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Gippsland Forest Apiary Plan Launched

The forests of Gippsland will be buzzing with the news that the Gippsland Forest Apiary Plan was launched today at Forestech near Lakes Entrance.

By Department of Sustainability and Environment - 3rd December 2004 - Back to News

The Plan was developed through cooperation between the Gippsland Apiarists Association and Forest Management staff with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE).

Peter McHugh, DSE's Manager of Forest Stewardship and Biodiversity spoke to an audience of forest managers and beekeepers, giving a brief history of the development of this plan.

"Indigenous people have lived in harmony and balance with the forest for thousands of years, but more recently, the forests of Gippsland have been marked by changing demands by both forest industries and communities," Mr McHugh said.

"The apiary industry was originally established to provide honey and beeswax for the early settlers in this area as they cleared the forests to establish communities and agricultural production."

The apiarists were able to exploit more of the forest resources as the timber industry constructed road networks deeper into the forest, with old landing sites being used to establish bee farms.

"Changes to the way forest products were used and sourced from the forest led to more timber harvesting in foothill forest which affected the viability of apiary sites in those areas," Mr McHugh said.

"Similarly, the use of apiary in contract pollination has increased the net benefit of the apiary industry to the Victorian economy and raised the importance of maintaining areas which are managed so that the apiary and forest industries can co-exist."

The Regional Forest Agreements and the Forest Management Planning process have established a system of reserves which protect biodiversity values of the forest and exclude areas of the forest from harvesting. Over time, this will enhance the value of some areas to the apiary industry.

The Gippsland Forest Apiary Plan further identifies those sites of greatest importance to the Apiary industry.

It establishes recommendations to ensure that after harvesting at least two thirds of trees remaining within one kilometre of identified high priority apiary sites are more than 40 years old.

These are the trees that will still be producing pollen and nectar.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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