Giant Trees Consultative Committee Progress Report April 2006

Since its inception, the GTCC has made some substantial contributions towards the protection and management of Tasmania’s giant trees as well as towards the promotion of their values.

The Committee reviewed current FT policy and operating procedures about giant trees and made several suggestions that have subsequently been adopted by Forestry Tasmania.

For example the GTCC suggested that logged coupes in the vicinity of GT sites should be re-established as native forest (rather than plantation) and that all regeneration should be from on-site seed.

The Committee further recommended that, in addition to places currently supporting giant trees, sites containing the tallest regrowth may be potentially significant future giant tree resources and a sample of these should also be identified and protected to facilitate giant tree conservation across all tenures for future generations.

The Committee has successfully established an independent web site which maintains a Register of all Tasmanian trees currently achieving giant tree status and which provides factual information about giant trees.

New nominations for the Register are vetted by the GTCC and new listings are made after checking and confirmation by accredited measurers. Since the inception of the GTCC, the number of trees on the register has grown from 44 to 75 validated specimens, including the recent listing of two giant blue gums, Tasmania’s floral emblem.

The Register of Giant Trees and their locations was used to assist in the design of reserves as part of the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement.

The website is regularly used by giant tree enthusiasts from around the world. The GTCC and the website have also provided a focus for discussion and rapport building with local, national and international giant tree enthusiasts.

GTCC is currently engaging with people from the tourism industry to seek support for the promotion and presentation of appropriate giant tree tourist sites.

M. J. Brown
Chairman, GTCC