1996 Code of Forest Practices for Timber Production

November 1996; Page 23, 24

2.3.7 Protection of Rainforest

Goal
: Rainforest must be excluded from timber harvesting, and because rainforest communities may be particularly vulnerable to adjacent disturbance, they should be surrounded by an appropriate buffer.

Guidelines:
(i) for stands of lesser significance - 40 m buffers, or 20m exclusion plus a 40m modified harvesting strip (> 40% of basal area retained, low machine disturbance, minimal burning);

(ii) for stands where Nothofagus makes up >20 % of the canopy - buffers of 60 m, or 40 m buffer with 40m modified harvesting zone (> 40% of basal area retained, low machine disturbance, minimal burning);

(iii) for stands containing nationally significant rainforest - the highest degree of protection generally sub-catchment level, except where full protection can be provided by other measures, which are/will be outlined in approved plans Note: These protection levels may be adjusted prior to the next Code review depending on the results of further research into rainforest protection.