Dr. Edwards asks about the extent of dieback (Phytophthora cinnamomi) in WA state forests, both currently and projected into the future. The Minister acknowledges the difficulty in accurately mapping and predicting the spread due to resource limitations and various influencing factors.

AnsweredQoN 220Legislative Assembly
Asked
9 August 2000
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Environment

QuestionView source ↗

220. Dr EDWARDS to the Minister for the Environment:
(1) How much state forest is expected to be affected by dieback in -
(a) 5 years;
(b) 10 years; and
(c) 20 years?
(2) How much state forest is currently affected by dieback?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
16 November 2000
Response time
99 days
The Minister Replied:
(1) It is currently beyond the resources of the Department of Conservation and Land Management to accurately map the entire State Forest for the presence of disease in native vegetation caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi.
In attempting to predict the future infestation of disease in State forest, the following factors apply: The pathogen moves autonomously and is spread by animal and human vectors. It is estimated that the pathogen will move up slope and across slope at a rate of approximately one metre per year outwards from its current perimeters. It is not currently possible to estimate the rate of spread down slope or when aided by animal or human vectors.
(2) Since intensive mapping for P. cinnamomi disease began in 1976, approximately 535 000 hectares of State Forest, CALM-managed Reserves and Crown Land within forest regions have been mapped. This is approximately 20% of the public land managed by CALM in those regions. Of the 535 000 hectares mapped intensively, approximately
106 000 hectares were infested with P. cinnamomi (as mapped to December 1999).

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