❓ A parliamentary question probes the impact of logging and burning on endangered species in WA's South West forests, particularly in the context of climate change. The response outlines relevant research, management plans, and online resources.
AnsweredQoN 5755Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What scientific studies have been conducted and finalised by the Department on the impacts that logging and burning practices are having on the ecosystems of threatened and endangered Western Australian fauna in these south west native forests; and
(a) could the Minister please provide details of these studies?
(2) What scientific studies have been conducted and finalised on the impacts that logging and burning practices are having on the ecosystems of threatened and endangered Western Australian fauna in these South West native forests?
(3) How are threatened and endangered species in Western Australia protected during the practices of logging and burning of Western Australian South West native forests?
(4) In the context of a drying climate and impending climate change impacts for the South West native forests of Western Australia, what are the long term impacts that can be expected from the practice of logging and burning in this region?
(a) could the Minister please provide details of these studies?
(2) What scientific studies have been conducted and finalised on the impacts that logging and burning practices are having on the ecosystems of threatened and endangered Western Australian fauna in these South West native forests?
(3) How are threatened and endangered species in Western Australia protected during the practices of logging and burning of Western Australian South West native forests?
(4) In the context of a drying climate and impending climate change impacts for the South West native forests of Western Australia, what are the long term impacts that can be expected from the practice of logging and burning in this region?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 August 2011
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
54 days
(1)-(2) Extensive studies relevant to the impact of disturbance activities such as fire and timber harvesting on forest-dwelling species have been and are being undertaken by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and in collaboration with other research institutions.
A research activity report is published annually by DEC: '
Science Division annual research activity report and management implications'.
This report is available online from DEC's website,
www.dec.wa.gov.au
. Research relating to State forest and timber reserves are listed primarily under the Landscape Conservation Program.
A searchable bibliography provides access to papers prepared by DEC research staff on Western Australian flora and fauna. This bibliography is available online from DEC's website.
Other research programs examining the impact of timber harvesting and/or fire on forest species include the ForestCheck monitoring program; Western Shield program; Kingston project; Woylie Conservation Research Project; Possum Ecology Study; and the long-term Perup monitoring study.
(3) Disturbance activities, including timber harvesting and prescribed burning, on State forest and timber reserves are undertaken in accordance with the
Forest Management Plan 2004-2013
(FMP), which includes a range of actions to mitigate the impacts on flora and fauna species. Associated guidance documents have been developed to provide operational support for DEC and Forest Products Commission staff to implement the requirements of the FMP.
(4) Forestmanagement planning incorporates a range of actions to account for a changing climate. For example, modelling and sustained yield calculations include adaptive settings in respect of tree growth and forest health.
Reports investigating forest management practices in a drying climate are available online from DEC's website:
Best Practice in Incorporating Climate Change into Forest Management Planning
(October 2008); and
Vulnerability of forests in south-west Western Australia to timber harvesting under the influence of climate change
(October 2010).
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
A research activity report is published annually by DEC: '
Science Division annual research activity report and management implications'.
This report is available online from DEC's website,
www.dec.wa.gov.au
. Research relating to State forest and timber reserves are listed primarily under the Landscape Conservation Program.
A searchable bibliography provides access to papers prepared by DEC research staff on Western Australian flora and fauna. This bibliography is available online from DEC's website.
Other research programs examining the impact of timber harvesting and/or fire on forest species include the ForestCheck monitoring program; Western Shield program; Kingston project; Woylie Conservation Research Project; Possum Ecology Study; and the long-term Perup monitoring study.
(3) Disturbance activities, including timber harvesting and prescribed burning, on State forest and timber reserves are undertaken in accordance with the
Forest Management Plan 2004-2013
(FMP), which includes a range of actions to mitigate the impacts on flora and fauna species. Associated guidance documents have been developed to provide operational support for DEC and Forest Products Commission staff to implement the requirements of the FMP.
(4) Forestmanagement planning incorporates a range of actions to account for a changing climate. For example, modelling and sustained yield calculations include adaptive settings in respect of tree growth and forest health.
Reports investigating forest management practices in a drying climate are available online from DEC's website:
Best Practice in Incorporating Climate Change into Forest Management Planning
(October 2008); and
Vulnerability of forests in south-west Western Australia to timber harvesting under the influence of climate change
(October 2010).
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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