discussing tunnel gully erosion and stream protection on a nativeforest coupe adjoining the Dip River in Forestry Tasmania’s Murchison District, during a field day run by FPA and ForestryTasmania looking at stream issues, 9 November 2011.12 Forest Practices News vol 11 no 2 January 2012