Forestry Governance and Regulation

Authorities

Private Forests Tasmania is a Tasmanian government authority established under the Private Forests Act 1994 to promote, foster and assist the private forestry sector. They work closely with private landowners and major stakeholders to develop and deliver a wide range of services to ensure sustainable forest use.

The Forest Practices Authority is the independent statutory regulator responsible for the development and management of the forest practices system set up under the Forest Practices Act 1985.

The Authority is responsible for administering the Forest Practices Code and certifying Forest Practices Plans. Planning details are set out in A guide to planning approval for forestry in Tasmania (June 2007) [PDF 3 MB].

The Forest Practices Tribunal is an independent body established under section 34 of the Forest Practices Act 1985. The Tribunal's role is to conduct hearings and make determinations with respect to appeals lodged by aggrieved parties.

The Forest Policy Branch of the Department of Infrastructure Energy and Resources provides advice on forestry policy and the forestry industry through co-ordination with relevant agencies, industry organisations and other stakeholders.

The branch is also responsible for overseeing and co-ordinating the implementation of the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement 1997 and facilitating the development by forestry industry representatives of codes pursuant to the Forestry (Fair Contract Codes) Act 2001. Codes are developed for the purpose of improving the fairness of contracts for services within the forestry industry.

Legislation

Forest operations in Tasmania must comply with the Forest Practices Act 1985. This Act regulates forestry on both public and private land in Tasmania and is administered by an independent statutory authority called the Forest Practices Authority.

On private land, forest operations must also comply with the provisions of the council's local planning scheme. There is a risk to forest owners that amendments to the local Planning Scheme could interfere with forest operations; therefore landowners are encouraged to apply under the Tasmanian Forest Practices Act through Private Forests Tasmania to have their land declared as a Private Timber Reserve. This gives them the right to undertake forest operations according to the Act. Council planning approval is then not required for forest operations on that land.

The Forest Practices Code, administered by the Forest Practices Authority (FPA) covers aspects of environmental care. The Code addresses all aspects of existing and future forest operations on private and public land. All forestry operations are monitored and the Forest Practices Authority imposes severe penalties and takes legal action where breaches of the Act are identified.

The Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement is an agreement formed in 1997 between the Commonwealth and the Tasmanian Governments. The Agreement established a framework for the management and use of Tasmanian forests.

The Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement is a commitment made in 2005 between the Australian and Tasmanian Governments to enhance protection of Tasmania's forest environment and growth in the Tasmanian forest industry.

Other legislation

The following table sets out the legislation impacting forestry operations in Tasmania:

The Forest Practices Authority (FPA) has responsibility for administering the forest practices system under the Private Forests Act 1994. This includes the release of the State of the Forests Report, which describes how targets set by the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement are being achieved.

The Forest Practices Code prescribes the manner in which forest operations are to be planned and conducted. Forest Practice Plans are required under the Act for the following forest operations:

•  establishment of forests
•  harvesting of timber
•  construction of a road or the operation of a quarry in connection with the establishment of forests or the harvesting of timber.

The Australian, State and Territory governments, and plantation-based industries, endorsed Plantations for Australia: the 2020 Vision in 1997. The 2020 Vision seeks to enhance regional wealth creation and international competitiveness through a sustainable increase in Australia's plantation resources, with a target to establish a national commercial tree crop estate of 3 million hectares by the year 2020.

The National Forest Policy Statement provides a framework for the future management of forests.