❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the impact of logging and habitat removal on numbats in the Warrup forest, and the adequacy of existing conservation measures. The Minister's response indicates a lack of specific studies on the impact of logging on numbats, but refers to broader forest management plans and monitoring.
AnsweredQoN 5369Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Will the Minister please table a copy of the numbat recovery plan?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Does the Minister acknowledge that numbats have been seen at the Warrup forest logging coupe?
(4) Given the statement by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) that 'After a vigorous reintroduction campaign led by DEC, there are now eight self-sustaining populations but probably less than 1000 animals in existence' (
http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/5761/1808/
), has there been an assessment of the impact on numbats of -:
(a) logging at Warrup; and
(b) removal of ground habitat at Warrup?
(5) If no to (4)(a) and/or (b), why not?
(6) If yes to (4)(a) and/or (b) -
(a) what is that assessment;
(b) will the Minister please table the research supporting that assessment; and
(c) if no to (6)(b), why not?
(7) What studies have been done regarding the effects of the following on numbats -
(a) jarrah forest logging;
(b) karri forest logging;
(c) post logging burns;
(d) post logging increased predation by foxes; and
(e) post logging increased predation by cats?
(8) Will the Minister please table these studies?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) What is the relationship between the Kingston fauna habitat zone and the species' presence at Warrup forest?
(11) Will the Minister please table the research supporting this assertion?
(12) Was the species studied as part of the research into fauna in the Kingston study?
(13) If no to (12), why not?
(14) If yes to (12), will the Minister please table the research?
(15) If no to (14), why not?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Does the Minister acknowledge that numbats have been seen at the Warrup forest logging coupe?
(4) Given the statement by the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) that 'After a vigorous reintroduction campaign led by DEC, there are now eight self-sustaining populations but probably less than 1000 animals in existence' (
http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/5761/1808/
), has there been an assessment of the impact on numbats of -:
(a) logging at Warrup; and
(b) removal of ground habitat at Warrup?
(5) If no to (4)(a) and/or (b), why not?
(6) If yes to (4)(a) and/or (b) -
(a) what is that assessment;
(b) will the Minister please table the research supporting that assessment; and
(c) if no to (6)(b), why not?
(7) What studies have been done regarding the effects of the following on numbats -
(a) jarrah forest logging;
(b) karri forest logging;
(c) post logging burns;
(d) post logging increased predation by foxes; and
(e) post logging increased predation by cats?
(8) Will the Minister please table these studies?
(9) If no to (8), why not?
(10) What is the relationship between the Kingston fauna habitat zone and the species' presence at Warrup forest?
(11) Will the Minister please table the research supporting this assertion?
(12) Was the species studied as part of the research into fauna in the Kingston study?
(13) If no to (12), why not?
(14) If yes to (12), will the Minister please table the research?
(15) If no to (14), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 May 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
56 days
(1) No
(2) There is no current numbat recovery plan. A recovery plan is in preparation.
(3) Department of Environment and Conservation records indicate numbat sightings in Warrup forest block, but no confirmed sightings in Warrup 06 forest coupe.
(4)(a)-(b) The
Forest Management Plan 2004-2013
(FMP) provides for a range of measures from the broad to fine scale to minimise the impact on fauna species, including numbats, from timber harvesting. Monitoring the impact from disturbance activities on sensitive fauna species, including numbats, is carried out at a whole of forest and landscape level.
(5)-(6) Not applicable
(7)(a)-(e) No specific studies have been undertaken of the impact on numbats from harvesting in jarrah forests, post harvest burns or post harvest predation by foxes or cats. There are no known numbat populations in karri forest. Predation by foxes and cats has been shown in other studies to be a key threat to numbat survival.
(8)-(9) Not applicable
(10) Ministerial Condition 3 of the FMP required a greater concentration of fauna habitat zones in the Kingston area. The report prepared for the Conservation Commission of Western Australia,
A Review of High Conservation Values in Western Australia's South-West Forests
(2002), provides an overview of biodiversity values, including threatened fauna, in Dudijup, Kingston, Mersea and Warrup forest blocks. Portions of these blocks are incorporated into the Kingston fauna habitat zones. A copy of this report is available from the Conservation Commission's website at
www.conservation.wa.gov.au.
(11) Not applicable
(12) No
(13) The cryptic nature of numbats makes them a difficult species to study and the scale of disturbance in the Kingston study would have made it difficult to determine any specific impacts on the numbat.
(14)-(15) Not applicable
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(2) There is no current numbat recovery plan. A recovery plan is in preparation.
(3) Department of Environment and Conservation records indicate numbat sightings in Warrup forest block, but no confirmed sightings in Warrup 06 forest coupe.
(4)(a)-(b) The
Forest Management Plan 2004-2013
(FMP) provides for a range of measures from the broad to fine scale to minimise the impact on fauna species, including numbats, from timber harvesting. Monitoring the impact from disturbance activities on sensitive fauna species, including numbats, is carried out at a whole of forest and landscape level.
(5)-(6) Not applicable
(7)(a)-(e) No specific studies have been undertaken of the impact on numbats from harvesting in jarrah forests, post harvest burns or post harvest predation by foxes or cats. There are no known numbat populations in karri forest. Predation by foxes and cats has been shown in other studies to be a key threat to numbat survival.
(8)-(9) Not applicable
(10) Ministerial Condition 3 of the FMP required a greater concentration of fauna habitat zones in the Kingston area. The report prepared for the Conservation Commission of Western Australia,
A Review of High Conservation Values in Western Australia's South-West Forests
(2002), provides an overview of biodiversity values, including threatened fauna, in Dudijup, Kingston, Mersea and Warrup forest blocks. Portions of these blocks are incorporated into the Kingston fauna habitat zones. A copy of this report is available from the Conservation Commission's website at
www.conservation.wa.gov.au.
(11) Not applicable
(12) No
(13) The cryptic nature of numbats makes them a difficult species to study and the scale of disturbance in the Kingston study would have made it difficult to determine any specific impacts on the numbat.
(14)-(15) Not applicable
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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