ACT Code of Forest Practice: Version 1.

The purpose of the ACT Code of Forest Practices (“The Code”) is to set guidelines and standards for forest operations. The aim of these guidelines is to provide practical measures that will help protect environmental and cultural values during forest operations including: water quality and flow; soils; flora, fauna; and cultural heritage. The Code recognises that various operations should not be undertaken in some areas such as riparian zones and areas of cultural heritage; these areas are defined as Exclusion Zones. The Code also recognises that specific events, such as a catastrophic fire, may require some variations to procedures in order to rehabilitate lands. In this case specific arrangements may be required; for example removal of debris or weeds in Exclusion Zones. Where exceptional situations develop and a short-term variation is required, the Environmental Authorisation that permits the activity may be varied by the EPA in consultation with the relevant land management agency.
The Code is organised in 12 sections, including the introduction and glossary, and two Appendixes. In each section the Code lists general and operational principles. The Sections follow: 2) Planning (the Code focuses mainly on planning at the operational level and encompasses the implementation of Environmental Authorisations); 3) Occupational Health and Safety; 4) Soils (the protection of soils must be considered of high importance in the management of forest land, the Code classifies the land into Forest Soil Erodibility Classes and outlines Soil Erodibility Management Guidelines ); 5) Maintenance of water quality (the Code recognises the importance of water quality, riparian values and streamflow, provides for ACT Watercourse Classification and parameters for identification of Riparian Management Zones); 6) Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage (system of Exclusions Zones for protection of threatened species of flora and fauna and their ecological communities and protection of both aboriginal and other Australians cultural heritage values); 7) Roads and Trucks (measures to minimise the pollution of waters and harm or damage of riparian zones and to soil stabilisation, erosion and sediment control techniques); 8) Forest Establishment and Maintenance (principles in general aim at conserving soil and water quality, maintaining biodiversity and long term site productivity, reducing visual impact, and protecting other natural and cultural values. Operational principles touch site preparation, planting, use of chemicals, pests, etc.); 9) Timber Harvesting (Timber harvesting is not undertaken in native forest. An Operational Plan for the management of harvesting (Timber Harvest Plan) will be prepared for all harvesting operations. Timber harvesting will not be undertaken in Exclusion Zones); 10) Forest Rehabilitation; 11) Fire Management.