Hon Diane Evers questions DBCA on their understanding and modelling of carbon carrying capacity in karri forests, referencing the Forest Management Plan 2014-2023. The DBCA's response indicates that specific modelling of carbon carrying capacity across karri forests was not undertaken for the FMP.

AnsweredQoN 401Legislative Council
Asked
10 October 2017
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

(1) I refer to the Conservation Commission of Western Australia’s
Forest Management Plan (FMP) 2014-2023
, and ask, what does the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) understand by "carbon carrying capacity"?
(2) Based on DBCA growth rate models and FullCAM, at what age does the carbon carrying capacity of karri regrowth reach the same carbon carrying capacity as that of old growth karri?
(3) Is the carbon carrying capacity the same, more, or less in areas of mixed karri (i.e., 2-8 mature karri trees per hectare) as in areas of pure karri (i.e., at least 8 mature karri trees per hectare)?
(4) Does this carbon carrying capacity account for loss of carbon:
(a) in the initial logging operation;
(b) in further logging or thinning operations; and
(c) following fire?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
28 November 2017
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
9 days
(2) to (4) The range in carbon carrying capacity across the karri forests was not modelled as part of the estimation of standing carbon stocks undertaken for the Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 (FMP). The paper Estimating native carbon stocks prepared to support the release of the Draft Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 for public comment in 2012, describes the approach used to develop estimates of above and below-ground live tree carbon across forest ecosystems (including the variation between karri, karri /tingle and karri west coast forest ecosystems).
(2) to (4) The range in carbon carrying capacity across the karri forests was not modelled as part of the estimation of standing carbon stocks undertaken for the Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 (FMP). The paper Estimating native carbon stocks prepared to support the release of the Draft Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 for public comment in 2012, describes the approach used to develop estimates of above and below-ground live tree carbon across forest ecosystems (including the variation between karri, karri /tingle and karri west coast forest ecosystems).
The paper Estimating native carbon stocks prepared to support the release of the Draft Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 for public comment in 2012, describes the approach used to develop estimates of above and below-ground live tree carbon across forest ecosystems (including the variation between karri, karri /tingle and karri west coast forest ecosystems).
The paper Estimating native carbon stocks prepared to support the release of the Draft Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 for public comment in 2012, describes the approach used to develop estimates of above and below-ground live tree carbon across forest ecosystems (including the variation between karri, karri /tingle and karri west coast forest ecosystems).

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