17Establishment operations in buffer zones on timber plantations

17 Establishment operations in buffer zones on timber plantations

17 Establishment operations in buffer zones on timber plantations

(1) Planting in the buffer zone of any wetland or river—

(a) must not be carried out for the purpose of harvesting, and

(b) may be carried out for the purpose of protecting the environment but only if—

(i) the planting is of local native species by manual cultivation, and

(ii) any woody native vegetation that comprises local native species and any native grassland of high conservation value in the buffer zone is retained.

(2) Planting in the buffer zone of any drainage line, or any drainage depression occurring in R4 soil, may be carried out for the purpose of harvesting or protecting the environment but only if—

(a) in the case of the drainage depression—there is no planting within 5 metres of the centre of the depression, and

(b) in the case of the drainage line—any planting within 5 metres of the edge of the drainage line is by manual cultivation, or spot cultivation by machinery so long as any tyres or tracks on the machinery do not enter the 5 metre area, and

Note—

For example, cultivation may be carried out within the 5 metre area by means of a cultivator head attached to an excavator, provided the excavator does not enter the 5 metre area.

(c) any planting between 5 and 10 metres of the edge of the drainage line or the centre of the drainage depression is by—

(i) manual cultivation, or

(ii) spot cultivation, or

(iii) line ripping so long as soil conditions are such that only minimal soil disturbance is likely to be caused, or

(iv) line cultivation so long as soil conditions are such that only minimal soil disturbance is likely to be caused, the soil regolith is R1 or R3 and the rainfall erosivity rating is less than 2000.

(d) any woody native vegetation that comprises local native species and any native grassland of high conservation value in the buffer zone is retained.