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AN agreement between Forestry Tasmania and the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association acknowledges the joint objectives of the two industries and will ensure the ongoing viability of southern Tasmania’ only substantial leatherwood resource.
The Wedge forests around Lake Gordon currently supports at least 700 hives.
Forestry Tasmania Derwent Forest Manager Steve Whiteley said the forest management and communications protocol would provide a simple, strategic, secure and sustainable means of ensuring an ongoing supply of leatherwood nectar and native timber.
“Forestry Tasmania and the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association have agreed to work cooperatively to ensure ongoing supplies of leatherwood honey and native forest timber from the area,” he said.
“FT and TBA have mapped commercial stands of leatherwood in the Wedge forests and FT has established special management zones (SMZs) to underpin forest planning.
“Forestry Tasmania planners will also seek advice from beekeepers to determine if previously unmapped leatherwood stands are of commercial quality and FT’s wood production plans for the area will be finalised in consultation with the TBA.”
Mr Whiteley said beekeepers required access to state forest containing commercial stands of leatherwood to make their businesses sustainable.
“The beekeepers also provide an invaluable service to agricultural and horticultural industries by facilitating pollination,” he said.
“The agreement leaves open the possibility for an increase in beehive numbers in the Wedge forests to meet a growth in honey production and increased agriculture and horticulture pollination requirements.”
The agreement will formalise and reinforce existing arrangements between FT and TBA and will be reviewed after 10 years.
ENDS
19 December 2009
Downloads:
FT - TBA Community Forest Agreement (133kb PDF)
Wedge Apiary SMZ A3 Map (448kb PDF)
Commercial Leatherwood Stands A3 Map (1,496 kb PDF)
Media inquiries:
Corporate Relations
Ph: 6235 8249
