Environmental Care

Forest and land managers have a responsibility for the environment in which they operate, including a commitment to harm minimisation and damage mitigation.

Relevant Guiding Principles: Principles of Environmental Care, Monitoring and Review

Potential environmental harm (or nuisance) that may result from forest operations include:

  • air pollution—noise, dust, smoke, chemical spray drift and fumes
  • water pollution—soil sediment, chemical, fuel, sawdust and ash
  • soil contamination/structural degradation—chemical spill, chemical trespass, fuel, erosion event and compaction
  • impact on non-target flora and fauna species—on-site or off site chemical trespass
  • waste—escape off site, inappropriate disposal
  • impact on native vegetation—partial or total destruction, invasion by pest plants and insects/animals, and plant disease
  • impact on neighbouring land—chemical trespass, invasion by pest plants and insects/animals.

Mandatory Requirements

Forest operations must be managed to minimise impact on water quality.

  • Environment Protection (Water Quality) Policy 2003

Burning operations must be carried out in a manner that seeks to minimise the risk of spread of fire, smoke movement and impact on neighbouring land users or communities.

  • Environment Protection (Burning) Policy 1994
  • Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy 1994
  • Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005
  • Fire and Emergency Services Regulations 2005

Forest operations must be managed to minimise the generation of unreasonable noise and dust that may impact on neighbouring land users or communities.

  • Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy 1994
  • Environment Protection (Noise) Policy 2007

If environmental harm (or nuisance) occurs and is a breach of legislation, the situation must be rectified, attempts made to remediate the site and appropriate notification procedures followed.

  • Agricultural and Veterinary Products (Control of Use) Act 2002
  • Agricultural and Veterinary Products (Control of Use) Regulations 2004
  • Biological Control Act 1986
  • Controlled Substances Act 1984
  • Controlled Substances (Pesticides) Regulations 2003
  • Controlled Substances (Poisons) Regulations 1996
  • Dangerous Substances Act 1979
  • Environment Protection Act 1993
  • National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972
  • Native Vegetation Act 1991
  • Natural Resources Management Act 2004
  • Plant Health Act 2009
  • River Murray Act 2003
  • Wilderness Protection Act 1992
  • National Environment Protection (Assessment of Site Contamination) Measure 1999
  • Guidelines for reporting chemical trespass incidents 2005. Fact sheet FS01/02. Primary Industries and Resources South Australia

Industry Practices

Processes should be developed and implemented to prevent or minimise environmental harm. Regional Natural Resources Management Plans detail regional priorities for all land managers. This information should be reflected in forest management plans or internal policies and procedures.

The risk of weeds or diseases entering or leaving a site via vehicles, equipment and machinery should be identified, and appropriate hygiene management strategies implemented.

  • Phytophthora Management Guidelines 2006
  • Regional Natural Resources Management Boards (www.nrm.sa.gov.au)

Cultivation techniques should be planned and conducted in such a manner as to not compromise soil stability, and to prevent mass movement and/or sedimentation of waterways.

Chemical use should be appropriate to the operation and location, and be carried out safely and effectively. More detail is provided in Section 6.5 – Chemical Use.

  • EPA Guidelines for Responsible Pesticide Use 2005
  • Safe and Effective Herbicide Use: A Handbook for Near Water Applications 2007. EPA
  • Safe and Effective Pesticide Use: A Handbook for Commercial Spray Operators 2007. EPA
  • Voluntary Code of Practice for Spreading. Australian Fertiliser Services Association

Chemical, fuel or oil mixing, refilling/refuelling, or machinery maintenance should occur in an appropriate area away from watercourses, wetlands, native vegetation, neighbours and public use areas.

  • EPA Guidelines for Responsible Pesticide Use 2005
  • Safe and Effective Pesticide Use: A Handbook for Commercial Spray Operators 2007. EPA

Waste material produced from forest operations should be minimised, recycled, or disposed of at appropriate, licensed waste disposal stations.

A risk assessment for plantation forest species may assist in developing longer term genetic impact and weed management strategies:

  • Consideration should be given to the potential for genetic impacts on the surrounding native vegetation.
  • If a plantation species invades adjacent remnant vegetation, roadsides, streams, neighbouring land, or other areas where there is a risk of environmental impact and further spread, it should be controlled.
  • The Environmental Weed Risk of Revegetation and Forestry Plants. DWLBC Report 2003–02

A monitoring program should be implemented to determine any impacts from forest operations on the environment, other site values or neighbouring land. Evaluation of outcomes can be used to develop a continuous improvement system for the business.