❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Minister for Environment on the government's policy regarding carbon storage in old-growth forests, referencing an ANU study and the impact of logging. The Minister acknowledges the study but notes its limited scope and highlights existing protections for old-growth forests.
AnsweredQoN 663Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware that an intensive scientific study done by the Australian National University (2007) on the amount of carbon stored in old eucalyptus forests has stated that natural forests are an important part of the global carbon cycle therefore soaking up excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and storing it in the biomass of trees and in the soil?
(2) Is the Minister aware that forests that are commercially logged store about 30-40% less carbon than an un-logged forest?
(3) What is the Government’s environmental policy relating to carbon stored in old growth forests?
(2) Is the Minister aware that forests that are commercially logged store about 30-40% less carbon than an un-logged forest?
(3) What is the Government’s environmental policy relating to carbon stored in old growth forests?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 May 2009
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
35 days
Answer
(1-2) The scientific study on
Green carbon: the role of natural forests in carbon storage
by the Australian National University adds to the body of knowledge regarding forests and carbon storage. However, the extent to which the findings are relevant to all Australian native forests needs further examination, since the study area was confined to south-eastern Australian eucalypt forests.
(3) The majority of old-growth forest is included in national parks and other conservation reserves. Other areas of old-growth forest within State forest are all protected in informal reserves. All old-growth forest is protected from timber harvesting.
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
(1-2) The scientific study on
Green carbon: the role of natural forests in carbon storage
by the Australian National University adds to the body of knowledge regarding forests and carbon storage. However, the extent to which the findings are relevant to all Australian native forests needs further examination, since the study area was confined to south-eastern Australian eucalypt forests.
(3) The majority of old-growth forest is included in national parks and other conservation reserves. Other areas of old-growth forest within State forest are all protected in informal reserves. All old-growth forest is protected from timber harvesting.
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
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.