Victoria's Native Vegetation Management Framework
In 2002 the Department of Natural Resource and Environment (now DSE, Department of Sustainability and Environment) introduced a policy seeking to retain native vegetation, enhance its quality and expand its coverage. This Native Vegetation Management Framework (the ‘Framework’ also called the ‘Net Gain’ policy) incorporates a system of vegetation condition quality measurements (Habitat Hectares).
Habitat hectare - a site-based measure of quality and quantity of native vegetation that is assessed in the context of the relevant native vegetation type.
Net Gain - is where, over a specified area and period of time, losses of native vegetation and habitat, as measured by a combined quality-quantity measure (habitat hectare), are reduced, minimised and more than offset by commensurate gains.
Definitions from " Victoria's Native Vegetation Management - A Framework for Action", DNRE, 2002.
A key element of the Framework is the 'three step approach'. In any development proposal proponents are expected to demonstrate Avoidance of remnant native vegetation, Minimisation of any unavoidable impacts and Offsets for any losses of native vegetation.
Abzeco has extensive experience with the Framework and has provided advice on the policy to developers in many Municipalities around the State.
Abzeco's reports on Framework compliance are clear and easy to understand, and include recommendations on optimizing land development opportunities whilst meeting the requirements of the Framework.
Accounting for gain
The 'Net Gain' policy is designed to ensure that any clearance of native vegetation is more than offset by the restoration or protection of other native vegetation.
Habitat Hectare uses seven measures of vegetation and habitat quality, and three measures of neighbourhood integrity to generate a score out of 1 for a patch of vegetation, eg. 0.6. This score, multiplied by the proposed area of clearance (eg. 2.5Ha) gives a 'loss' of native vegetation of 1.5 Habitat Hectares (i.e. 2.5 x 0.6 = 1.5).
Improvements in vegetation quality or protection are scored in a similar manner. An improvement of 0.1 over 5Ha provides an increase in score of 0.5 Habitat Hectare. Statewide, a net gain in habitat hectares is an objective of the new policy, and the responsibility for achieving this rests with public and private landholders.