Forest Protection Survey Program

Find the Forest Protection Survey Program survey results.

Our Forest Protection Survey Program (FPSP) aims to detect conservation values such as animals and plants and their habitats that are either threatened or of high conservation value in areas of state forest that are scheduled to be harvested.

We have designed this program to ensure our forest fauna and flora can survive and thrive. Finding values earlier in the planning process helps ensure better protection for species and other values occurring in the forest and reduces disruption and uncertainty to the timber industry.

The FPSP aims to survey at least 64% of coupes planned for harvest in Gippsland, the Central Highlands and North-East regions each year.

The FPSP is an important survey program which leads to better conservation of threatened species and other forest values. VicForests, the business responsible for harvesting, selling and re-growing timber from Victoria's state forests, is required by law to protect prescribed values in accordance with the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 (amended 2022) (the CoP) when they are present on a coupe.

It remains the legal responsibility of all harvesting entities to conduct their own pre-harvest surveys to identify and protect high-value species from the impacts of timber harvesting.

Visit VicForests management of forest values for more information.

What are we protecting?

Harvesting trees, building roads, as well as disturbing undergrowth and ground logs can affect threatened species and their habitat. The FPSP aims to reduce these effects by surveying species. It also surveys:

habitats such as the casuarina trees used by glossy black cockatoos
vegetation communities identified in the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014
old growth forest and trees with a trunk diameter at breast height greater than 2.5m

We provide survey information to VicForests.

We can’t expect these measures to protect every individual threatened animal or plant. Instead, the program ensures enough protection of habitat to allow populations to persist in perpetuity.

In Victoria, 20 mammal species, 14 bird species, 6 reptiles species, 6 amphibian species, 14 fish species, 10 crustacean species, 2 terrestrial invertebrates and 315 plant species are protected by prescriptions guarding against timber harvesting under the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014.

Critically endangered species include:

leadbeater’s possum

Endangered species include:

spotted-tail quoll
southern brown bandicoot
long-footed potoroo
glossy black cockatoo
smoky mouse
trout cod
macquarie perch
barred galaxias
alpine she-oak skink
booroolong frog
spotted tree frog
southern barred frog
Baw Baw frog

A small grey mouse with large black glassy eyes sits on top of bark and leaves.

smoky mouse

Species considered vulnerable include:

flat-headed galaxias
long-nosed potoroo
masked owl
yellow-bellied glider
greater glider
New Holland mouse
grey-headed flying fox
dwarf galaxias
murray cod
giant burrowing frog
green and golden bell frog
alpine tree frog
southern barred frog
broad-toothed rat
brush-tailed phascogale

A small brown owl sits on the branch of a lagre gum tree at night.

sooty owl

- Plants, mammals that live in trees and on the ground, some bird species, frogs, fish and crayfish, as well as vegetation communities.
- Leadbeater’s possum using thermal imaging, call playback and arboreal cameras.
- Use spotlighting and call playback to search for greater glider, yellow-bellied glider and various owl species.
- Use terrestrial (ground) cameras to search for potoroos, smoky mouse, dunnarts and other ground-dwelling mammals.
- Survey for aquatic species, including native fish and crayfish, in summer or autumn when stream-flows are low and water clarity is high.
The VicForests’ Rolling Operations Plan provides the basic information about what is planned to be harvested and where. We use this information, along with a wide range of other information (such as Habitat Distribution Models and species lists), to prioritise what species will be surveyed where and when.

We use the proposed date for forest harvesting to prioritise and place surveys.

Surveys are ordered according to the highest-priority species, and the process includes a desktop assessment of:
- Which coupes are planned for harvest, where and when (this data is provided by VicForests).
- Which target species are to be surveyed.
- Which survey techniques and technology (such as remote cameras and audio recorders) we can and should use.
- Seasonal variation in detecting some species of plants and animals.
- The effect of timber harvesting on each target species (depending on the species life characteristics and silviculture method).
We use the data gathered from these surveys to build a better understanding of the habitats and location of many threatened species. It also helps provide a clear guide for VicForests.

Detection of a threatened species might trigger what we call an operational management action. The aim of the action is to protect that species from the impacts of timber harvesting. Such management actions may include:
- Excluding the species and a specified area around it from timber harvesting operations by putting in place a buffer or filter strip that cannot be harvested.
- Modifying the type of timber harvesting being done to reduce the overall impact on the species.
Putting in place a Forest Management Zone (FMZ) change as required under:

Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014
PDF 685.57 KB

(opens in a new window)

Management standards and procedures for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s state forests
PDF 1.34 MB

(opens in a new window)

Planning standards for timber harvesting operations in Victoria’s state forests 2014
PDF 1.25 MB

(opens in a new window)
We aim to complete surveys at least 2 months prior to a proposed harvest date.

We provide the results of surveys to VicForests as soon as possible so they can be considered in pre-harvest planning.

We posts results regularly on this website. They’re also available from the FPSP map-based viewer and the FPSP Survey Results Table.

Management actions vary for each species, habitat feature or community, and by geographical location. We may:
- Exclude timber harvesting within or in proximity to a detection site or identified habitat features.
- Modify timber harvesting within or in proximity to a detection site or identified habitat features.
- Establish a new Forest Management Zone, such as a Special Protection Zone or Special Management Zone, around the detection site. This helps us to manage and protect relevant habitat features, populations or individuals.
Surveys for the program were initially conducted by a team of experts, botanists and fauna specialist from the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. As the program has progressed during, we’ve engaged external companies to conduct the surveys.

Future surveys will continue to be conducted by a mix of private companies and experts from within the department.

Who is responsible for what as part of the Forest Protection Survey Program?

As the timber harvesting regulator, the Conservation Regulator has ultimate oversight of forest regulation and is responsible for auditing VicForests’ adherence with the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 and Management Standards and Procedures.

VicForests is responsible for determining management actions and applying operational prescriptions to protect values on coupes planned for harvest.

Resources, tools and guidelines

Find resources the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas and Habitat Distribution Models.

Feedback and suggestions

We value your feedback. You can make a suggestion to help us improve our services, request further information, or report an issue by emailing fpsp.inquiries@delwp.vic.gov.au.

Updated 6 October 2023