State party report on the state of conservation
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1.2. Decision 34 COM 7B.38 paragraph 5 and Decision 34 COM 8B.46 Paragraph 3 Resolve mining and exploration licences and consider inclusion of Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight) into property Decision 34 COM 7B.38: paragraph 5: Thanks the State Party for proposing a minor modification to include 21 formal reserves within the property that are already covered by the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, also welcomes its commitment to add the Melaleuca–Cox Bight area to the property once mining licences have expired, and also recalls its request regarding the potential for further additional areas to be considered at the discretion of the State Party for eventual addition to the property; Decision 34 COM 8B.46 paragraph 31: Welcomes the intention of the State Party to add the Southwest Conservation Area south of Melaleuca to Cox Bight to the property when mining licences have expired; State Party’s response
Cessation of mining Australia agrees with the World Heritage Committee that mining is not appropriate in World Heritage Areas. The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have worked closely together to ensure the surrender of the exploration licence at Adamsfield. This was the last remaining area within the World Heritage property where mineral exploration was permitted under the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area management plan. Exploration licence EL11/2006 held by Shree Pty Ltd (ABN 88 067 699 674) under the Tasmanian Mineral Resources Development Act 1995, over part of Adamsfield Conservation Area, expired on 13 June 2011, was not renewed, and was surrendered by Shree Pty Ltd. Appropriate compensation has been paid to Shree Pty Ltd. In the Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight section) refer to the map provided at Appendix 4.2, which was proposed in 2010 for addition to the World Heritage property pending an end to mining, Australia is pleased to report that the remaining small scale mining lease has also been surrendered. Mining Lease 20M/1992 held by Rallinga Mine Pty Ltd (ACN 009 533 742) under the Tasmanian Mineral Resources Development Act 1995, within that part of the Southwest Conservation Area known as the Melaleuca–Cox Bight section – see map 4.2, was surrendered on 18 July 2011 and appropriate compensation has been paid to Rallinga Mine Pty Ltd. Planning for rehabilitation of former mining sites in the Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight section) has commenced. The Australian Government provided funding of $A500,000 from the Caring for our Country (2010–12) initiative to assist the Tasmanian Government to implement these World Heritage decisions; including to ensure that mechanisms are put in place that will prohibit mining and mineral exploration in these areas in perpetuity; and to prepare the Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight section) for addition to the World Heritage property. Following the extinguishment of these mining rights, Tasmania has also introduced administrative processes to ensure that land within the Adamsfield Conservation Area and the Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight section) is not included in any future mineral tenement applications. Arrangements are being made to have these areas excluded from the operation of the Tasmanian Mineral Resources Development Act 1995 which will formally preclude Tasmania from being able to issue any further mineral licences in these two areas. It is also proposed that the tenure of Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight section) is to change from Southwest Conservation Area (which allows for mining), to Southwest National Park (which does not allow mining). Initial steps have been taken to achieve this legislative change and it is proposed the change will be completed by 30 September 2012. Preparation of the Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight section) for World Heritage status In addition to the planned tenure change from Conservation Area to National Park, discussions regarding preliminary site and rehabilitation planning for the Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight section) have been undertaken with key stakeholders. An initial historic heritage assessment has been undertaken. A preliminary contaminated site assessment has also been undertaken and follow-up mapping and sampling of hydrocarbon contamination areas is planned. A detailed site and rehabilitation plan focusing on Melaleuca and the ex mining sites is in preparation. This will bring together the results of the historic heritage, contamination and rehabilitation assessments and set guidelines in relation to rehabilitation works, cultural heritage management and visitor access to the Melaleuca area within the Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight section). The plan will cover the whole visitor services area with a particular focus on appropriate remediation of the former mining sites. In addition, a Management Statement for the Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight section) which takes account of world heritage values is currently under development. This will provide protection and management direction until the Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight section) is included in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan in the 2015 review of the plan. Both the site/rehabilitation plan and the Management Statement are scheduled to be completed before 30 June 2012. Appropriate rehabilitation of the mining area will follow. Request for minor modification of the boundary Given the intent of both Governments, the progress so far, and the commitments for future management, Australia is pleased to request a minor modification of the boundaries of the Tasmanian Wilderness property to add the Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight section), an area of 3,810 hectares to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, as shown in the map in Appendix 4.2. 1.3. Decision 34 COM 8B.46 paragraph 5 and Decision 34 COM 7B.38 paragraph 5 Consider further extension, at State Party discretion Decision 34 COM 7B.38: paragraph 5: Thanks the State Party for proposing a minor modification to include 21 formal reserves within the property that are already covered by the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan, also welcomes its commitment to add the Melaleuca–Cox Bight area to the property once mining licences have expired, and also recalls its request regarding the potential for further additional areas to be considered at the discretion of the State Party for eventual addition to the property. Decision 34 COM 8B.46 paragraph 52: Recommends that the State Party consider further minor modifications to the boundaries to allow for inclusion of appropriate cultural sites, related to and complementing those within the property, with appropriate protection being put in place, and considering the past decisions of the World Heritage Committee on the boundaries of the property in relation to the natural and cultural values; State Party’s response
The proposed addition Inclusion of the Southwest Conservation Area (Melaleuca–Cox Bight section) within the World Heritage property will protect additional coastal and inland sites of importance to the Aboriginal community. As well as its value to the Aboriginal community, this section includes threatened species such as the nationally listed critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot, geoheritage values (Cox Bight dunes, bogs and peat mounds), wilderness values and aesthetic values. Melaleuca has the last known breeding population in the wild for the Orange-bellied Parrot. These values complement those of the existing World Heritage property and have been considered in the preparation of the draft Statement of Outstanding Universal Value for the property that was provided with the 2010 State of Conservation report. Further information regarding the values in the area, including its Aboriginal cultural values will be considered as the management statement for the area is produced (see section 1.2 above). Within this area is the recently completed Needwonnee cultural walk allowing presentation of cultural values. This joint project was undertaken in partnership by the Aboriginal community and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service. The 1.2 km walk is within the homelands of the Needwonnee people who inhabited the area from Port Davey to New River Lagoon. The interpretation produced by the Aboriginal community is ephemeral and shows what a campsite, a traditional bark canoe and other aspects of Aboriginal life would have been like. The project allowed the community to practise their skills and traditions, and will allow them to renew these into the future. The area has importance as the landscape (at Cox Bight south of Melaleuca) that contains the creation story for Tasmanian Aborigines. This is an important project and partnership for both the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and the Aboriginal community. The Australian Government provided funding assistance under the Jobs Fund Stimulus package (refer to section 3.2).
Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement renewal process The Australian Government remains committed to the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement as an appropriate intergovernmental mechanism for conservation and sustainable management of Tasmania’s public native forests. The Australian Government is committed to working with the Tasmanian Government to improve the review, audit and monitoring arrangements for Regional Forest Agreements, including their timely completion, and to provide a clearer assessment of performance against environmental and forestry outcomes. These improvements will be addressed in the Regional Forest Agreements renewal process, which is anticipated to commence in 2012 for Tasmania. Regional Forest Agreements contain a clause that stipulates “the process for extending the duration of this Agreement will be agreed by the Parties as part of the third 5 yearly review”. Forest management In the public native forests within the Regional Forest Agreement area that continue to be harvested and regenerated, Forestry Tasmania has a rigorous forest management system in place to ensure that adverse impacts from forestry operations on outstanding universal values do not arise. Potential impacts on the ecological integrity and aesthetic values of the Tasmanian Wilderness property, as well as possible cultural sites and biodiversity values in adjacent areas, are taken into account through the application of the Tasmanian Forest Practices Code. Forestry Tasmania manages most of the forests adjacent to the World Heritage property. These state forests are managed according to Forestry Tasmania’s ten-year management plan, published in 2008 and known as the Sustainability Charter. (http://www.forestrytas.com.au/uploads/File/pdf/Charter.pdf) Over 53 per cent of the state forest estate is primarily managed for the protection of environmental values, including nearly 35 per cent within the comprehensive, adequate and representative reserve system and another 19 per cent that lies outside areas identified for timber production. Forestry Tasmania’s sustainable forest management performance is independently audited against three certification standards: the Australian Forestry Standard (AS4708), the Environmental Management Standard (AS/NZS 14001) and the Occupational Health and Safety Standard (AS4801), as well as the Tasmanian Forest Practices Code. Each year Forestry Tasmania reports its annual environment performance in its Stewardship Report: http://www.forestrytas.com.au/uploads/File/pdf/pdf2011/stewardship_report_2011.pdf In 2010–11, independent auditing by the Forest Practices Authority of compliance with the Forest Practices Code indicated a performance rating score of 3.8 (out of a possible 4.0) for forestry operations in state forests, which is well above Forestry Tasmania’s performance rating benchmark of 3.5. In line with previous years, there have been no regeneration burn escapes from state forests into the World Heritage property since the last report to the World Heritage Committee. In 2010–11 Forestry Tasmania conducted formal Aboriginal heritage surveys over an area of 756 hectares, which resulted in the discovery and protection of five new Aboriginal cultural heritage sites. In 2009, Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens were listed as an endangered ecological community under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This listing included the sphagnum peatland community on state forest. Accordingly, Forestry Tasmania reviewed and then rescinded the last remaining harvesting contract for sphagnum moss on state forest, at a location in the Central Highlands known as Bradys (Black Bobs) Bog. This measure was taken to assist protection of sphagnum bogs within the World Heritage property so that all sphagnum harvesting in the wild in Tasmania is now prohibited. Setting a baseline: Lidar imagery of boundary and other research A contract has been let by the Tasmanian Government to take baseline LIDAR imagery of the major forest areas that occur along the south-eastern boundaries of the World Heritage property. Bad weather meant that it was not possible to undertake this work last summer, but the imagery will be collected when possible. In 2001–02, a joint Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment/Forestry Tasmania research project assessing altitudinal change in biodiversity on the World Heritage property boundary at Warra–Mt. Weld was established. This monitoring program aims to record baseline inventory and distributional biodiversity data against which future changes in altitudinal distribution of flora and fauna can be measured in relation to climate change, succession due to fire or its absence, and other chance events. The flora and fauna of this altitudinal transect will be resurveyed in 2011–12. 1.5. Decision 34 COM 7B.38 paragraph 7 Create a mechanism involving stakeholders to monitor, assess and manage the impact of forestry in adjoining areas. Decision 34 COM 7B.38: paragraph 7: Also requests the State Party to finalise as soon as possible the creation of a mechanism involving all relevant stakeholders, to monitor, assess and manage the impact of forestry operations, road construction and regeneration on the integrity of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, and adjoining reserves, as previously requested by the committee; State Party’s response
Parks and Wildlife Service monitoring and reporting system Tasmanian’s terrestrial reserve estate covers over 3 million hectares of public and private land, about 45 per cent of Tasmania’s land area. The reserve system is among the best in the world. The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service manages around 2.4 million hectares of public terrestrial reserves in around 470 national parks and other reserves, covering over 34 per cent of Tasmania’s land area. The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service applies an adaptive management approach through monitoring and reporting on management effectiveness. Key features of the state-wide monitoring and reporting system are that it is evidence based, operationally practical, and provides public transparency and accountability in management. The monitoring and reporting system is designed to be web-based and consists of three main reporting outputs: 1. Status and trends reports on key performance indicators and information; 2. Evaluated case study reports; and 3. Periodic evaluation reports (such as the State of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area report). Second State of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area report A second State of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area report is planned to be produced in 2014. This will be done in consultation with all relevant agencies and is intended to feed into and inform the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan review which will commence in 2015. The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Management Plan review process will allow all stakeholders (including the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Consultative Committee and the general public) to provide informed input into integrity issues, which will assist in the new plan’s development. The use of these monitoring and reporting and plan review mechanisms engages all relevant stakeholders and the timing will allow for finalisation of the implementation of the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement. Forest management As referred to in section 1.4, Regional Forest Agreements are the primary intergovernmental mechanism for ensuring sustainable management of Australia’s public forests which balances outcomes covering economic, social and environmental (biodiversity and heritage) values. The Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement has a clause requiring five-yearly reviews which includes public consultation on a report on progress, with implementation of the agreement with the next review planned for 2012. The Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement The Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement (refer also to sections 1.3 and 1.4), responds to the community driven statement of principles process through which industry, community and union groups came together to seek a solution to end decades of conflict over native forestry in Tasmania. The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have agreed to help the forest industry to adapt to market changes, and protect the communities and families that rely on the sector to survive, while also protecting high conservation value forests – including in areas adjacent to the World Heritage property. The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have commenced implementation of the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement including providing assistance to displaced workers, establishing an independent verification process to assess timber supply requirements and the boundaries of proposed new conservation reserves, and retiring native forests contracts. As part of this process, the Independent Verification Group will consult with peak bodies, other representative organisations and the signatories to the Statement of Principles. Under the agreement a total of $A277 million, including $A15 million from the Tasmanian Government, will be provided in the following key areas: Support for workers, contractors and their families affected by the downturn in the forest industry; Protecting high conservation value forests and ensuring sustainable wood supply; and Identifying and funding regional development and diversification projects. Further information about the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement can be found online at: http://www.environment.gov.au/land/forestpolicy/index.html Further background on the Australian Government’s response to the statement of principles process is at: http://www.daff.gov.au/forestry/national/aus-govt-tas-forests Review of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area consultative arrangements The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service has recently completed a review of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Consultative Committee. The current committee structure has remained virtually unchanged over its 26 year life, however, the nature of world heritage management has changed considerably over this time. Most Australian World Heritage Area committees have either an interest or expertise base. Some have both in the one committee. The Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Consultative Committee has often been cited as a particularly successful World Heritage committee for combining these areas and achieving cross fertilisation between these groups. The new structure keeps this joint approach but modernises and streamlines the committee. Current membership includes a degree of duplication (e.g. two tourism, two conservation representatives); a number of positions with limited connection with current World Heritage property management issues (trade union); and some positions (forest management and local council) that don’t provide the most efficient or effective way of engaging with these interests. The committee is to be reduced in size from 16 to nine members. Core areas of expertise to be retained are those that provide advice on world heritage values (natural and cultural), that represent key interest areas (conservation, recreation and tourism) and a new social science / partnerships position that will assist with tracking current social trends. The committee members will be appointed based on skill sets they bring to the committee rather than on representing particular organisations. The committee’s terms of reference are currently being finalised, once these are completed the new positions will be advertised. The committee will also have a change in name from Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Consultative Committee to Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Advisory Committee. |