Hon Giz Watson questions the Minister for Forestry on whether the Forest Products Commission has adjusted its strategic planning and financial modelling to account for decreasing rainfall, given its potential impact on forest regrowth. The Minister's response indicates that while the EPA's advice will be considered in future planning, the FPC has not yet changed its modelling.

AnsweredQoN 833Legislative Council
Asked
19 October 2010
Portfolio
Forestry

QuestionView source ↗

FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN— EFFECT OF DECREASING RAINFALL
Given that the Forest Products Commission, in making assumptions regarding the growth rate of native forests and the associated profitability arising from logging them, has not taken into account further decreases in annual rainfall, and that the Environmental Protection Authority’s recent audit report on the implementation of the forest management plan warns that declining rainfall and other threats will seriously reduce the regrowth capacity of forest in the medium and low rainfall zones, I ask — (1) Have the minister and the Forest Products Commission adjusted their strategic planning and financial modelling to take these facts into account? (2) If yes to (1), in what way or ways? (3) If no to (1), why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) On 13 October, in response to question without notice 780, the Minister for Environment informed the member that the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice outlined in its bulletin 1362 and the long-term rainfall outlooks would be considered in the preparation of the next forest management plan. The Minister for Forestry supports sustainable harvesting carried out in accordance with the forest management plan. The FPC has not changed its strategic planning and financial modelling.
(1) Have the minister and the Forest Products Commission adjusted their strategic planning and financial modelling to take these facts into account? (2) If yes to (1), in what way or ways? (3) If no to (1), why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) On 13 October, in response to question without notice 780, the Minister for Environment informed the member that the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice outlined in its bulletin 1362 and the long-term rainfall outlooks would be considered in the preparation of the next forest management plan. The Minister for Forestry supports sustainable harvesting carried out in accordance with the forest management plan. The FPC has not changed its strategic planning and financial modelling.
(2) If yes to (1), in what way or ways? (3) If no to (1), why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) On 13 October, in response to question without notice 780, the Minister for Environment informed the member that the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice outlined in its bulletin 1362 and the long-term rainfall outlooks would be considered in the preparation of the next forest management plan. The Minister for Forestry supports sustainable harvesting carried out in accordance with the forest management plan. The FPC has not changed its strategic planning and financial modelling.
(3) If no to (1), why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) On 13 October, in response to question without notice 780, the Minister for Environment informed the member that the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice outlined in its bulletin 1362 and the long-term rainfall outlooks would be considered in the preparation of the next forest management plan. The Minister for Forestry supports sustainable harvesting carried out in accordance with the forest management plan. The FPC has not changed its strategic planning and financial modelling.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) On 13 October, in response to question without notice 780, the Minister for Environment informed the member that the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice outlined in its bulletin 1362 and the long-term rainfall outlooks would be considered in the preparation of the next forest management plan. The Minister for Forestry supports sustainable harvesting carried out in accordance with the forest management plan. The FPC has not changed its strategic planning and financial modelling.
I thank the member for some notice of the question. (1)–(3) On 13 October, in response to question without notice 780, the Minister for Environment informed the member that the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice outlined in its bulletin 1362 and the long-term rainfall outlooks would be considered in the preparation of the next forest management plan. The Minister for Forestry supports sustainable harvesting carried out in accordance with the forest management plan. The FPC has not changed its strategic planning and financial modelling.
(1)–(3) On 13 October, in response to question without notice 780, the Minister for Environment informed the member that the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice outlined in its bulletin 1362 and the long-term rainfall outlooks would be considered in the preparation of the next forest management plan. The Minister for Forestry supports sustainable harvesting carried out in accordance with the forest management plan. The FPC has not changed its strategic planning and financial modelling.

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