Forico conducts and facilitates multiple projects across the plantation and native vegetation areas, which monitor and maintain ecological integrity and biodiversity.
NATIVE FAUNA SURVEY
In 2023, Forico engaged the services of Eco Logical Australia for a pilot survey focusing on the diversity and abundance of native fauna in plantations and adjacent natural forest areas.
The survey recorded 93 species across all fauna groups, with birds making up 89% of the 11,380 records. Eleven of the twelve bird species endemic to Tasmania were present in both plantation and native forest, including the Yellow-throated honeyeater, Black-headed honeyeater and Tasmanian scrubwren. Many bird species were observed to be utilising the plantations for feeding. Black-headed honeyeaters and Strong-billed honeyeaters occurred in large foraging flocks searching for insects under the loose bark of hardwood plantation trees.
The outcomes from the study confirm that an interwoven landscape incorporating plantations of varying age and species, interspersed with natural vegetation and agricultural land, where the whole is interconnected by waterways, provides habitat where a multitude of plants and animals can flourish.
TASMANIAN DEVILS AND QUOLLS
The research project into the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) headed by Dr Rodrigo Hamede and his team from the University of Tasmania, has monitored Tasmanian devils every three months since 2006, within a 6,000 hectare parcel of Forico's estate in northwest Tasmania.
Besides finding that devil populations appear to be coexisting with DFTD, the studies have identified that the plantation windrows present an ideal denning habitat for the species, particularly where plantations, native forest, native grasslands and waterways are interwoven. The abundance of devils and quolls increases where this is the case.
Forico has also collaborated in a study of potential new approaches in the management of Tasmanian devils and Eastern quolls, in plantation settings, undertaken with the Tasmanian Forest Practices Authority (FPA), the University of Tasmania (UTAS) and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DNRE). The research was part of a larger project jointly funded by the Forest Wood Products Association (FWPA) and forest industry partners.
CROWDED LEEK-ORCHID
Over a five year period during which Forico intervened to improve the condition of grasslands at Gatcomb South, monitoring by ecologists revealed a healthy population of the endangered Crowded leek-orchid, Paraprasophyllum crebriflorum.
Forico erected fencing to protect the orchids from grazing by native animals. Under instruction from Dr Magali Wright of the Landscape Recovery Foundation, our employees assisted in the collection of seed from the orchids. These were delivered to the Tasmanian Orchid Conservation and Research Program hosted by the Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart, a significant achievement for the conservation of the species.
PTUNARRA BUTTERFLY
The Ptunarra Brown Butterfly, a listed threatened species, occurs only in Tasmania and favours native tussock grassland habitat, specifically the highland Poa sites. Maintaining and enhancing the natural grassland ecosystem is a high priority for Forico to ensure the rare butterfly populations continue to thrive.
Employees from Forico's northwest forestry teams take part in annual data collection, assisting researchers from the University of Tasmania in monitoring the species.
The projects Forico takes part in demonstrate that researchers and industry partners can work together in studies which are of benefit to society, as they promote understanding of the vital connections between flora and fauna and the developed world. We are proud to be a partner in ecological research that is both collaborative and innovative.
Images from left to right:
Forico Sustainability Manager Simon Cook and leading researcher into Devil Facial Tumour Disease, Dr Rodrigo Hamede
Eco Logical Australia researcher conducting Forico's fauna survey
Dr Magali Wright of the Landscape Recovery Foundation
Research assistant Elise Ringwaldt releasing a spotted quoll during data collection
