Managing dead standing trees in forestry

As forests grow and mature, they become more complex with diverse habitat features. A mixed-species, multi-aged forest might have multiple canopy layers, large dead standing trees, hollow-bearing trees, logs on the forest floor, and dense understorey vegetation.

Dead standing trees are just one important habitat feature of a healthy native forest.

How the PNF Codes protect dead standing trees

The Private Native Forestry Codes of Practice (PNF Codes) include dead standing trees under tree retention requirements in Section 8.2 - Protection of habitat and biodiversity.

Refer to the PNF Code applicable to you to determine how many dead standing trees can contribute to the total number of hollow bearing trees retained in your forest.

You can also refer to Appendix A: Listed species ecological prescriptions for listed species with additional habitat tree retention requirements.

What is a dead standing tree?

A dead standing tree for the purposes of PNF is:

• a standing dead tree that has hollows, and
• the bark is fully separated from the sapwood,
• the tree is greater than 30cm in diameter, and
• the tree is over three metres tall.

Hollows often form in dead trees over time from natural processes such as wind, fire, rain, lightning strikes and impacts from insects, fungi and bacteria. These hollows provide important habitat for a variety of animals in the forest ecosystem.

Why dead standing trees are important

Many animals rely on the hollows in dead standing trees for food, shelter, roosting and breeding. Animals that use hollows in dead standing trees range from insects, birds, mammals and reptiles. Some examples include:

• the pale-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus)
• brown treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus)
• varied sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera)
• turquoise parrot (Neophema pulchella).

How to tell if a tree is dead

Assessing if a tree is dead can often be difficult particularly after a fire or drought periods. Some trees might look dead but given time can grow back. To assist in determining if a tree is dead, the following assessment and visual signs can provide a guide.

• Does the tree have any foliage? Check for living leaves, buds or growth.
• Are there signs of epicormic growth? Epicormic growth is the growth of new shoots in response to damage or stress. Epicormic growth emerges from dormant buds along the trunk and branches. Epicormic growth is usually visible after a bushfire but may take several months to appear.
• Does the tree have bark present? If not, look for other signs the tree is alive as some tree species will shed and regrow bark as they age.
• Have limbs fallen off the tree? This can be a sign that the tree is dead, over-mature or that it is still alive but experiencing water stress.
• Does the tree appear green or moist inside if you scratch the surface or break a branch? If the tree has dried out this could indicate it has died.