Plantation Management Plan
1. Introduction
Albany Plantation Forest Company Ltd (APFL) is the Responsible Entity for the establishment, maintenance and harvest of Eucalyptus globulus plantations for the production for woodchips to be processed into wood fibre for paper manufacture.
This generic Management Plan covers APFL plantations that are established in the Great Southern region of Western Australia together with the Native Remnant Vegetation (NRV) that APFL has management responsibility for. At September 2009, the total plantation area exceeded 23,600ha over many properties throughout the region. NRV and other land categories totalled 3070ha combined. In the traditional sense, plantations are comprised of planting years with plantings in compartments and this is the case for APFL, although compartments are identified as properties.
Much of the management information is contained within supporting documents, and or within other management systems such as APFL's Geographic Information System, its intranet website or 'Intranet' and its Risk Management System.
The Plan is reviewed in November each year, in prepration for the new Japanese financial year, to update objectives and procedures and statistical information and is extended to incorporate recent plantings or replacement coppice crops.
Property specific information is gathered during property inspections, is held on seperate property files and used to compile operational schedules to ensure that all management actions are planned to reflect site specific needs.
2. Scope and Forest Resources Being Managed
APFL plantations are established in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. They consist of Eucalyptus globulus plantings that are grown over a relatively short ten year rotation to produce woodchips for the eventual manufacture of paper. Eucalyptus globulus is the preferred specie for several reasons that are outlined in the APFL position paper "Why Eucalyptus Globulus?"
In total the plantation area exceeds 23,600ha over many properties throughout the region. Land is either owned freehold or secured by legal agreements utilising a variety of financial arrangements.
Plantation management begins with an assessment of potentially plantable areas and covers all activities from establishment to harvest, and re-establishment or rehabilitation to agriculture following harvest, depending on the situation.
3. Management Objectives
APFL's overall management objectives are:
Establishment
To establish an initial E. Globulus plantation of 26,000ha over a ten year period, utilising a variety of land acquisition tools, within an economic haul distance of the export port of Albany.
Management
To manage the plantation on a ten year rotation cycle and conserve and/or restore representative samples of Native Remnant Vegetation within the estate.
Maintenance
To maintain all plantings in a safe and healthy condition, free of damaging agents and sufficiently vigorous to return a profit.
Harvest and Manufacture
To commence harvest in 2001 and produce 400,000 GMT logs per annum, to be processed into woodchips by and exported through Albany Plantation Export Company (APEC). Logs are supplied from APFL to APEC and the remainder from other growers in the region.
Export
To transport woodchips by rail to the Port of Albany for ship loading by Albany Bulk Handling (ABH).
Regeneration
To regenerate harvested areas by coppice for a second rotation of about ten years.
4. Land Use, Ownership Status, Socio-economic Conditions and Adjacent Lands
The majority of land used for plantation establishment is agricultural land owned by individual farmers. The plantations themselves are owned by APFL under a Deed of Profit a Prendre agreement and simple Lease Agreement, although some land is owned outright.
Albany Plantation Forest Company Limited is a wholly owned company of the Oji Paper Co.Ltd, ITOCHU Corporation, Senshukai Co Ltd, Tohoku Electric Power Co Inc and Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) group of companies, all being Japanese. Land owners have an agreement with APFL for a period of at least twenty years to cover an original rotation (10 years) and one coppice rotation following harvest.
Tree plantations are one of the many rural land uses in the Great Southern Region and properties are mostly surrounded by other rural land supporting a variety of rural enterprise. APFL is sensitive to its neighbours needs, has a policy (Neighbour and Community Relations) and liaises regularly to maintain a spirit of cooperation and goodwill.
The socio-economic impacts of plantations are addressed in the APFL position paper Socio-economic Impact of Euc globulus Plantations.
5. Plantation Silviculture and Operational Prescriptions
Plantation silviculture begins with the intial property assessment where high and low productivity sites and species are recommended.
Establishment and ongoing maintenance operations follow the Code of Practice for Timber Plantations in Western Australia and APFL has a suite of operational prescriptions that specify in more detail how each is implemented. Other supporting manuals cover such things as use of chemicals, and occupational health and safety.
Plantings are expected to reach maturity at between eight and twelve years when they will be clear-felled and suitability for a second coppice rotation assessed.
The environmental impacts of APFL's activities are also identified and it is systematic and thorough in how it addresses these matters. Impact assessments are facilitated through an environmental section of the Risk Management System (RMS) that is based on international standard ISO 14001 (see 7.1 below).
6. Plantation Growth and Yield
6.1 Inventory
Plantation inventory, growth modelling and yield projections are based contracted to the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and are based on both permanent and temporary sample plots. Plot data is applied to plantation strata ("uniform stands"), determined through random positioning using a mesh configuration, across the properties at five years of age.
6.2 Harvest
APFL has a strategic harvest plan covering 20 years. It is based on conservative volume projections and is regularly reviewed as inventory data is updated.
The current Harvest Schedule is prepared to cover 2 years and identifies anticipated property yields and seasonal operating areas. Plantation harvest follows a clearfall prescription and generally operates in successive P years as they reach rotation age.
APFL has a dedicated market in Japan for woodchips and planning for harvest takes account of the usual variables of P year areas, growth rates, seasonality of properties, access routes and distance from processing facilities. It smoothes harvest rates across P years to match annual market targets.
7. Environmental Safeguards
7.1 Significant Aspects
All environmental aspects of APFL activities have been identified and rates for significance and those that have the potential to adversely affect the environment are managed to restrict their impact on it to within contemporary community limits.
Fire is one of the more significant aspects being managed and details of emergency procedures are covered in the RMS. Futher, the property Fire Management Plan is also prepared and supplied to local government authorities to meet statutory requirements.
7.2 Operational Objectives and Procedures
Operational objectives for each signficant and other aspect being managed can be identified and their detail, including targets, seen in the RMS. Operational procedures for implementing these objectives are also identified.
7.3 Management for Remnant Native Vegetation (RNV)
Properties owned and leased by APFL are registered under the Land for Wildlife program of the DEC. This program:
- Identifies areas of RNV suitable to be managed for their natural values;
- Advises on the best opportunities to enhance indigenous wildlife;
- Provides expert recommendations for ongoing management.
APFL has utilised the reports and their recommendations to prepare individual management plans for the RNV of each property and will implement the plan and monitor the progress on the objectives outlined in them.
7.4 High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF)
APFL recognises the importance of protecting HCVF and is preparing a position paper to define local HCVF and develop procedures for their identification, assessment and protection. APFL will liase with key stakeholders and seek input to ensure that the development of these management guidelines meets community expectations.
8. Monitoring
8.1 Progress on Objectives
Plantation Management Plan objectives and other Plan elements are reviewed annually.
All environmental objectives are monitored and reported on.
8.2 Community Concerns
APFL is aware of concern expressed by the community regarding its plantation activities and has explored the question in a position paper titled Socio-economic Impact of Eucalyptus Globulus Plantations. This paper will be updated periodically as new data becomes available.
APFL has a policy regarding community liaison (Neighbour and Community Relations) and is continuing to consult regularly with neighbours and with other interested parties as and when required. APFL also continues to be actively involved with community and industry groups that are working toward better plantation management.
8.3 Scientific Developments.
APFL recognises the importance of being aware of new developments in all areas of plantation and environmental management. It is an active member of the State and National industry representative groups such as Australian Forestry Growers (AFG), National Association of Forest Industries (NAFI), Forest Industries Federation of Western Australia (FIFWA) and Timber2020. APFL is also an active member of the industry collaborative initiative, the CRC for Forestry and is involved in all research programmes through its core membership affiliations. APFL also suscribes to relevant periodicals and journals.
APFL has direct links to Albany Forestry Research Centre (AFRC) through a shared parent company situation. AFRC undertake plantation research in genetic development and silviculture for the APFL Estate.
When specialist professional skills are required, consultants are engaged on an 'as needed' basis and local stakeholders also provide an important avenue of consultation.
8.4 Water
Water quality and availability has become a major national issue and there is community expectation that land managers are aware of the impacts their activities are having on these values.
APFL is sensitive to these concerns and has addtional obligations through its FSC certification. In 2007 it commenced a long term monitoring programme by engaging the University of WA's Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management and utilising cutting edge monitoring techniques in a chosen representative catchment. (UWA Water Monitoring Report)
9.0 Management Resources
9.1 Trained Staff
In accordance with its Human Resources Policy, APFL employs staff who demonstrates experience and knowledge in plantation practices, among other things, and annually reviews performance. Formal training requirements are identified in the employees Job Description and results of their annual performance review.
9.2 Qualified Contractors
APFL will only award contracts for works and services to contractors who can show current accreditation for the field of work which they have applied for. Any Federal, State or Local Government permits, licences or certificates legally required to perform the contracted works must be sighted before a contract is awarded. Contractors must also have a formal safety system or show that they are working towards obtaining one.
Preference will be given to contractors with a proven performance record and sound safety and environmental record. All contractors' employees will be required to undertake APFL's environmental induction prior to commencement of work within APFL plantations.
10. Public Information
APFL acknowledges the need to keep the public informed of activities and details that may be of interest. The Neighbour and Community Relations Policy will guide the company in this area.
APFL will seek community feedback on issues of community importance by way of direct contact including public meetings, posted surveys and/or website feedback.
APFL will utilise its Internet to publicise various aspects of its operations as required by its FSC certification.
11. Property Specific Information
Considerations unique to each property, such as presence or rare and threatened species, cultural sites and or declared weeds for example, are identified through use of the property reconnaissance forms Pre-drill Site Inspection, Property Inspection and Harvest Plan. The data gathered is used to update registers and the Property Works database for preparation of operational schedules.
Once collated, the data is also utilised to produce detailed Harvest Maps and later Operations Maps that include unique items for each property.
Given that the plantation is clear-felled, with no intermediate harvest, there is no need to record a history of cutting. Plans show original planting years and following harvest, the subsequent coppice crop is identified.
APFL establishes and maintains plantations throughout the year and many of its activities are seasonal and dependant on tree age.
12. Management Plan Review
Preparation and review of the Plantation Management Plan is done according to set procedures.
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