Fact sheet 2, Site assessments and advice
Mole Creek Karst Forest Programme fact sheet
Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2005
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Site assessments and advice
A site assessment is a free, non-binding step in the Mole Creek Karst Forest Programme. It involves a visit by a Field Agent to assess the conservation value of your forested land. The Field Agent will provide information and support to you through the assessment process. Once a site assessment has been completed, you can decide if you want to negotiate a covenant with the Field Agent over your forested land, or whether you want to register an interest in selling.
How do I arrange a site assessment?
You will need to register interest in participating in the programme with the MCKFP Administrator, the Tasmanian Land Conservancy. We recommend that you discuss your potential interest in the Programme with family, business associates and other advisers before seeking an assessment.
Registrations of interest will be sorted by priority, based on the MCKFP stated priorities (as outlined in Fact Sheet 1, General information), and by date of submission. The Field Agent will contact you to arrange a suitable time to visit.
What does the site assessment involve?
The Field Agent will discuss your options with you face-to-face, and help you through the process. They can talk about the types of forest and karst attributes that the MCKFP is looking for, and discuss the management action options that may suit your business needs.
Once you have settled on the area of your forest that you wish to conserve, the Field Agent will record the following values:
- nature of underlying karst (e.g. are there a high number of streamsinks and sinkholes or does it drain into a major cave system);
- type and area of each vegetation community;
- structure of community (e.g. is it old growth, has it been logged or has wood collection occurred);
- condition of the forest (e.g. is it weedy or overgrazed);
- proximity to other reserves; and
- presence of roads and fencing.
The Field Agent will then discuss the results of the assessment with you, and talk about the options that you have in managing the forest to get the best outcome for your property.
The mapped information on forest communities will be provided to the Tasmanian Government to update their vegetation databases.
What happens next?
If you want to proceed with a covenant over your forest, the Field Agent has authority to negotiate a draft proposal with you, including price, within strict guidelines.
If you want to proceed with a sale for part or all of your property, the Field Agent will ask the Programme Administrator to see if there is a suitable buyer for your property.
See Fact Sheet 3, Landowner covenant proposals, and Fact Sheet 6, Assisted land purchase, for more information.
How much time will the Field Agent take?
The time needed to assess each property and develop a proposal will depend on a number of factors, including the size of the forest. The Field Agent may need to visit more than once. Visits will occur only at your invitation, and at times that suit you.
The Programme allows for a 90 day negotiation period (from beginning of negotiations with the Field Agent, to completion of the proposal and draft covenant), as a reasonable timeframe to reach a conclusion for each individual. If agreement on the terms of a covenant or sale cannot be reached, then the negotiation process may be discontinued after this time.
Can the Field Agent provide me with advice on the financial implications of protecting my forest?
The Field Agent has strict guidelines on what they may advise on or negotiate, including price. They may not give you other financial advice. We recommend that you seek independent financial and legal advice on your decision from your usual advisers.
Will the Mole Creek Karst Forest Programme pay for other advice I obtain?
Just as in any business decision you make on your property, you may choose to seek independent financial and other professional advice on the implications for your whole property. The MCKFP will provide only the advice and assistance from the Field Agent.
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