We make sure that timber harvesting and related activities in our state forests take place by the law.
Anyone can report the detection of threatened species or potential compliance issues in timber harvesting areas.
We need some mandatory information to submit a report:
Who is submitting the report (contact details)? Include the number of observers in the survey
What were the observations? Information relating to the alleged offence and offenders. E.g. physical descriptions, vehicle/machinery details, laws allegedly beached, nature of activity
When (date and time) was the observation/survey? Include start and end times of survey efforts
Where is the verifiable location of the observation as a grid reference (in any format)? Include coupe ID/name
How were survey techniques used? E.g. 1km transect or flora quadrat
Other Information: map displaying location. Observation species name and/or common name and how many (if more than one). For flora, an estimate of the number of plants, or area covered.
Evidence: original (unedited) copies supporting the allegation e.g. photographs or video
Conservation Regulator will maintain confidentiality of report sources.
Please submit your forest report by using the form below.
If the form above cannot be used, reports and supporting evidence can be submitted by email: forest.reports@delwp.vic.gov.au
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The Conservation Regulator is committed to protecting personal information provided by you in accordance with the principles of the Victorian privacy laws. The information you provide will be used to assess the forest report, and compliance with the law. We may contact you to request additional information in relation to your forest report. If all requested information is not received, the Conservation Regulator may be unable to progress your forest report.
The Conservation Regulator uses information only for the purpose for which it was collected or a logically related purpose you would reasonably expect (in the case of sensitive information, a directly related purpose) unless you have consented to another specific use. In some circumstances the Conservation Regulator is required or authorised by law to release information to other government agencies, law enforcement bodies or to prevent serious and imminent threat to an individual’s life, health, safety or welfare.
Your contact details may be used by the Conservation Regulator or its contracted service providers, bound by confidentiality agreements, to survey you about your experience with the Conservation Regulator.
If you wish to gain access to your personal information you can contact the Conservation Regulator at conservationregulator@delwp.vic.gov.au. If your request is more complex you will need to seek access to the information by submitting a Freedom of Information .
If you consider your privacy has been breached or interfered with you can make a complaint by contacting the DEECA FOI & Privacy Unit at FOI.Unit@delwp.vic.gov.au.
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We require the following information to be included in all forest reports:
- Contact details of the person(s) submitting the report, and details of the person(s) who have made observations or conducting surveys (Conservation Regulator will maintain confidentiality of report sources)
- The date, time and verifiable location of the observation or survey
- Original (unedited) copies of any relevant supporting evidence collected for your report, including photographs or video
- Detailed description of the observations made, including:
- Where alleging a breach of law, information related to the offender(s), including but not limited to physical descriptions, vehicle and or machinery details, the nature of the activity and citation of any relevant laws allegedly breached
- Where detecting threatened species or forest values, the results of surveying and survey methodology used. Data that helps us to address the report quickly could include
- coupe ID/name
- time start and time end of the survey effort and/or the time of observation
- number of observers
- observation species name and/or common name and a count if more than one observed
- for flora, an estimate of the population size e.g. number of plants, or area covered
- location of the observation as a grid reference in any format
- brief description, if used, of any standardised survey techniques used e.g. 1 km transect, flora quadrat etc
- if possible, a map displaying the location of the observations is very helpful.
If this information isn't supplied, we:
- may request additional information
- may not be able to progress the report.
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Some threatened species need special protective measures from commercial timber harvesting operations. We review and verify all threatened species reports. This determines if they need protections under the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 (amended 2021).
We verify the reports before taking any formal action using the below criteria:
- species identification is accurate
- there is evidence to verify the survey location. (Conservation Regulator may conduct a follow-up field inspection)
- there strong evidence that a species is at a location
- for some species, a field survey is run by the Conservation Regulator to confirm species presence or density.
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Clear photographs or videos of a threatened species linked with a GPS location allow us to verify threatened species reports.
Forest reports should include photographs or videos of the satellite coordinates of the reported area.
A date/time stamp can link a photograph of the GPS device to a date/time stamped photograph or video of a threatened species.
Survey teams using remote cameras (images or video) to detect threatened species, should try to capture an image of a GPS device.
The image should show:
- the satellite coordinates of the location; or
- the equipment in a position showing an identifiable natural feature at the location (for example, a distinct rock or tree).
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When the information is first received, the Receiving Officer must determine if:
- there is a clear breach of legislation in the report
- the report relates to legislation regulated by the Conservation Regulator
If the case does not belong to the Conservation Regulator, the Receiving Officer can refer it to the responsible regulator. We will close the case if there is no clear breach of legislation.
During the initial assessment, the Receiving Officer determines the required response and urgency based on the likelihood of causing:
- significant environmental harm through continued offending
- significant loss of evidence
- increased chance of an unsuccessful compliance outcome.
Conservation Regulator conducts a complexity and priority assessment of any alleged illegal activity. We triage cases based upon factors such as:
- the level of environmental harm (or potential harm) caused by this activity
- commercial element of offending
- risks to public safety.
Cases are then ranked by priority and are the subject of Manager approval. We match our investigative effort to higher priority cases and work within our Compliance and Enforcement Policy.
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Find status updates below of forest reports submitted after 1st January 2016. The monthly report includes forest reports received about:
- the detection of threatened species
- timber harvesting compliance.
Some forest reports include both types of information. We give these forest reports the same reference number. The report then appears in both status updates.
Some forest reports are general enquiries about timber harvesting. They do not need to be checked against our regulatory framework. These reports can relate to broader forest management and policy issues. Sometimes they are about issues that fall under other legislation or regulations. This includes indigenous and cultural heritage.
Reports are given a reference number and referred to the relevant team. Threatened species or compliance investigations status updates will not include reference numbers. We will tell submitters if their report requires a response in a different way.
Note: We combine some similar reports under one reference number.
Forest Reports September 2022We are working on accessible versions of these reports. For accessible versions, email forest.reports@delwp.vic.gov.au.
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Safety management is important on active timber harvesting coupes. They can be hazardous work sites. Unauthorised persons entering timber harvesting areas is a public safety risk.
Everyone has the right to work safely. The government has introduced measures to stop unauthorised entry into timber harvesting areas.
On 28th May 2014, amendments to the Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act 2004 came into effect. The SFTA now allows for the creation of timber harvesting safety zones.
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Download our species-specific survey standards:
Survey standard for Powerful OwlSurvey standard for Large Brown Tree FrogSurvey standard for Sooty OwlSurvey standard for Giant Burrowing Frog - updated as of 20 June 2011Survey standard for Masked OwlSurvey standard for Yellow Bellied GliderSurvey standard for Long-Footed PotorooSurvey standard for Greater GliderSurvey standard for Spot-Tail QuollSurvey standard for Spiny CrayfishSurvey standard for Leadbeater's possum - revised April 2015
Reviewed 24 March 2023