Research

The Tasmanian Forest Practices system follows an adaptive management framework. The Forest Practices Code contains policies and practices that have been developed from a mixture of expert judgement, practical experience and the outcomes of research and monitoring. It is widely recognised that ongoing research and monitoring is important for the scientific credibility of the Code’s provisions applied in forest management plans. Staff of the Research and Advisory programs undertake research to underpin the continual improvement of the Forest Practices Code. This includes collaborative research projects with other research providers, e.g. researchers at the University of Tasmania, Forestry Tasmania, Freshwater Systems and DPIWE.

Staff are members of the national Research Working Group for Biodiversity and Silviculture and contributed to the development of the national forest research priorities.The Forest Practices Authority is also a Supporting Partner of the CRC for Forestry.

Opportunities for students

The FPA invites higher degree students to conduct forest practices related research. Staff currently co-supervised or provide advice and support to a number of higher degree students from the University of Tasmania. There are currently a number of potential higher degree projects, which fit the applied research programs being undertaken by the FPA.

• Higher degree projects in zoology

• Higher degree project in botany

• Higher degree projects in landscape and cultural heritage

• Student research grants

Current FPA Priority Research Areas

Earth Science (Soil & Water and Geoscience)

• Effects of forest harvest on Class 4 streams and their riparian zones

• Value of headwater streams and impacts (intensity, duration and extent) of forestry practices on stream biota

• Long-term effects of fires on soil properties

• Revegetation techniques for riparian zones

• Soils and landscape evolution in the Quaternary

• Better soil information for foresters

• Management special values risks associated with extensive plantations at the local catchment and landscape levels

• Values and management of retained habitat (streamside reserves, karst reserves)

• Rehabilitation of riparian areas for the maintenance of ‘special’ values

Biodiversity (Zoology, Botany and Ecology)

• Distribution, ecology and impacts of forestry practices on flora and fauna species of high conservation significance, and their habitats

• Value of headwater streams and impacts (intensity, duration and extent) of forestry practices on stream biota

• Special values and management of mature forest habitat, in particular issues relating to retention of hollow resource for hollow users (RFA priority fauna)

• Management special values risks associated with extensive plantations at the local catchment and landscape levels

• Values and management of retained habitat (remnants, wildlife habitat strips, habitat clumps, streamside reserves)

• Rehabilitation of riparian areas for the maintenance of ‘special’ values including aboriginal heritage values

• Sustainable management of tree ferns (Dicksonia antarctica) and their role in forest ecosystems.

• Public perceptions of existing forest landscape practices and results

             Current Biodiversity Projects

Landscape & Cultural Heritage

• Community attitudes towards plantation forestry

• Community participation in special values assessment at regional level for strategic planning

• Assessing the present land stability in the forest estate in relation to recent and ancient human impacts.

• The potential for integration of cultural landscape values, particularly of rural regions, and visual landscape concerns

• Management special values risks associated with extensive plantations at the local catchment and landscape levels

• Values and management of retained habitat (cultural heritage reserves)

• Rehabilitation of riparian areas for the maintenance of ‘special’ values including aboriginal heritage values

               Current Landscape and Cultural Heritage Projects