Management

Create an action plan

Land managers can use this section to create an action plan for their land to achieve their goals for either carbon farming, wildlife conservation, or a combination of both.

Grow carbon

To grow carbon, the management aims for all states are to:

  • maximise the height and diameter of existing trees (as much as possible without reducing the productivity of the site)
  • increase the density of large trees to reach the typical tree density for the vegetation type (or managers can choose a lower target tree density, but this will limit the site reaching its maximum carbon state)
  • ensure that the number of new trees growing into the canopy is adequate to replace losses from dying large trees, by allowing seedlings and saplings to develop into trees
  • if generating carbon credits, vegetation is managed in line with the rules of the relevant method being used.

Once the main management aims are achieved, carbon accumulation may be further improved by allowing the development of a mid-storey of trees and shrubs, as long as this does not impede the replacement of canopy eucalypts over time.

Conserve wildlife

To conserve wildlife the management aims are the same as those for growing carbon (above), with the addition of:

  • avoid actions that kill or injure wildlife (e.g. clearing, fire)
  • provide a range of shelter options and food resources for wildlife
  • manage fire and grazing to allow ongoing recruitment of all plant species
  • protect and restore landscape features that support wildlife
  • control competitors and predators that threaten wildlife (e.g. feral animals, weeds).

Rainfall and temperature will have a large influence on the potential for reforestation and carbon accumulation on your site. However, other factors, such as fire, grazing, and the density of understorey vegetation, may also require management. The history of the site will generally determine the amounts of initial effort and ongoing maintenance needed to restore it.

To determine which actions apply to your site:

  1. Identify your site’s condition state.
  2. Select whether your goal is to increase benefits from farming carbon, conserving wildlife, or both.
  3. Use the table below to compile a list of management actions for the condition state and goals of your site.

Management actions

This table lists management actions for restoring and maintaining wet sclerophyll forest.

Actions that maximise carbon have ‘increase’ in the carbon column; those that conserve wildlife have ‘increase’ in the wildlife column.

Crosses indicate which actions are relevant to which condition states.

Some condition states have been grouped because their management actions are the same.

Clearing

Action

Benefits and impacts

Carbon

Wildlife

Condition state

1 & 2

3 & 6

5

4 & 7

8

9

1. No broad-scale clearing of live trees and shrubs

Clearing wet sclerophyll forest will reduce the rate of carbon gain, decrease the capacity of the vegetation to store carbon, and produce a net carbon loss

Careful selective harvesting is compatible with carbon farming, but this will slow the rate of carbon gain, and reduce the amount of carbon stored

Clearing removes plants and animals, and also removes the food and shelter of animals that depend on trees and shrubs

Animals which have little or no capacity for dispersal are severely impacted by land clearing

increase

increase

x

x

x

x

 

x

2. Retain dead standing trees and shrubs, and fallen timber (minimise or avoid collection for firewood, or ‘cleaning up’)

Dead trees and fallen timber contribute to the amount of carbon stored

Dead trees (especially those with hollows) and fallen timber are important for wildlife for shelter and foraging

increase

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

3. Encourage the growth and survival of large trees (this may involve thinning)

Healthy, large trees make a substantial contribution to the amount of carbon stored

Large trees are more likely to contain and form hollows, provide shelter and foraging sites for wildlife, and they can take a very long time to replace

increase

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

Fire

4. If tree recruitment is needed, protect wet sclerophyll eucalypt seedlings from fire until > 3m in height

Wet sclerophyll eucalypts can be killed by fire in the early stages of growth

increase

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

5. Prevent and suppress moderate to high-severity fires

Moderate to high-severity fires result in net carbon loss by consuming the carbon stored in trees, shrubs, dead wood and litter

Trees, shrubs, dead wood and litter that would be damaged or destroyed by fire all provide shelter and foraging sites for wildlife

increase

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

6. If the understorey is composed of grasses and non-rainforest shrubs, and fuel loads in the understorey are likely to build up, conduct patchy, low-severity burns, when soil moisture is high, to reduce the risk of moderate to high-severity fires. Do not use fire if rainforest trees and shrubs are dominant in the understorey

Repeated small fires can reduce the rate of carbon gain by removing small trees and shrubs, but small carbon losses are preferable to potentially larger losses from unplanned wildfire

Reduces the risk of fire in the area to be restored (see #5)

Rainforest trees and shrubs are unlikely to burn, and therefore pose minimal fire risk

increase

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

7. If the understorey is dominated by grasses, use grazing management to reduce high fuel loads (this needs to be balanced with allowing the establishment and growth of woody plants—see #10 below)

Reduces the risk of fire in the area to be restored (see #5)

increase

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

8. If the surrounding vegetation is fire-adapted, use grazing management or low severity burns, when soil moisture is high, to reduce high fuel loads in the surrounding vegetation

Reduces the risk of fire in the area to be restored (see #5)

increase

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

9. If the surrounding vegetation is fire-adapted, maintain a range of burning practices that create a fine-scale mosaic of fire histories in the landscape, including unburnt areas, and to avoid hot fires, especially late in the dry season

Native species have diverse responses to fire, so a mosaic of low severity burns that are patchy in space and time should help to conserve the greatest number of species

 

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

10. Rake litter and debris away from the base of large and hollow trees before prescribed burning

Healthy, large trees make a substantial contribution to the amount of carbon stored

Helps to protect important habitat trees from scorching, and premature death

increase

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

Grazing

11. If your site needs more trees, protect wet sclerophyll eucalypt seedlings from grazing until > 3m in height

Uncontrolled grazing may reduce carbon gain and storage by disturbing tree and shrub growth and establishment, and trampling woody debris and litter

Uncontrolled grazing by stock can reduce shelter and food for wildlife by slowing and preventing the establishment and growth of trees, grasses and understorey shrubs, and by trampling and reducing the amount of litter and fallen timber

increase

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

12. Control macropods and feral animals (e.g. goats, pigs, rabbits) if they are in sufficient densities to prevent the recruitment of native trees and shrubs.

Uncontrolled grazing may reduce carbon gain and storage by disturbing tree and shrub growth and establishment, and trampling woody debris and litter

Uncontrolled grazing by feral and native animals can reduce shelter and food for wildlife by slowing and preventing the establishment and growth of trees, grasses and understorey shrubs, and by trampling and reducing the amount of litter and fallen timber

increase

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

13. Manage domestic, native and feral herbivores (animals that are adapted to eat plants) to maintain low to moderate levels of grazing pressure

Uncontrolled grazing by domestic, feral and native animals can reduce shelter and food for wildlife by slowing and preventing the establishment and growth of trees, grasses and understorey shrubs, and by trampling and reducing the amount of litter and fallen timber

Providing areas of low to moderate grazing pressure will favour many native plant and animal species that find it difficult to survive in highly-grazed landscapes

 

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

Site preparation and plant establishment

14. Reduce the cover of dense shrubs/mid-storey trees in areas where canopy tree recruitment is needed. Use patchy disturbance (e.g. selective clearing, herbicide or low to moderate intensity fire) to reduce shrub and/or mid-storey tree density. (Tree recruitment may be by natural seed sources, direct seeding, or tubestock planting).

However, if rainforest trees are present in the understorey (state 4) this may not be necessary for the best carbon returns. This is because rainforest is likely to store similar amounts of carbon as wet sclerophyll forest.

Improves the establishment and growth of woody plants by reducing competition

This action may have negative effects on wildlife by removing habitat/cover. To reduce these risks, reduce shrub cover in small areas only, and implement shrub removal in stages, over months or years

increase

  

x

 

x

  

15. If the understorey is dominated by grasses, use slashing or low severity fire, when soil moisture is high, to reduce the cover of herbaceous plants before direct seeding or tubestock planting

Burning may be less desirable if this is likely to trigger the germination of high numbers of native or weedy shrubs from the soil seedbank

Improves the establishment and growth of woody plants by reducing competition.

increase

increase

 

x

    

16. Expose areas of mineral soil in patches, when wet sclerophyll eucalypts are releasing seed, and when good rains are expected

Establishing and growing woody plants increases the rate and amount of carbon stored

A diversity of woody plant species of different sizes and ages provides food and habitat for wildlife.

increase

increase

 

x

x

   

17. Revegetate treeless areas with native trees and shrubs using direct seeding or tubestock, when good rains are expected

Establishing and growing woody plants increases the rate and amount of carbon stored

A diversity of woody plant species of different sizes and ages provides food and habitat for wildlife

increase

increase

 

x

 

x

  

18. Establish a diversity of tree and shrub species

A diversity of woody plant species of different sizes and ages provides food and habitat for wildlife

 

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

Competitors and predators

19. Monitor the establishment of wet sclerophyll eucalypt seedlings and remove competing weeds, other native plants or vines (manually, or by carefully applying herbicide)

Removing competing plants will maximise the growth of wet sclerophyll tree species

increase

increase

 

x

x

x

x

x

20. Avoid management actions that will lead to the development of a uniformly dense shrub layer.

Such management actions may include removal or death of canopy trees; high levels of grazing pressure; or fire regimes that encourage the growth of shrubs at the expense of canopy trees or grasses

A uniformly dense shrub layer (> 50% cover throughout the site) may prevent the establishment and growth of canopy trees

increase

 

x

x

x

x

x

x

21. Control weedy shrubs (e.g. lantana) and exotic trees (e.g. camphor laurel) before they form a dense shrub layer

A uniformly dense shrub layer (> 50% cover throughout the site) may prevent the establishment and growth of canopy trees

increase

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

22. Prevent the introduction and spread of serious weeds. Vehicles, machinery, quad bikes and stock can all spread weeds

  

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

23. Control weed species where these are having a negative impact on wildlife

Management actions that have adverse effects on wildlife should be avoided if possible, or implemented in stages

 

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

24. Control feral animal species where these are having a negative impact on wildlife

Pigs, cats, foxes and goats are some of the feral species that may threaten native plants and animals through predation, competition and spreading disease

Management actions that have adverse effects on wildlife should be avoided if possible, or implemented in stages

 

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

25. Use habitat modification to reduce the numbers of bell miners (birds) where these are having a negative impact on canopy trees and wildlife. Remove lantana, if present, with herbicide, or other suitable technique.

If dense native understorey is blocking the growth of mid and upper-canopy trees, use burning or mechanical clearing to see if patchy disturbance helps

High densities of bell miners are associated with the dieback of some wet sclerophyll tree species

Miners can have a strong negative influence on the abundance and species richness of other native birds.

Direct control of miners is not recommended.

Decreasing the density of understorey shrubs/mid-storey trees should help to discourage bell miners, and allow canopy trees to develop

increase

increase

     

x

Other actions for wildlife

26. Retain and restore tree and shrub patches of different sizes, ages and stem densities

More wildlife species are likely to be supported if there is a range of vegetation growth types

 

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

27. Provide nest boxes if hollows are scarce

Tree hollows provide important shelter and foraging sites for wildlife

 

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

28. Retain and protect mistletoe on eucalypts and other woody plant species

Mistletoe provides nectar, berries and nesting sites for many animal species

 

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

29. Retain and protect rocks and rock outcrops

Many animals use rocks or rocky areas for shelter, and some plant species may only be found around rocky areas

 

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

30. Retain and protect leaf litter (including fallen leaves, bark and twigs)

Many animals use leaf litter for shelter and foraging

 

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

31. Minimise or avoid the use of insecticides in areas to be restored, and prevent spray drift from adjacent areas

Invertebrates deserve protection in their own right, but also provide food for other animals, and ecosystem services such as pollination and seed dispersal

 

increase

x

x

x

x

x

x

Other considerations

Rainfall will have a large bearing on the success of management actions

Extended dry periods may cause the death of mature trees

Try to revegetate with tubestock or by direct seeding only when good rains are expected

Fire severity

This table is reproduced from the planned burn guidelines.

It describes the features of a range of fire severities that may be encountered in open forests and woodlands in Queensland.

(Note: Based on fuel load at 8 t/ha, grasses cured at 90%, Byram fireline intensity at 18,000 kj/kg.)

Fire severity class

Fire intensity

(during the fire)

Fire severity

(post fire)

Fire intensity (kilowatts per metre—kWm-1)

Average flame height (m)

Average scorch height (m)

Description

(loss of biomass)

Low (L)

< 150

< 0.5

< 2.5

Significant patchiness. Litter retained but charred. Humus layer retained. Nearly all habitat trees, fallen logs, and grass stubble retained. Some scorching of elevated fuels. Little or no canopy scorch.

Moderate (M)

150–500

0.5–1.5

2.5–7.5

Moderate patchiness. Some scorched litter remains. About half the humus layer and grass stubble remain. Most habitat trees and fallen logs retained. Some scorch of elevated fuels. Little or no canopy scorch.

High (H)

500–1000

1.5–3.0

7.5–15.0

Some patchiness. Some humus remains. Some habitat trees and fallen logs affected. At least some canopy scorch in moderate < 20m height canopy, mid stratum burnt completely (or nearly so).

Very high (H)

1000–3000

3.0–10.0

Extensive scorching

All understorey burnt to ash (or nearly so). Most habitat trees and fallen logs affected. Extensive crown scorch.

Extreme (E)

> 3000

> 10.0

Partial or total defoliation

All understorey burnt to ash (or nearly so). Loss of nearly all habitat trees and fallen logs. Partial or total defoliation.