Glossary
A
Adaptive Management : Adaptive management is a process of responding positively to change. The term adaptive management is used to describe an approach to managing complex natural systems that builds on common sense and learning from experience, experimenting, monitoring and adjusting practices based on what was learnt.
B
Biodiversity : The variety of all life forms: the different plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain and the ecosystems they form; often considered at three levels: genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity.
C
CAR (Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative) Reserve System : The terms comprehensive, adequate and representative together describe the attributes of an ideal reserve system. These terms are defined in the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council's Guidelines for Establishing the National Reserve System as comprehensiveness: inclusion of the full range of ecosystems recognised at an appropriate scale within and across each bioregion; adequacy: the maintenance of the ecological viability and integrity of populations, species and communities; representativeness: the principle that those areas that are selected for inclusion in reserves reasonably reflect the biotic diversity of the ecosystems from which they derive. In addition to using the scientifically-based CAR criteria, spectacular landforms and scenery as well as natural areas of high public use are also commonly included in parks and reserves.
D
Declared Rare Flora (DRF) : Threatened flora gazetted under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Declared Species : Either plants that are declared as weeds or animals that are declared as pests. A list of declared species, with their levels of declaration in various areas of the State is published annually in the Government Gazette pursuant to section 37 of the Act.
Dieback : A disease of plants caused by the infection by the soil borne fungi of the genus Phytophthora.
E
Ecotourism : Ecologically sustainable tourism with a primary focus on experiencing and interpreting natural areas that fosters environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation.
F
Fauna Habitat Zone (FHZ) : Fauna Habitat Zones within State forests and timber reserves are intended to maintain fauna populations and to provide a source for recolonisation of nearby areas after timber harvesting. There are approximately 300 indicative Fauna Habitat Zones of at least 200 ha each that are designed to provide a sufficiently extensive network of areas excluded from timber harvesting to maintain fauna numbers.
Forest Management Plan : The Conservation Commission has a statutory role to prepare forest management plans and aims to ensure that the State forest and timber reserves vested in the Conservation Commission are managed according to the principles of ecologically sustainable forest management.
G
H
I
J
K
Key Performance Indicators : The minimum set, which if properly monitored, provides rigorous data describing the major trends in, and impacts on, Australian biodiversity.
L
M
N
Nature-based tourism : Tourism that is dependent upon the resources of the natural environment and incorporates a range of tourism experiences including adventure tourism, ecotourism and aspects of cultural and rural tourism.
O
Old Growth Forest : Old-growth forest is ecologically mature forest where the effects of unnatural disturbance are now negligible. The definition focuses on forest in which the upper stratum or overstorey is in a late mature to senescent growth stage.
P
Performance Assessment : Assessment and auditing (performance assessment) are an essential component of sound environmental management systems. The results of performance assessments are used in many ways, including: to promote adaptive management which leads to continuous improvement; to improve management planning; and to promote accountability and public support for management actions The greatest value of performance assessments is that they will: assist land managers in their work; improve management planning practice and management outcomes; and help inform policy decisions that will benefit the environmental management of the lands vested in the Conservation Commission
Priority Species : A Departmental term for flora and fauna species that may be rare or threatened but for which there is insufficient survey data available to accurately determine their true status. Priority species also include rare species that are currently not threatened. Species are grouped from P1 to P5 for according to the perceived urgency for further survey.
Q
R
Recovery Plan : A plan that describes the actions required to achieve the recovery of threatened species or ecological communities from the current threat of extinction or destruction.
S
T
U
V
Vested Land : Vested land refers to land placed under the care and protection of the Conservation Commission as provided for in Section 19 of the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984. The land can be viewed as being placed in trust, with the Conservation Commission responsible for ensuring the proper management and care of the land. This is ensured through the creation and auditing of management plans prepared jointly with the Department of Environment and Conservation.
W
X
Y
Z
