Hon Lynn MacLaren asks about prescribed burning plans in South West forests, seeking detailed breakdowns by forest type, land tenure, and burn objective for the next three years. The Minister provides a partial answer, deferring to a tabled paper for some details and explaining the dynamic nature of burn planning.

AnsweredQoN 3110Legislative Council
Asked
7 May 2015
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

For each of the three South West forest regions, Swan, Central and Warren, in each of the next three years: (a) how much of the areas proposed to be prescribe burnt is: (i) jarrah forest; (ii) karri forest; and (iii) other vegetation types (please specify); (b) how much of the areas proposed to be prescribe burnt has the objective of: (i) national park; (ii) nature reserve; (iii) State forest; and (iv) other (please specify); and (c) how much of the areas proposed to be prescribe burnt has the objective of: (i) silviculture; (ii) biodiversity conservation/management; (iii) strategic protection; and (iv) other (please specify)?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
16 June 2015
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
40 days
The Minister for Environment has provided the following response.
(a)-(b) [See Tabled Paper No. #]
(c) An individual burn can address a number of burn purposes/objectives that contribute to the final outcome. The objectives of any burn are not fully identified until such time as the prescribed fire plan (burn prescription) has been completed and entered into the electronic prescribed burning system. This occurs on an annual basis and the Department of Parks and Wildlife's indicative prescribed burning program is amended accordingly.
(i) The inclusion of silvicultural objectives is linked to timber harvesting operations.
(ii) The majority of Departmental planned burns include significant consideration of, and planning for, biodiversity conservation/management objectives.
(iii) All Departmental planned burns have bushfire risk management (strategic protection) as a stated purpose/objective.
(iv) Several burns have research as a purpose.

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