We take care when harvesting in our forests. Our planning processes are rigorous to make sure we protect waterways from soil sedimentation caused by erosion. One way we do this is by limiting our harvesting operations on steep slopes.

When harvesting in areas that may contain steep slopes, we are guided by our desktop analysis that uses the most up-to-date data such as that generated using LiDAR. These slope models are field verified prior to any harvesting to ensure we take the care required to protect our waterways.

Disturbance on steep slopes can impact soil erosion and increase stream sedimentation levels. This is why we put in place a range of measures to protect against harvesting in steep slopes. Some of the ways this is achieved is through implementation of riparian exclusion zones, limiting the area we harvest within water catchments, restricting harvesting to certain times of year, and conducting soil and water testing so we understand the impact on changes in soil and water quality. 

There are many ways of measuring slopes and many challenges in getting accurate measurements. Slope measurement may differ depending on the distance over which you measure it. In this example, when measured over the shorter distance (0–200 metres) the slope is 36.5 degrees, whereas when measured over the longer distance (0–800 metres), the slope is 7 degrees. Therefore the distance over which slope is measured will change according to the points at which it is measured. 

To learn more about how we protect waterways from sedimentation watch this video.