Reece Whitby WA Minister for Environment: Climate Action
Western Australians can now have their say on the draft Forest Management Plan 2024-2033, which delivers on the McGowan Government’s decision to end native logging in the State’s South-West by 2024. Source: Timberbiz
The WA government says the move will preserve at least 400,000 hectares, an area 1000 times the size of Kings Park, of karri, jarrah, and wandoo forests. This is in addition to the 1.6 million hectares of forest already protected.
The government says the only timber to be taken from WA’s native forests will come from management activities designed to improve forest health, such as ecological thinning or clearing for approved mining operations, and infrastructure maintenance.
The decision to close the native logging industry has recently come under fire after it was reported that Gavin Butcher, who previously worked for the Forest Products Commission for 20 years, recently obtained documents after a Freedom of Information request to the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation and Attractions.
Mr Butcher told the ABC he was hoping the FOI documents would the reveal scientific data which shows the effect climate change and logging was having on the forests of Western Australia.
“There was no smoking gun to explain the government’s decision, in fact it really showed nothing,” he said.
And the Chair of the WA Branch of Forestry Australia, Brad Barr, has said revelations that the decision to end native forest timber harvesting was not backed up by scientific evidence gave reason to question the Government’s motives.
The government says the draft Forest Management Plan reaffirmed its commitment to act on climate change and protect biodiversity. It says reducing deforestation and forest degradation rates is one of the most effective and robust ways to mitigate climate change.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions will engage with Noongar Traditional Owners to enter formal arrangements to manage the South-West conservation estate. This will mark a new era of collaboration consistent with the South-West Native Title Settlement, to share Noongar and Western knowledge in caring for South-West forests.
As previously announced, the McGowan Government is investing $80 million in the Native Forestry Transition plan to support workers, businesses, and communities transitioning out of the native logging industry into a future pathway.
A record $350 million is also being invested in the expansion of the State’s sustainable softwood timber plantations to support WA jobs and the local construction industry.
The draft Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 – prepared by the Conservation and Parks Commission – also outlines approaches to bushfire risk management and access to domestic firewood.
The public consultation period will run until 18 December, with community information events in regional locations.
View the plan and make a submission at https://www.dbca.wa.gov.au/parks-and-wildlife-service/forests/forest-management-plan
Download the draft Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 plan here
