Unique or Special Wildlife Values - Frequently Asked Questions

USWV are defined as any endangered species, endangered ecological community or species presumed extinct that is or is likely to grow on or inhabit the authorised plantation.

Unique or special wildlife is defined in the Act as:

• Any endangered species, endangered ecological community or extinct species within the meaning of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, or
• Any endangered species, endangered ecological community or species presumed extinct within the meaning of Part 7A of the Fisheries Management Act 1994.

• The plantation species that have been planted (whether by sowing seed or otherwise) or any tree or shrub that is planted on an authorised plantation during establishment or other operations on the plantation.
• Species listed as vulnerable.
• Listed species on land outside the authorised plantation.

Endangered species and other environmental or heritage values that may be present at the site before a plantation is established are considered during the authorisation process prior to the plantation being established. The USWV provisions in the Act apply post authorisation as a condition of the plantation authorisation.

Plantation owners or managers have a statutory responsibility to notify the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Plantation Regulation Unit as soon as they become aware that plantation operations have or are likely to have an impact on unique or special wildlife values within an authorised plantation.

To assist plantation owners and managers in making these decisions, information on endangered (including critically endangered) species and communities is available on the following sites:

• Office of Environment and Heritage - search for threatened species by region here.
• The BioNet Atlas provides for searches of species sightings and viewing the profiles of species, populations, and communities.

Plantation owners or managers are required to consider:

1. - whether the endangered species or endangered ecological community is on or likely to be on the authorised plantation and if so,
2. - whether the proposed operations will or are likely to impact those USWV.

If the plantation owner or manager makes adjustments to plantation operations and puts in place actions that they are confident will avoid impact or likely impact of plantation operations on USWV, a notification is not required. For example, if the plantation owner considers that measures such as increased riparian buffers, sediment fencing, temporary suspension of harvest or modified establishment methods will remove any likelihood of any adverse impact on USWV then there is no requirement to notify DPI.

If adjustments to a planned plantation operation cannot be made as to avoid impact or likely impact on known USWV in the authorised plantation, and the plantation owner/manager wishes to proceed with those operations, notification is required.

If a plantation owner or manager is uncertain of the presence of USWV and the likelihood of impact, it is recommended that advice be sought from a suitably qualified person/s.

Notification can be made by using the Notification of USWV Form.

For further information or to notify of USWV please contact your local DPI Plantation Assessment Officer.

When the DPI Plantations Regulation Unit is notified of impact or likely impact of plantation operation on USWV, the Act outlines the following process.

The DPI will:

1. Confirm the presence and, if present, the extent of the USWV.
2. Arrange an evaluation of the likely impact on the species / community of the proposed plantation operation.
3. Make a determination from the evaluation of the likely impact on the species / community of the proposed plantation operation.

• These actions will be taken as quickly as possible, however, some delay in the plantation operation proceeding should be expected.
• The greater the number of impacted species the longer these processes are likely to take.
• The plantation operation may be formally suspended whilst the USWV assessment is carried out and the impact determined.

• These conditions may involve plantation operations in all or part of the authorised plantation from being prevented or permanently exclusion, suspended for a period or modified so as to minimise the adverse impact,
• In certain circumstances, the Act provides a mechanism where compensation is available if harvesting operations are delayed, restricted, or precluded altogether, in order to protect unique or special wildlife values