|
Prev
|
Next
Objective
Recommendation
Key issues
What has been achieved 1998-2003
Tasmania Together
Related Issue Reports
|
|
Objective To support the protection of native riparian vegetation on public and private land. Recommendation It is recommended that: - An inventory of the extent, diversity and condition of Tasmania's riparian vegetation (including species and communities) is produced, which builds on the existing TASVEG mapping, and the results mapped at the Statewide scale.
- Studies are undertaken and recommendations made for the standardisation of adequate buffer widths for riparian vegetation on public and private lands to maintain freshwater ecosystem services and values.
- Protection of riparian vegetation on agricultural land is supported through incentives under the Private Forests Reserves Program, the Protected Areas on Private Land Program and through codes of practice.
- Development of guidelines for the improved protection for headwater streams is continued and implemented through the Forest Practices Code (following from the review of the Soil and Water Provisions of the Forest Practices Code).
Key issues Supporting information for this recommendation is contained in Health and Extent of Native Riparian Vegetation Issue Report. However, the Aquatic Health and Wild Rivers issue reports also contain relevant information. Riparian vegetation has significant environmental, social and economic values. It performs critical functions at local and catchment scales, and contributes significantly to estuarine health. Tasmania's native riparian vegetation has undergone significant alteration and continues to be impacted by past and present land use, and water management practices across the State. Action is needed to ensure that this valuable, but little understood, feature of the landscape can be conserved for future generations. Key issues include the following:- In 1998 an estimated 1,668 km2 (53%) of Tasmania's riparian vegetation was categorised as moderately to substantially disturbed. Riparian vegetation communities are poorly reserved.
- There is limited availability of data on important ecosystem components including fish, water birds, water plants and riparian vegetation.
- Approximately 24% of the 5,587 km of river assessed across the State is biologically impaired (the total length of all watercourses in Tasmania is approximately 165,000 km). Approximately 63% of the river length assessed has been environmentally modified to varying degrees based on ARC habitat and catchment measures.
- The actual extent and amount of change in native riparian vegetation species and communities is not clearly known or understood as there has been no systematic analysis (e.g. Statewide mapping) at the regional and State scales. There is a need to improve knowledge and understanding of remaining native riparian vegetation and the environmental conditions required to maintain or improve ecosystem health.
- In 2002, riparian vegetation within three of the nine bioregions was generally considered to be degraded, and declining in condition, or have suffered species extinction due to threatening processes related to land use practices in six of the bioregions.
- Tasmanian wild rivers make up 25% of the total rivers distinguished on the 1:250,000 scale Auslig topographic maps and TOPO-250K digital database. The total length of wild rivers in the State is 9,907 km, the majority of which occur in the south-west.
What has been achieved 1998-2003 Programs and initiatives supporting protection of riparian vegetation include:- The Conservation of Freshwater Ecosystem Values Project run by DPIWE is part of the implementation of the Water Development Plan for Tasmania. The project will provide for conservation of key, representative aquatic ecosystems (including rivers and streams, wetlands, major groundwater springs, lakes and estuaries).
- The National Heritage Trust has funded river rehabilitation projects in Tasmania as part of the National Rivercare Program. These have been coordinated through Rivercare Team at DPIWE.
- Streamside buffers are required under the Forest Practices Code and are effectively streamside protection areas, which allows for a level of protection for riparian vegetation. Buffer width and the level of protection vary for different stream types. A review has occurred of various codes of practice, for example, the Review of the Soil and Water Provisions of The Forest Practices Code (FPAC 1999).
- The Private Forest Reserves Program has contributed to the protection of riparian vegetation on private lands. As of March 2003, 60% of the CAR reserves under 97 covenants, covering 17,379 ha, support some form of riparian vegetation along with another 80 or so other areas of private land being assessed for further reservation (Steven Smith pers. comm.).
Tasmania Together Relevant Tasmania Together goals and standards for 'Inland Waters and Wetlands' are listed in the linked file. The Tasmania Together Progress Board reported on progress toward targets for benchmarks set (Tasmania Together Progress Board 2003). Indicators, targets and baseline data are available in the latest Progress Report June 2003. Further information, including progress report updates, is available from Tasmania Together. Related Issue Reports
|
|
