❓ Hon Sophia Moermond questions the Minister for Environment regarding ecological thinning activities under the Forest Management Plan 2024-2033, including locations, timber volume, commercial use, value, trial parameters, and fire hazard management. The Minister provides a general update on the FEAs, timber allocation, ecological thinning parameters and bushfire risk management.
AnsweredQoN 2218Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to ecological
thinning activity in the South West operating under the Forest Management Plan (FMP) 2024-2033, and I ask: (a) could the Minister provide an update on the current Forest Ecosystem Areas (FEAs) where ecological thinning has commenced under the FMP 2024-2033; (b) what volume of timber has been recovered from each forest block, both ongoing and completed; (c) in reference to (b), what commercial uses has the timber been allocated to; (d) for commercial purposes, what is the value of the timber resource produced per hectare versus the current costings; (e) could the Minister provide a summary of the ecological thinning trial parameters being implemented in various forest blocks to achieve the goals of the FMP; and (f) how does the Government plan to manage the potential fire hazards posed by residual biomass from thinning operations over the summer, particularly in regrowth Karri forest blocks where some areas exceed 600 acres?
thinning activity in the South West operating under the Forest Management Plan (FMP) 2024-2033, and I ask: (a) could the Minister provide an update on the current Forest Ecosystem Areas (FEAs) where ecological thinning has commenced under the FMP 2024-2033; (b) what volume of timber has been recovered from each forest block, both ongoing and completed; (c) in reference to (b), what commercial uses has the timber been allocated to; (d) for commercial purposes, what is the value of the timber resource produced per hectare versus the current costings; (e) could the Minister provide a summary of the ecological thinning trial parameters being implemented in various forest blocks to achieve the goals of the FMP; and (f) how does the Government plan to manage the potential fire hazards posed by residual biomass from thinning operations over the summer, particularly in regrowth Karri forest blocks where some areas exceed 600 acres?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 November 2024
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment
Response time
11 days
a. Ecological thinning has commenced in seven Forest Enhancement Areas (FEAs).
b.-d. Any forest products that can be salvaged through activities are made available for WA businesses through the Forest Products Commission.
e. Ecological thinning requires the removal of a proportion of trees from an area to provide the retained trees and understorey vegetation greater access to site resources and improve their resilience to environmental stressors, particularly reduced water availability due to climate change. The stand and site characteristics of each FEA are assessed to inform ecological thinning parameters, which include the stand structure, pattern and residual density of the overstorey trees, as well as the mid-storey and understorey components.
f. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in conjunction with the Forest Products Commission have arrangements in place to manage bushfire risk dependant on forecast daily weather conditions. Once thinning operations are completed, FEAs will be incorporated into the DBCA Burn Options Program to reduce fuel loads and provide protection from bushfires.
b.-d. Any forest products that can be salvaged through activities are made available for WA businesses through the Forest Products Commission.
e. Ecological thinning requires the removal of a proportion of trees from an area to provide the retained trees and understorey vegetation greater access to site resources and improve their resilience to environmental stressors, particularly reduced water availability due to climate change. The stand and site characteristics of each FEA are assessed to inform ecological thinning parameters, which include the stand structure, pattern and residual density of the overstorey trees, as well as the mid-storey and understorey components.
f. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in conjunction with the Forest Products Commission have arrangements in place to manage bushfire risk dependant on forecast daily weather conditions. Once thinning operations are completed, FEAs will be incorporated into the DBCA Burn Options Program to reduce fuel loads and provide protection from bushfires.
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