Just as you thought it was safe to go into the forest again..... Arrived in the inbox today. It must be a year since our last get together at Daylesford.
To quote
"Hello,
The Wombat Community Forest Management Project in the Wombat Forest is
holding the next Forest Assembly on April 16.
CFM apologises for the late notification, but it has been a busy time and
the agenda was not able to be completed until the Council of Stewards met
this week.
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Wombat Community Forest Management
Forest Assembly
April 16 2005
Daylesford Secondary College
Smith St. Daylesford.
10:00am- 3:00pm
The third Wombat Community Forest Management Forest Assembly will be held
at the Daylesford Secondary College on Saturday April 16. The Forest
Assembly is an opportunity for Victorians to see and hear what has been
happening in CFM, overviews of up and coming CFM projects and opportunities
to link up with a CFM Working Group and get involved yourself. Working
Groups are open for anyone to join.
The Wombat Community Forest Management project is a unique opportunity for
the community to have active participation in management issues of the
Wombat Forest. Community Forest Management is an established and growing
movement around the world. CFM offers the chance for the broader community
to also look at developing forest-based opportunities in new and exciting
areas including
recreation, tourism. It also allows for broad community/DSE
etc to work collaboratively on management decisions that will enhance the
forest itself and the natural values that are intrinsic to it.
The first part of the day will look at the framework and function of CFM.
Following a series of stakeholder meetings last year, an operating
structure for CFM was agreed upon. This structure has been in operation for
a number of months. During that time the Council of Stewards and the
Working Group have been working on a wide range of tasks and activities
regarding both the forest and CFM.
The second part of the day will center on the CFM Working Groups. The
Working Groups will give presentations on their activities over the past
6-9 months as
well overviews of their aims and objectives. The Community
Forest Management Working Groups are:
Heritage,
Recreation, Biodiversity,
Tracks, Forest Roads and Operations, Hydrology, Non-Timber Products, Timber
Products, Fire, Forest Protection (Pest Plants and Pest Animals),
Education, Tourism.
In addition a number of Working Groups are about to undertake a series of
projects relating to CFM and the Wombat Forest. These include:
· The Arthur Rylah Institute working with CFM and DSE in the
development of coupe designs that have consideration for Arboreal Habitat
Retention.- Timber Products WG.
· Complete GPS mapping and pro forma based assessments of all roads and
tracks within the Wombat Forest for a range of values, conditions and
threats.- Tracks Forest Roads & Operations WG
· The T-FRO mapping project is also working collaboratively with the
weeds WG to include assessments and mapping of weeds along roads. The Weeds
WG will also hire a contractor to carry out some sample riparian weed
mapping. A mail out to all adjacent private landholders is also planned to
ask for weed-based information as
well as supplying information on invasive
weeds and the need for vigilance.-Weeds WG
· A hydrology
forum titled "What is a waterway?" -panel of experts.-
Hydrology WG
· Engagement of an ecologist to produce a landscape level conservation
plan.- Biodiversity WG
· Indigenous
heritage project looking at a wide range of historical
aspects of indigenous use and movements within the Wombat Forest.-
Heritage
WG.
·
Further details on these will also be covered on the day.
The Daylesford Secondary College will be opening the school canteen as a
fundraiser for the school. Hot and cold food will be available for
purchase.
For more detail contact: Tim Anderson- Community Forestry Project Manager
BH: 5321 6811or email:
tim.anderson@dse.vic.gov.au
Tim Anderson
Community Forestry Project Manager
14 Mineral Water Drive
Daylesford. 3460.
03 5321 6811