Salvage logging of burnt forests: a threat to flora and fauna

Questions about post-fire management of Victorian forests are being raised with salvage logging set to be classified as a “potentially threatening process”.

Walkers Sawmills foreman Simon Zimmer in 2020, with fire-salvaged Mountain Ash logs from the Corryong fires.

Salvage logging of burnt forests is set to be classified as a “potentially threatening process” under Victoria’s flora and fauna regulations, following a recommendation from the state’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

The move further restricts forest managers’ access to salvaged timber and firewood in the wake of fires, as the Andrews Government prepares to end native forest logging on January 1.

According to the SAC: “Post-fire salvage logging results in the immediate loss of vital habitat resources, disrupts natural processes of forest regeneration and reduces forest resilience.”

“The mechanical disturbance of salvage logging damages surviving plants, soil and seed banks,” the SAC stated.

“The potentially threatening process poses or has the potential to pose a significant threat to the survival of two or more taxa.”

The recommendation also raises questions as to how Forest Fire Management Victoria deals with post-fire management of the state’s forests.

Gippsland East Nationals MP Tim Bull asked: “What happens where we need to get rid of dangerous trees?

He said forest managers also needed to consider that “the best way to protect the forest was to remove fuel loads”.

Salvage logging of burnt forests is set to be classified as a “potentially threatening process” under Victoria’s flora and fauna regulations. Picture: David Caird

Professional forester and consultant Peter Fagg said that while salvage logging could be disruptive, the impact was across a few small areas, out of tens of thousands of hectares of burnt forest.

Mr Fagg said the impact had to be considered at the landscape level, given a vast area of burnt forests was not logged.

He said even after the 2019-20 fires, loggers would have been lucky to harvest 2000 hectares, equivalent to “1 to 2 per cent” of what was burnt.

“Salvage logging is also only viable for one to two years after fire, because of the deterioration of wood quality,” Mr Fagg said.

The SAC made its recommendation on the back of a nomination from an unnamed party.

Under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee regulations any person or organisation can nominate an item to the SAC for addition to the Threatened List or the Processes List.

The public has until December 10 to respond to the SAC’s recommendation via its website or email [e-mail].