Critical CSIRO recommendation ignored
In January 1995, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) was commissioned by the Victorian State Government to conduct a review of the Code of Forest Practices. The review and public consultation exposed public and scientific concern regarding the department's role in managing myrtle wilt.
CSIRO advised that a conservative and cautious approach to buffer widths is required when considering logging operations near northofagus dominated Cool Temperate Rainforest. CSIRO advised that 40 to 60 metre buffer widths listed in the Code are to be regarded as a interim minimum recommendation. However this interim minimum recommendation was not included in the final revised 1996 Code of Forest Practices. The omission of the recommendation has resulted in DNRE interpreting the 40-60 metres buffer as being a safe maximum distance between logging operations and rainforest.
To see CSIRO buffer recommendations, select the following:
[CSIRO Review of the Code of Forest Practices for Timber Production; Sept 1995; Section 2.1.2]
[CSIRO response following the consultation phase of the review; Nov. 1996; Section 2]
To see the final Code of Forest Practices for Timber Production that is missing the CSIRO interim minimum rainforest buffer recommendation, select the following:
[Code of Forest Practices for Timber Production; Nov. 1996; Section 2.3.7]
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