Like most natural resource management applications, forest practices include highly
sophisticated planning and operational arrangements. These often are based upon
"multiple use" principles, where the production of raw timber is integrated with
other services expected by the global community.
Even so, translating these into practice on the ground remains a challenge. This can
sometimes lead to outright conflict between between management authorities and citizens,
who might not believe their own needs and values have been adequately considered.
The examples below illustrates how MapMakers' practical and technological capabilities
can resolve such conflicts, and help ensure a sustainable future for the world's precious
forests and all who depend on them..
Example 1. Removing uncertainty
surrounding the logging of old growth forests in the Upper Meander Valley, Tasmania.
The products and services flowing from Tasmania's forests, like
most throughout the world, must be balanced by managers to reflect the material demands of
a growing human population, and the contributions to environmental and social well-being
represented by healthy forested lands..
The Meander Valley is located in the north of Tasmania, an island
state south of mainland Australia.
It's moist warm climate is ideal for
the growth of eucalypt forests, and these have been utilised for timber production since
the late eighteenth century.
State forests, and all forestry activities are regulated by a State government
statutory authority ~ Forest Practices Board,
or "FPB" for short.
Amongst other management tools, FPB has produced an informative and
practical "Forest Practices Code". This describes regulations and illustrates
good forest management practices.
Forest Practices Officers are appointed
to ensure good practices are maintained. However there has been concern that some of the
requirements of the Code have been difficult to implement, because information needed for
particular forests has not been available. This was the case for the Meander Valley, so
MapMakers were called in..
One requirement of the Code, is for operators to leave an
undisturbed strip of forested land along side streams and rivers. This is partly to
maintain water quality during and after a logging operation. However the width of the
required "buffer strip" varies according to the "class" of the stream.
The stream "class" is determined by the area of land draining into it, and its
position in the network of streams in an entire catchment.
Unfortunately
the information available does not indicate the "class" of streams, which makes
definition of an appropriate "buffer" an uncertain and sometimes controversial
issue..
But fortunately, MapMakers were able to use their in-depth
knowledge of landscapes, natural processes, and leading edge spatial technologies.
Which allowed us to move on to solve the real problem relating to stream
"classes" and appropriate "buffer" widths..
We established a relationship between the FPB "classes",
and recognised hydrological definitions of "stream order"..
From which we were able to derive, and produce in easily understood
map form, the required distribution and status of "stream classes" for
operational purposes..
This map shows how an existing stream network has been processed,
resulting in the correct "class" being assigned to each stream segment,
according to the Code's requirements. Click on the image to take a virtual helicopter
flight (600K) over this recent logging operation, showing MapMakers Stream Classification
service at work!
For planning and operational purposes we can create definitive maps
showing the identity, extent and area of all catchments, together with the appropriate
protective stream buffer for each stream segment, defined according to the Forest
Practices Code.
You can see a larger example of the catchment product by clicking here..
But that is just an initial stage required by authorities!
Using
the same data sources, we can then produce a range of additional products to further
enable the community, regulatory authorities, and forest companies to better understand
the forest, and make the right decisions on the ground. to everyone's
satisfaction!
This example shows how slope calculations have been incorporated to evaluate
three proposed logging coupes: Two were OK, but one fails to satisfy the Code's
requirements.
Example 2. Taking the guesswork out of
planning the location of new forest plantations..
With plantation forestry becoming a necessary but sometimes controversial
change to familiar land use, spatial technology can remove much of the uncertainty both
for business and the communities involved.
Here we have used some common starting points to determine areas
most suitable for plantation forests, starting with adequate rainfall (over 1,000 mm /
year) and land lower than 600 metres above sea level (it's too cold for good growth at
higher altitudes). The light green areas satisfy both these requirements.
The practical needs of plantation establishment, maintenance and
harvesting require land which is not too steep for machinery to operate safely. Here we
have used a slope limit of 30%. All the land above this threshold is shown as red with a green
border. The other colours are flat to
progressively steeper..
Of course boggy land can be as much of a limit to plant growth as
too little water. It can also pose a hazard for machinery in addition to being prone to
soil damage by heavy equipment. Here we have analysed soil types (for example clay
content, structural limits to free drainage etc), and how rain accumulates at certain low
points in the landscape. The red areas are
not sufficiently well drained for good plantations.
Taken together, we can confine our interest to land which is suitable for plantation trees. Then, by adding information
on land tenure (for example exclusion of national parks), and perhaps distance and cost of
transport to processing facilities, the entire community can discuss its options and
preferences from an informed position, rather than one of suspicion and concern..
Example 3. New forest plantations ~ how will
the view from my home change in 10 years time..?
This example is for illustration purposes only,
and does not necessarily reflect existing or proposed land use changes in the area shown.
To help meet growing demand for timber products, plantation forests
are becoming more widespread. In Europe, bad public reaction to resulting changes in
perceived landscape value has been common for decades. In Australia this is a recent
phenomenon, and is linked to a shift in land use away from agriculture and towards
plantations..
The view from the township of Mole Creek is one of rolling
paddocks, crops and grazing livestock. Mount Roland offers a spectacular backdrop some 16
km to the north west.
Ten years later.. We have
added four imaginary blocks of plantation forest,
just west of the township. These have been planted over a four year period. After ten
years, the trees are at various heights of between 12 and 17 metres.
The blue areas show the landscape
now visible from the town. The green areas
on the map are the areas which could originally be seen, but in ten years time will be
hidden by the growing plantations.
One of the values of this kind of approach is that the impact of
proposed developments can be seen before any expensive commitments are made.
For
a total plantation area of 1.8 km˛, the visible area of landscape is reduced from an
initial 61.4 km˛ to 52.5 km˛; a reduction of 14.5%. Being able to adjust for how things
are likely to be in the future is just one of the benefits. It is also possible to use
this type of approach to modify management options. For example to fine tune harvesting
rotations to minimise loss of amenity to neighbours.
Please note that most of the images on our site have been generated primarily
for hard copy, and therefore might not display optimally on your terminal.
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