❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the management of marri trees in jarrah forests, including historical imbalances, alternative uses for marri logs, and the impact of a new woodchip market on conservation efforts. The response addresses some concerns, particularly regarding clearfelling and protection of old trees.
AnsweredQoN 730Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Further to the Minister’s media statement of 14 January 2003, on the ‘marri dilemma’, what evidence exists to suggest that more than 100 years of preferentially cutting jarrah from our forests has created a significant imbalance in the numbers of marri in our jarrah forests?
(2) If 90% of marri logs are unsuitable for sawmilling and are not used for woodchips, what alternative uses could these logs be put to?
(3) If no alternative uses exist, what would be their fate if they were left in the forest after being felled?
(4) Recognising that those people opposed to productive uses of our forests have previously claimed that some of WA’s jarrah forests have been clearfelled so as to allow marri trees to be accessed and woodchipped, has clearfelling of jarrah forests been used in recent decades as a means of accessing jarrah or marri logs or as part of forest silvicultural practices?
(5) In general terms, how does WA’s timber industry compare with the industry in NSW and Victoria, in terms of the proportion of logs that are milled versus woodchipped?
(6) If the marri shipment to China results in a marri woodchip market being established, what controls will be placed on marri logging practices to ensure that old, large marri trees with high conservation value, together with appropriate numbers of younger age trees that will be left to grow and replace these old trees as they die, will be retained within our forests?
(7) If there is evidence to show that some of our jarrah forests are becoming dominated by marri and if action is not taken soon to turn around this imbalance, is it reasonable to suggest that future generations of West Australians may be forced to clearfell some of the resulting marri-jarrah forests in order to return a significantly altered forest environment back to its natural state?
(2) If 90% of marri logs are unsuitable for sawmilling and are not used for woodchips, what alternative uses could these logs be put to?
(3) If no alternative uses exist, what would be their fate if they were left in the forest after being felled?
(4) Recognising that those people opposed to productive uses of our forests have previously claimed that some of WA’s jarrah forests have been clearfelled so as to allow marri trees to be accessed and woodchipped, has clearfelling of jarrah forests been used in recent decades as a means of accessing jarrah or marri logs or as part of forest silvicultural practices?
(5) In general terms, how does WA’s timber industry compare with the industry in NSW and Victoria, in terms of the proportion of logs that are milled versus woodchipped?
(6) If the marri shipment to China results in a marri woodchip market being established, what controls will be placed on marri logging practices to ensure that old, large marri trees with high conservation value, together with appropriate numbers of younger age trees that will be left to grow and replace these old trees as they die, will be retained within our forests?
(7) If there is evidence to show that some of our jarrah forests are becoming dominated by marri and if action is not taken soon to turn around this imbalance, is it reasonable to suggest that future generations of West Australians may be forced to clearfell some of the resulting marri-jarrah forests in order to return a significantly altered forest environment back to its natural state?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
3 April 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Response time
37 days
2) There are a number of reconstituted wood products in which marri timber could theoretically be utilised, some of which have actually been tested. However, for a variety of reasons, including timber characteristics, the Forest Products Commission has not been able to establish alternative commercial markets for the non-sawlog timber. 3) Logs left in the forest after being felled will be subject to natural processes such as decay and fire, as would be the case if they fell naturally. 4) Jarrah silviculture does not involve clearfelling, but the creation of gaps in the jarrah forest, like other silvicultural treatments, is carried out to meet relevant silvicultural objectives in accordance with the approved guidelines. 5) The Forest Products Commission does not gather information on wood products in other states. 6) The shipment involves chip logs generally restricted to less than 700 millimetres in diameter, so large old trees are essentially excluded. In addition, the large old trees are often protected as habitat trees in accordance with silvicultural guidelines. The guidelines recognise the variability of the forest, and regeneration and protection operations aim to reflect pre-existing stand composition. 7) Not applicable. See 1) above.
3) Logs left in the forest after being felled will be subject to natural processes such as decay and fire, as would be the case if they fell naturally. 4) Jarrah silviculture does not involve clearfelling, but the creation of gaps in the jarrah forest, like other silvicultural treatments, is carried out to meet relevant silvicultural objectives in accordance with the approved guidelines. 5) The Forest Products Commission does not gather information on wood products in other states. 6) The shipment involves chip logs generally restricted to less than 700 millimetres in diameter, so large old trees are essentially excluded. In addition, the large old trees are often protected as habitat trees in accordance with silvicultural guidelines. The guidelines recognise the variability of the forest, and regeneration and protection operations aim to reflect pre-existing stand composition. 7) Not applicable. See 1) above.
4) Jarrah silviculture does not involve clearfelling, but the creation of gaps in the jarrah forest, like other silvicultural treatments, is carried out to meet relevant silvicultural objectives in accordance with the approved guidelines. 5) The Forest Products Commission does not gather information on wood products in other states. 6) The shipment involves chip logs generally restricted to less than 700 millimetres in diameter, so large old trees are essentially excluded. In addition, the large old trees are often protected as habitat trees in accordance with silvicultural guidelines. The guidelines recognise the variability of the forest, and regeneration and protection operations aim to reflect pre-existing stand composition. 7) Not applicable. See 1) above.
5) The Forest Products Commission does not gather information on wood products in other states. 6) The shipment involves chip logs generally restricted to less than 700 millimetres in diameter, so large old trees are essentially excluded. In addition, the large old trees are often protected as habitat trees in accordance with silvicultural guidelines. The guidelines recognise the variability of the forest, and regeneration and protection operations aim to reflect pre-existing stand composition. 7) Not applicable. See 1) above.
6) The shipment involves chip logs generally restricted to less than 700 millimetres in diameter, so large old trees are essentially excluded. In addition, the large old trees are often protected as habitat trees in accordance with silvicultural guidelines. The guidelines recognise the variability of the forest, and regeneration and protection operations aim to reflect pre-existing stand composition. 7) Not applicable. See 1) above.
7) Not applicable. See 1) above.
3) Logs left in the forest after being felled will be subject to natural processes such as decay and fire, as would be the case if they fell naturally. 4) Jarrah silviculture does not involve clearfelling, but the creation of gaps in the jarrah forest, like other silvicultural treatments, is carried out to meet relevant silvicultural objectives in accordance with the approved guidelines. 5) The Forest Products Commission does not gather information on wood products in other states. 6) The shipment involves chip logs generally restricted to less than 700 millimetres in diameter, so large old trees are essentially excluded. In addition, the large old trees are often protected as habitat trees in accordance with silvicultural guidelines. The guidelines recognise the variability of the forest, and regeneration and protection operations aim to reflect pre-existing stand composition. 7) Not applicable. See 1) above.
4) Jarrah silviculture does not involve clearfelling, but the creation of gaps in the jarrah forest, like other silvicultural treatments, is carried out to meet relevant silvicultural objectives in accordance with the approved guidelines. 5) The Forest Products Commission does not gather information on wood products in other states. 6) The shipment involves chip logs generally restricted to less than 700 millimetres in diameter, so large old trees are essentially excluded. In addition, the large old trees are often protected as habitat trees in accordance with silvicultural guidelines. The guidelines recognise the variability of the forest, and regeneration and protection operations aim to reflect pre-existing stand composition. 7) Not applicable. See 1) above.
5) The Forest Products Commission does not gather information on wood products in other states. 6) The shipment involves chip logs generally restricted to less than 700 millimetres in diameter, so large old trees are essentially excluded. In addition, the large old trees are often protected as habitat trees in accordance with silvicultural guidelines. The guidelines recognise the variability of the forest, and regeneration and protection operations aim to reflect pre-existing stand composition. 7) Not applicable. See 1) above.
6) The shipment involves chip logs generally restricted to less than 700 millimetres in diameter, so large old trees are essentially excluded. In addition, the large old trees are often protected as habitat trees in accordance with silvicultural guidelines. The guidelines recognise the variability of the forest, and regeneration and protection operations aim to reflect pre-existing stand composition. 7) Not applicable. See 1) above.
7) Not applicable. See 1) above.
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