Project reference: 2008-02
Assessing biodiversity in indigenous forests – methods for FSC & health
Project description:
Objective: To identify the requirement and preferred methods of foresters to assess the biodiversity in indigenous forests as part of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) requirements for exotic forests and/or for assessing the health of indigenous forests grown for timber or as indigenous ecosystems, including pockets/remnants of indigenous forest.
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Background: Assessment of the biodiversity of indigenous ecosystems is a requirement of the FSC. This project will present foresters with some practical methods for assessing the biodiversity of invertebrates and fungi in indigenous ecosystems and to find out their preferred method(s).
Some of the method demonstrated for assessing invertebrates and fungi could be adapted to be used to assess the health of indigenous trees and the forests.
It is proposed to hold two workshops for people in the forest industry. The one day workshop will demonstrate 5–6 methods of assessing biodiversity of invertebrates and fungi. Where practical the workshop will include time at a field site. Workshops will be located in places convenient to the forestry industry and close to sites with indigenous forest.
Feedback will be sought from the participants. They will be asked for their views on the practicality of these methods for both FSC requirements and for monitoring the health of indigenous forests. Suggestions for improving the preferred methods will also be sought.
Landcare Research and Crop & Food Research staff will prepare demonstrations to show how each method works. These will include:
methods for collecting beetles (malaise and pit fall traps) and their identification using the new KOIORA–BIOASSIST tools
Plant–SyNZ, photographic method for invertebrate herbivores (mites and insects)
photographic method for fungal fruiting bodies (mycorhizal, saprophytic and pathogenic fungi)
photographic method for plant damaging fungi, e.g. rusts
Simple and practical methods for selecting sample sites and recording data will also be demonstrated, discussed and preferences sought.
Research Provider:
Crop & Food Research
