Information
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Document No.
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Forest Management Unit
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Conducted on
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Prepared by
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Location within FMU
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Personnel
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Current Weather
Plot establishment
Frequency of monitoring
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Relevant to FSC criterion 8.1
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What type of vegetation exists in this area?
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What is the current operation?
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LOW potential for damage to environment.
ANNUAL monitoring at each plot. -
MODERATE potential for damage to environment.
ANNUAL monitoring at each plot, and every SIX MONTHS monitoring during operational phase. -
What is the current operation?
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LOW potential for damage to environment.
ANNUAL monitoring at each plot. -
MODERATE potential for damage to environment.
ANNUAL monitoring at each plot, and every SIX MONTHS monitoring during operational phase. -
HIGH potential for damage to environment;
ANNUAL monitoring at each plot, and QUARTERLY monitoring during operational phase -
What is the current operation?
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MODERATE potential for damage to environment.
ANNUAL monitoring at each plot, and every SIX MONTHS monitoring during operational phase. -
HIGH potential for damage to environment;
ANNUAL monitoring at each plot, and QUARTERLY monitoring during operational phase -
Is this a new plot?
Plot Location
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Locate the plot to capture the typical array of ecological features present in the area being sampled. In the case of HCV1, the plot location should capture the particular HCV1 attribute; eg, include the known location of a threatened plant.
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What is the defining attribute of this monitoring plot?
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Establish the centre point of each plot (eg by the use of a star picket). This is designed to allow the detection of changes over time which may not be apparent from data collection alone.
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What is the GPS location of the plot centre ?
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Use a tape measure to define the plot area with a radius of 8 metres. This equates to a round plot of c.200m2 or 0.02 ha. Spray paint may be used to delineate the plot at each visit.
Photo Points
Take at least one photograph of the plot and surrounding area facing in each cardinal direction (magnetic).
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North
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East
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South
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West
Disturbance within plot
ALTERED HYDROLOGY
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Signs of altered hydrology include ditches, drains, pipes and levees.
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Is this area impacted by altered hydrology?
FIREWOOD COLLECTION
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Any evidence of firewood collection within the plot?
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Upload photo (optional)
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Notes
FIRE
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Is there evidence of fire?
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Indicator: No evidence of fire
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Indicator: Evidence of recent fire, however no major damage was sustained to the vegetation, and there is healthy regrowth occurring. The majority of the litter layer remains intact, there is no significant burning of fallen trees, and there is no damage to the peat layer
OR
Evidence of a moderate fire in the past, which may be indicated by a few “burnt out” tree stumps (less than 5% of living tree numbers), however the native vegetation remains relatively intact with no current fire damage to vegetation. No significant stands of blady grass and/or bracken fern. -
Indicator: Evidence of a recent major fire, which has burnt the majority of the litter layer and understory vegetation. Some saplings may be killed but there is no death of well-established trees. Some of the fallen trees are significantly damaged. There may be some minor scorching of the peat layer, however no significant peat deposits have been lost
OR
There are some dense stands of blady grass and/or bracken fern in more than 20% of the area, indicating the presence of a major fire in the past. -
Indicator: A peat fire has destroyed some of the peat layer
or
Death of well established trees -
Upload photo (optional)
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Notes
GRAZING
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Indicators of grazing by farm animals can include pugging of wet soils, loss of native species diversity, presence of manure and ground compaction.
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Is there evidence of grazing?
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Indicator: No present or past evidence of grazing.
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Indicator: Grazing animals currently have access to the area, however there are no well-established tracks, manure present but uncommon, and little damage to the vegetation
OR
No current signs of grazing, but evidence of grazing in the past, however the remaining damage is mild. -
Indicator: Grazing animals currently have access to the area, some established tracks, manure common in some places, some damage to vegetation OR no current signs of grazing, but evidence of grazing in the past, and the remaining damage has a moderate impact on the health of the area.
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Indicator: Grazing animals currently have access to the area, established tracks throughout the area, manure widespread, major damage to vegetation OR grazing animals have recently been removed from the area, however the area remains severely disturbed.
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Upload photo
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Notes
WEEDS
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Is there evidence of weeds?
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Indicator: No weeds present in the area.
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Indicator: There may be occasional weeds but these are not common. No noxious weeds present.
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Indicator: Some weed incursion, however at least half of the area remains free of weeds. Noxious weeds are either not present, or they are found only in a minor part of the area.
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Indicator: More than half of the area is colonised by weeds OR there are noxious weeds present throughout the area.
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Upload a photo (optional)
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Notes
DEAD TREES
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Is there evidence of dead / dying trees?
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Indicator: No stands of dead or dying trees
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a small number of isolated standing dead trees
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no trees present in this area -
Indicator: The area contains a small stand of dead or dying trees, and less than 5% of trees in the area are dead.
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Indicator: The area contains one or more stands of dead or dying trees, and between 5% and 20% of the trees are dead.
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Indicator: More than 20% of the trees in the area are dead.
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Upload a photo (optional)
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Notes
RUBBISH
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Is there evidence of Rubbish?
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Indicator: No rubbish present.
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Indicator: Rubbish uncommon.
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Indicator: Rubbish Common
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Indicator: The area has been used as a dump.
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Upload photo (optional)
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Notes
FERAL ANIMALS
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Evidence of feral animals can include scats, tracks, burrows, marks on trees or ground from scratching or rubbing, piles of feathers or presence of dead wildlife.
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Is there evidence of feral animals?
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Indicator: No evidence of feral animals in the area.
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Indicator: Evidence of feral animals in the area.
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Upload photo (optional)
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Notes
VEHICULAR DAMAGE
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Is there evidence of vehicular damage?
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Indicator: No tyre tracks or evidence of vehicular access noted.
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Indicator: Tyre tracks or evidence of vehicular access noted.
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Upload photo (optional)
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Notes
EROSION
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Is there evidence of erosion?
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Indicator: No signs of erosion, and the ground is protected by healthy cover plants and/or a well developed litter layer (fallen leaves, twigs, bark etc).
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Indicator: Minor spot erosion occurring in some places, however most of the ground is protected by healthy ground cover plants and/or a well-developed litter layer.
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Indicator: Spot erosion causing damage to vegetation and bare spots. There may be some scouring, and there is damage to the ground cover vegetation and / or the litter layer.
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Indicator: Extensive erosion with bare spots, rills and scouring common. There may also be gully erosion. There is considerable damage to the ground cover vegetation and / or the litter layer.
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Upload photo (optional)
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Notes
POLLUTED WATER
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Is there evidence of polluted water?<br>
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Indicator: No signs of water pollution.
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Indicator: Minor occurrence of algal scums and/or attached algae and/or floating bacteria, but aquatic vegetation appears healthy. Aquatic vegetation not excessive, and water odour not unpleasant.
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Indicator: Moderate occurrence of algal scums and/or attached algae and/or floating bacteria. Aquatic vegetation appears moderately healthy, and floating plants not excessive. Water odour may be slightly unpleasant.
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Indicator: Major occurrence of algal scums and/or attached algae and/or floating bacteria. There may be excessive growth of acquatic plants, and / or aquatic vegetation is not healthy. The water odour may be unpleasant.
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Upload photo (optional)
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Notes
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Does the extent and/ or severity of disturbance warrant corrective action?
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CPAR # Assigned
Habitat values in plot
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Are hollow- bearing trees present?
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Describe any evidence of use.
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Upload photo (optional)
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Are there potential den sites for fauna?
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Describe any evidence of use.
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Upload photo (optional)
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Are large logs present?
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In what condition are the logs?
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Upload photo
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Is windthrow present?
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Upload photo
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How many trees? Estimate time of occurence.
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Is regeneration present?
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Upload photo
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Notes
Flora and Fauna in plot
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Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC) are the standard unit for classifying vegetation types in Victoria,. EVCs are described through a combination of floristics, lifeforms and ecological characteristics, and through an inferred fidelity to particular environmental attributes. The EVC benchmarks are a useful resource for identifying species.
http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/environment-and-wildlife/biodiversity/evc-benchmarks -
Take a photo of each native species within the plot and upload here.
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List any native fauna observed within plot (includes scats, tracks, feathers etc)
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Add media
General Observations of Area
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Use this section to capture information about the wider area, ie the whole wetland or patch of vegetation.
DISTURBANCE
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Provide photos of any disturbance in the wider area. This can include Firewood Collection Altered Hydrology Fire Grazing Weeds Dead / Dying trees Rubbish Feral animals Vehicular damage Erosion Polluted water
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Notes
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Does the extent and/or severity of the disturbance warrant corrective action?
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CPAR # Assigned
FLORA, FAUNA AND HABITAT VALUES
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Upload photos of flora, fauna and habitat noted in the wider area.
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Notes
