New Forest Management Plan and timber industry strategy released

20/12/03
The Government's commitment to protecting old growth forest and reducing timber harvesting to sustainable levels was finalised today with the release of the Forest Management Plan 2004-2013.
The blueprint to protect forests and improve forest management in Western Australia's South-West, released by Environment Minister Judy Edwards, fulfills the commitments made in the Government's Protecting our old-growth forests policy.
In particular, the plan helps ensure:

• no more logging in old-growth forests;
• 30 new national parks and two new conservation parks are created;
• another new national park at Dalgarup near Bridgetown is created as the result of one of the forest reviews promised under the policy;
• improved wildlife protection through the establishment of a network of fauna habitat zones across State forest;
• internationally agreed principles of ecologically sustainable forest management are adopted; and
• a reduced timber yield from regrowth forest is maintained to allow for sustainable timber production.

The calculation of the sustained yield figures in the new management plan has been independently reviewed by an expert panel chaired by Professor Ian Ferguson from Melbourne University.
The levels are 131,000 cubic metres (m3) of first and second grade jarrah sawlogs a year; and 54,000m3 of first and second grade karri sawlogs a year.
The log levels compare with 490,000m3 of first and second grade jarrah and 214,000m3 of karri first grade and 203,000m3 of other karri logs under the existing forest management plan that expires on December 31.
The annual cut was reduced to 324,000m3 of first and second grade jarrah sawlogs and 186,000m3 of first and second grade karri sawlogs under the Regional Forest Agreement signed in May, 1999.
"In delivering the Government's commitments to better forest management, the new plan will also deliver a legacy for future generations of Western Australians by protecting our spectacular native forests and creating a world-class parks system," Dr Edwards said.
The Minister said the Forest Management Plan drew on the high level of community and scientific input sought by the Conservation Commission of WA during the preparation of the plan.
"The fauna habitat zone initiative, for example, is a direct outcome of the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Kingston research study, set up to examine the impact of forest practices on flora and fauna," she said.
"Results from the Kingston study are also the basis for measures to retain more habitat trees and to reduce the clearing of understorey vegetation in logged areas.
"Auditing and reporting measures were adopted in response to community concerns about the level of compliance with the standards set in the 1994 forest management plan, which expires at the end of this month."
The proposed plan was also assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority and, after considering the EPA's advice and appeals submissions on that advice, Dr Edwards issued Ministerial Conditions to further improve the plan.
These included a greater concentration of fauna habitat zones in the Greater Kingston area, an expert review panel to look at the effects of silviculture practices on forest biodiversity in the second half of the plan period, and public reporting of industry compliance with the plan.
The final plan is available on CALM's website at http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/forest_facts/index.html or can be inspected at the CALM offices in Kensington, Bunbury and Manjimup. Printed copies of the plan will be available in the New Year.
Forestry Minister Kim Chance also released the Government's strategy for a job rich, high value-adding timber industry today.
Minister's Office - 9220 5050