The Tasmanian RFA Annual Meeting of Officials took place in Hobart on 16 July 2018. The meeting was attended by Senior Officials from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and Department of the Environment and Energy, and the Tasmanian Government Department of State Growth and Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.
On 18 August 2017, the Tasmanian RFA was amended to include improvements and a rolling 20 year extension by the Parties. This meeting satisfies the requirement of clause 9A of the varied Tasmanian RFA:
The Parties agree to hold annual officials-level, bi-lateral meetings in the years between each 5 yearly review to monitor the implementation of the Agreement and discuss any issues that arise.
Discussion related to implementation and issues that had arisen since that time.
Officials received updates on a range of matters relating to changes to the Tasmanian Forest Management System (FMS) that had occurred since the RFA variation was signed. Officials noted that changes in the preceding year have been minimal and that the FMS remains substantially the same as the system described in the Overview of Tasmania’s Forest Management System (2017).
Officials discussed compliance on a range matters including the impact of forestry operations on Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES). Final compliance information will be available from relevant sources once 2017-18 annual reports are published.
Officials noted that minor additions had been made to the Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative (CAR) reserve system, from private reserves created through conservation covenants or stewardship agreements.
Officials commenced consideration of the process that will be used to support the five-yearly review in 2022, as required by clauses 9AA and 9B of the Tasmanian RFA. In support of that review, officials also discussed a draft five-year work plan.
Officials noted that the next annual meeting is required to be held no later than 18 August 2019 and agreed to meet before that date.
Hobart
16 July 2018