The fourth Tasmanian RFA Annual Meeting of Officials took place by videoconference on 21 July 2020. The meeting was attended by officials from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, the Tasmanian Government Department of State Growth, and the Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.
This meeting satisfies the requirements of clause 9A of the 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.
Officials received updates on matters relating to the Tasmanian Forest Management System (FMS), and noted that an updated version of document Tasmania’s Forest Management System: An Overview (2017) will be published later this year.
Officials discussed monitoring and compliance under the Tasmanian forest practices system including formal compliance reporting and routine monitoring of forestry operations undertaken by Tasmanian Forest Practice Officers.
The development and implementation of Statutory Conservation Planning Documents was discussed by officials including current progress of the draft National Recovery Plan for the Swift Parrot and recently finalised listing statements made in accordance with the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (Tas).
Officials considered preparations for the five-yearly review due to commence in 2022, providing in‑principle endorsement to a draft timeline for the review. Officials discussed the preparation of a joint Implementation Report and agreed to finalise a draft Scoping Agreement prior to the next annual meeting.
Tasmanian officials provided update on the status of Future Potential Product Forest (FPPF) within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, with Officials noting that public consultation on the reservation of this land recently concluded.
Officials agreed to meet for the next annual meeting in July 2022, noting that the meeting is required to be held no later than 18 August 2022.