Establishment and Management

Establishment and management operations in forest plantations include site preparation, planting, competition control and plant nutrition.

Relevant Guiding Principles: Establishment and Maintenance, Principles of Environmental Care, Safety

6.1 SITE PREPARATION

Site preparation activities will be determined by previous land use (agriculture or forest plantation), and may include slash management, burning and cultivation.

Mandatory Requirements

If the removal of any native vegetation is required, it can only proceed following approval by the Native Vegetation Council. Appropriate government authorities should be contacted for further information.

  • Native Vegetation Act 1991
  • Native Vegetation Regulations 2003

If burning of waste/slash material is necessary, operations must be planned. Risks such as fire spread, scorching of existing vegetation and smoke movement must be considered and managed. Operations need to comply with the Country Fire Service (CFS), local government and Environment Protection Authority (EPA) requirements.

  • Environment Protection Act 1993
  • Environment Protection (Burning) Policy 1994
  • Environment Protection (Air Quality) Policy 1994
  • Fire and Emergency Services Act 2005

Industry Practices

Slash Management

Techniques for retaining organic matter and nutrients, and minimising soil disturbance should be adopted where practical.

Slash retention techniques such as chopper rolling or low residue harvesting are preferred.

Fire as a site preparation tool is avoided where practicable.

Avoid pushing debris into a drainage line, watercourse, lake, reservoir, wetland or sinkhole, or damaging existing native vegetation. For further details, refer to Appendix 6 – Buffer and Filter Zones for Forest Operations.

Windrows or heaps should generally follow contours in undulating country, while on steep ground alternatives to windrowing should be used to avoid the risk of soil erosion.

Burning operations should be carried out in a manner that seeks to minimise the risk of the spread of fire and smoke movement. For further information on fire prevention and management, refer to Section 7.2 – Fire Prevention and Management.

Cultivation

Cultivation may be necessary to facilitate tree growth.

Cultivation and soil disturbance operation techniques should be planned and conducted in such a manner as to maximise soil structure and stability, and to minimise the risk of an erosion event.

Disturbance to water resources should be minimised through the use of buffer and filter zones. For further details, refer to Appendix 6 – Buffer and Filter Zones for Forest Operations.

Existing native vegetation should be protected from forest operations. For further details, refer to Section 4.1.3 – Biodiversity

Cultivation operation (broad-acre, strip or spot) will be dependent on the site conditions:

  • Strip cultivation along the contour should be used on hilly or undulating country.
  • Ripping should be used on rocky, shallow, hard pan or heavy soils.
  • Mounding is appropriate in areas with poorly drained soils, seasonally high water tables or shallow soils.
  • Spot cultivation can be used where minimum site disturbance is required.

6.2 PLANTING MATERIAL

Mandatory Requirements

Quarantine requirements may be in place affecting the movement of planting stock (and soil) from international, inter- and intra-state destinations. Appropriate Plant Health Certificates must be made available from supplying nurseries, and good internal hygiene practices should be implemented to stop the spread of any disease. If the introduction of an exotic agent is suspected, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) must be informed.

Commonwealth

  • Quarantine Act 1908

State

  • Plant Health Act 2009
  • South Australian Biosecurity Strategy 2008–2013

6.3 COMPETITION CONTROL

The control of perennial and annual weeds is used to achieve high survival, good growth rates and plantation access.

Mandatory Requirements

Declared plants must be controlled in accordance with regional Natural Resources Management Plans.

  • Natural Resources Management Act 2004

Industry Practices

Where practicable, non-chemical alternatives should be investigated for the control of weeds.

Soil cultivation or mechanical (e.g. slashing, rolling, stump cutting) disturbance of weeds, and pesticide application are the most common competition control techniques.

Grazing may be used for pre-establishment weed control on ex-pasture sites.

On sites with loose soil structure and little soil surface protection, strip weed control may be considered to minimise the risk of soil erosion.

Ongoing monitoring and control of woody weeds is encouraged to prevent further invasion, maintain access and reduce fire risk in and around the plantation.

If appropriate, work with neighbouring land or forest owners to develop combined weed control strategies.

Information on chemical use is detailed in Section 6.5 – Chemical Use

6.4 NUTRITION

The nutritional requirements of a plantation will be site specific and can be managed to maximise productivity.

Industry Practices

The application of fertilisers can help address tree nutritional requirements that are not being met by the site.

Excessive use of fertiliser should be avoided as it may not result in optimal tree growth and it increases the chance of leaching through the soil profile or moving off site.

  • Voluntary Code of Practice for Spreading. Australian Fertiliser Services Association

Information on chemical use is detailed in Section 6.5 – Chemical Use

6.5 CHEMICAL USE

The following information is in reference to the use of pesticides and fertilisers in forest operations. Additional information on the issue of environmental care can be found in Chapter 5 – Environmental Care.

Mandatory Requirements

Chemicals must be stored, used and disposed of according to product registration and label specifications, appropriate off-label permits as provided by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), and the provisions of relevant legislation. All reasonable and practical measures must be taken to prevent or minimise contamination of any land, plant or animal outside the target area; harm to the health or safety of human beings; and other unintended environmental harm.

  • Agricultural and Veterinary Products (Control of Use) Act 2002
  • Agricultural and Veterinary Products (Control of Use) Regulations 2004
  • Controlled Substances Act 1984
  • Controlled Substances (Pesticides) Regulations 2003
  • Dangerous Substances Act 1979
  • Environment Protection Act 1993
  • Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act 1986

Some chemical product restrictions may apply for ‘water protection areas’ as declared under the Environment Protection Act 1993 and River Murray Act 2003. The appropriate government authority should be contacted for further information.

  • Environment Protection Act 1993
  • River Murray Act 2003

Contractors appointed to apply pesticides are required to have a Pest Controller or Pest Management Technicians Licence.

  • Controlled Substances (Pesticides) Regulations 2003

To purchase or use certain pesticides, ChemCert accreditation (or equivalent) or a Pest Controllers Licence is required.

  • Controlled Substances (Pesticides) Regulations 2003
  • Agricultural and Veterinary Products (Control of Use) Regulations 2004

A licence is required for the mixing and use of ammonium nitrate. If it is stored overnight, a licence to store on premises or in a magazine is required.
Explosives Act 1936

Industry Practices

Care should be taken with chemical use to ensure that no off-target impact or chemical trespass occurs.

Prior to chemical use, set back areas should be identified and marked. These distances should be consistent with label or off-label permit instructions, or Appendix 6 – Buffer and Filter Zones for Forest Operations, whichever is greater. Appropriate supervision and monitoring for off site impacts is recommended.

Use trained and competent operators to apply chemicals.

For further information on chemical use, storage, disposal and neighbour notification see:

  • EPA Guidelines for Responsible Pesticide Use 2005
  • Guidelines for Reporting Chemical Trespass Incidents 2005. Factsheet FS01/02. Primary Industries and Resources South Australia
  • Safe and Effective Herbicide Use: A Handbook for Near-Water Applications 2007. EP
  • Safe and Effective Pesticide Use: A Handbook for Commercial Spray Operators 2007. EP
  • Voluntary Code of Practice for Spreading. Australian Fertiliser Services Association