Code of Practices for Timber Plantation in Western Australia.

The purpose of the Code of Practices for Timber Plantation in Western Australia is to provide goals and guidelines to plantation managers so that plantation operations in Western Australia are conducted in a manner that is in accordance with accepted principles for good plantation management, whilst recognising that a primary aim of plantations is to be economically competitive and sustainable. The function of the Code include: it is a guide for the development of plantation management plans; it applies to both public and private plantation growers on all land tenures; it is not a prerequisite of quality or environmental management systems, or the reverse, but it is designed to complement such systems. The Code contains legislative and regulatory requirement (the term "must" is used to indicate those rules), and desirable but not mandatory procedure (the term "should" is used to indicate those recommendations).
Section 4 identifies 1) economic, social and environmental goals intended as desired outcome; 2) quantitative or qualitative guideline as a recommended approach for achieving goals, and 3) specifications defined as detailed methods that are developed to suit regional requirements and specific conditions to achieve a nominated goal. The scope of these goals, guidelines and specifications include establishment, silviculture management, harvesting and reversion of plantation. In details the requires to: prepare and respect management plans; conditions to the plantation location, planning and design; it protects water quality values for plantations in the public-drinking-water source areas; it provides requirements for plantation roads to prevent soil erosion as far as possible and not have a detrimental impact on water courses or water quality due to drainage or water crossing; for silviculture of plantations requires site assessment, selection of species, use of fertilizers to ensure plantation productivity and economic viability are maintained while avoiding adverse offsite impacts, control of weed, pests, disease and insets, etc; rules that reversion of plantations has to happen by using experienced and adequately trained operators utilising appropriate equipment, to achieve acceptable standards of safety, environmental care and economic efficiency; provides for storage and handling of chemicals, fuels and oils; establish agriculture protection and neighbor Relations goals. Section 5 is dedicated to Fire Prevention and Suppression.