Protecting cultural heritage
DERM Forest Products respects the interests and values of Indigenous people when conducting its forest production operations. As an established element of our harvest planning and forest management activities, we may engage with representatives of Indigenous people to:
- undertake native title assessment
- identify cultural heritage values
- apply Indigenous peoples’ knowledge of the use and management of forests
- support Indigenous peoples’ economic aspirations in sharing benefits from the management of forests and associated environments
- recognise Indigenous peoples’ cultural and traditional customs.
We follow established government procedures and legislative requirements under the Native Title Act 1993 (Commonwealth), Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003, Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Act 2003, and other relevant legislation.
Scenic quality and landscape values, geomorphological values, recreational usage, and non-Indigenous cultural heritage are also protected during timber production operations in accordance with requirements of the Code of practice for native forest timber production on State lands 2007 (PDF, 4.4M)*.
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service manages forest recreation, and gives us details of recreational values to take into account when we are preparing our operational harvesting plans.
Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultural heritage sites that may be protected include Aboriginal cave paintings, historic homesteads, grave sites, old camps and historic fire towers.
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Last reviewed 18 October 2010
Last updated 20 April 2010