❓ Question regarding the fate of mature marri trees in WA's forestry practices, specifically concerning clearfelling and gap-creation, and their importance as habitat for red-tailed black cockatoos. The answer focuses on increased habitat protection and revised silvicultural guidelines.
AnsweredQoN 251Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
In relation to mature marri trees, some of which the draft Forest Management Plan proposes to ‘fell to waste’ -
(1) Does CALM still practice -
(a) clearfelling in two-tiered karri/marri forest; and
(b) gap-creation in jarrah/marri forest?
(2) If yes, what does CALM do with the mature marri trees?
(3) If no, will the mature marri trees be left as habitat trees?
(4) If so, for how long?
(5) What adaptive management practices has CALM adopted in recognition of the importance of mature marri trees as providers of the big hollows essential for the survival of the red-tailed black cockatoo?
(1) Does CALM still practice -
(a) clearfelling in two-tiered karri/marri forest; and
(b) gap-creation in jarrah/marri forest?
(2) If yes, what does CALM do with the mature marri trees?
(3) If no, will the mature marri trees be left as habitat trees?
(4) If so, for how long?
(5) What adaptive management practices has CALM adopted in recognition of the importance of mature marri trees as providers of the big hollows essential for the survival of the red-tailed black cockatoo?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 November 2002
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Response time
21 days
(b) gap-creation in jarrah/marri forest?
(5) The protection of habitat for hollow-dependent forest fauna including the red-tailed black cockatoo has been significantly increased under the Government's Protecting Our Old-Growth Forests policy. All old-growth forest on land vested in the Conservation Commission of Western Australia has been set aside from timber harvesting and 30 new national parks (including 12 proposed under the Regional Forest Agreement) and two new conservation parks are to be established. The new forest management plan is being developed in line with the principles of ecologically sustainable forest management. As a result of the Kingston forest study, the Draft Forest Management Plan proposes the retention of additional mature habitat zones within State forest and timber reserves available for timber harvesting. So as to place an increased emphasis on nature conservation values in State forest available for timber harvesting, the Department proposes to amend the silvicultural guidelines to increase the retention of habitat, while continuing to provide for adequate regeneration. Proposed amendments to the guidelines include increased retention of primary habitat trees from four to six trees per hectare and a greater emphasis on the protection of retained habitat from fire applied during the regeneration process. The selection of habitat trees is based on tree structural characteristics, rather than species, and is designed to benefit multiple species rather than just the red-tailed black cockatoo.
The new forest management plan is being developed in line with the principles of ecologically sustainable forest management. As a result of the Kingston forest study, the Draft Forest Management Plan proposes the retention of additional mature habitat zones within State forest and timber reserves available for timber harvesting. So as to place an increased emphasis on nature conservation values in State forest available for timber harvesting, the Department proposes to amend the silvicultural guidelines to increase the retention of habitat, while continuing to provide for adequate regeneration. Proposed amendments to the guidelines include increased retention of primary habitat trees from four to six trees per hectare and a greater emphasis on the protection of retained habitat from fire applied during the regeneration process. The selection of habitat trees is based on tree structural characteristics, rather than species, and is designed to benefit multiple species rather than just the red-tailed black cockatoo.
So as to place an increased emphasis on nature conservation values in State forest available for timber harvesting, the Department proposes to amend the silvicultural guidelines to increase the retention of habitat, while continuing to provide for adequate regeneration. Proposed amendments to the guidelines include increased retention of primary habitat trees from four to six trees per hectare and a greater emphasis on the protection of retained habitat from fire applied during the regeneration process. The selection of habitat trees is based on tree structural characteristics, rather than species, and is designed to benefit multiple species rather than just the red-tailed black cockatoo.
(5) The protection of habitat for hollow-dependent forest fauna including the red-tailed black cockatoo has been significantly increased under the Government's Protecting Our Old-Growth Forests policy. All old-growth forest on land vested in the Conservation Commission of Western Australia has been set aside from timber harvesting and 30 new national parks (including 12 proposed under the Regional Forest Agreement) and two new conservation parks are to be established. The new forest management plan is being developed in line with the principles of ecologically sustainable forest management. As a result of the Kingston forest study, the Draft Forest Management Plan proposes the retention of additional mature habitat zones within State forest and timber reserves available for timber harvesting. So as to place an increased emphasis on nature conservation values in State forest available for timber harvesting, the Department proposes to amend the silvicultural guidelines to increase the retention of habitat, while continuing to provide for adequate regeneration. Proposed amendments to the guidelines include increased retention of primary habitat trees from four to six trees per hectare and a greater emphasis on the protection of retained habitat from fire applied during the regeneration process. The selection of habitat trees is based on tree structural characteristics, rather than species, and is designed to benefit multiple species rather than just the red-tailed black cockatoo.
The new forest management plan is being developed in line with the principles of ecologically sustainable forest management. As a result of the Kingston forest study, the Draft Forest Management Plan proposes the retention of additional mature habitat zones within State forest and timber reserves available for timber harvesting. So as to place an increased emphasis on nature conservation values in State forest available for timber harvesting, the Department proposes to amend the silvicultural guidelines to increase the retention of habitat, while continuing to provide for adequate regeneration. Proposed amendments to the guidelines include increased retention of primary habitat trees from four to six trees per hectare and a greater emphasis on the protection of retained habitat from fire applied during the regeneration process. The selection of habitat trees is based on tree structural characteristics, rather than species, and is designed to benefit multiple species rather than just the red-tailed black cockatoo.
So as to place an increased emphasis on nature conservation values in State forest available for timber harvesting, the Department proposes to amend the silvicultural guidelines to increase the retention of habitat, while continuing to provide for adequate regeneration. Proposed amendments to the guidelines include increased retention of primary habitat trees from four to six trees per hectare and a greater emphasis on the protection of retained habitat from fire applied during the regeneration process. The selection of habitat trees is based on tree structural characteristics, rather than species, and is designed to benefit multiple species rather than just the red-tailed black cockatoo.
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.