❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Minister for Environment regarding potential logging of jarrah and karri forests for biofuel, specifically concerning carbon credit claims and compliance with environmental regulations. The Minister denies any approvals for such logging, while acknowledging a trial with some compliance issues.
AnsweredQoN 662Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Has the Minister or any of the Minister’s agencies ever received a written application or request from the Forest Products Commission (FPC) under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
or section 19(2) of the
Conservation and Land Management Act 1984
requesting that the jarrah and karri forest ecosystem be logged specifically to supply biomass plants with bio-fuel so that biomass plants and coal-fired power stations can claim carbon credits under the Federal Government’s Emissions Trading Scheme?
(2) Has the Minister or any of the Minister’s agencies ever given the FPC approval or permission to log the jarrah forest ecosystem specifically to supply the energy sector with logs as bio-fuel so the energy sector including coal-fired power stations can claim carbon credits under the Federal Government’s Emissions Trading Scheme; and
(a) if yes, what agency or agencies gave that approval, including how and when;
(b) if no,
is the FPC currently logging the jarrah forest ecosystem specifically for whole logs to supply the energy sector, without appropriate approval and outside the scope of the Forest Management Plan (2004-2013); and
(c) if no, why are the Minister’s agencies in charge of protecting the natural environment not informing the Minister on such an important issue that will have serious environmental ramifications for the jarrah and karri forest ecosystem?
(3) Is it correct that the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in Bunbury and Collie were aware of a FPC biomass logging trial site in the Yabberup state forest near Collie, including several breaches to logging guidelines under the Forest Management Plan (2004-2013), during the biomass logging trial operations?
(4) What Environmental Impact Studies (EIS) on behalf of the Minister and the Minister’s agencies were carried out on the ecological effects of specifically logging the jarrah forest ecosystem to supply whole logs to the biomass industry as bio-fuel; and
(a) if none,
when will the Minister direct the Minister’s agencies to carry out a formal EIS on the ecological effects of sourcing whole Jarrah and Karri logs from the forest ecosystem specifically for bio-fuel?
Environmental Protection Act 1986
or section 19(2) of the
Conservation and Land Management Act 1984
requesting that the jarrah and karri forest ecosystem be logged specifically to supply biomass plants with bio-fuel so that biomass plants and coal-fired power stations can claim carbon credits under the Federal Government’s Emissions Trading Scheme?
(2) Has the Minister or any of the Minister’s agencies ever given the FPC approval or permission to log the jarrah forest ecosystem specifically to supply the energy sector with logs as bio-fuel so the energy sector including coal-fired power stations can claim carbon credits under the Federal Government’s Emissions Trading Scheme; and
(a) if yes, what agency or agencies gave that approval, including how and when;
(b) if no,
is the FPC currently logging the jarrah forest ecosystem specifically for whole logs to supply the energy sector, without appropriate approval and outside the scope of the Forest Management Plan (2004-2013); and
(c) if no, why are the Minister’s agencies in charge of protecting the natural environment not informing the Minister on such an important issue that will have serious environmental ramifications for the jarrah and karri forest ecosystem?
(3) Is it correct that the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) in Bunbury and Collie were aware of a FPC biomass logging trial site in the Yabberup state forest near Collie, including several breaches to logging guidelines under the Forest Management Plan (2004-2013), during the biomass logging trial operations?
(4) What Environmental Impact Studies (EIS) on behalf of the Minister and the Minister’s agencies were carried out on the ecological effects of specifically logging the jarrah forest ecosystem to supply whole logs to the biomass industry as bio-fuel; and
(a) if none,
when will the Minister direct the Minister’s agencies to carry out a formal EIS on the ecological effects of sourcing whole Jarrah and Karri logs from the forest ecosystem specifically for bio-fuel?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
7 May 2009
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
36 days
(1-2) No
(2a) Not applicable
(2b) No
(2c) Not applicable
(3-4a) The Department of Environment and Conservation is aware that the Forest Products Commission undertook a trial in Yabberup State forest under the adaptive management provisions of the
Forest Management Plan 2004-2013
(FMP). The Department understands that the trial is related to the FPC request for tenders for low grade native forest logs that was issued in April 2008. The Department understands that the trial was conducted to assess quantities and test potential markets for lower grade logs as required under action 15.2 of the FMP. Departmental field staff monitoring the area have identified some compliance issues at Yabberup which are being dealt with through established monitoring, reporting and compliance protocols. All timber harvesting in State forests and timber reserves are required to meet the stringent environmental standards of the FMP.
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(2a) Not applicable
(2b) No
(2c) Not applicable
(3-4a) The Department of Environment and Conservation is aware that the Forest Products Commission undertook a trial in Yabberup State forest under the adaptive management provisions of the
Forest Management Plan 2004-2013
(FMP). The Department understands that the trial is related to the FPC request for tenders for low grade native forest logs that was issued in April 2008. The Department understands that the trial was conducted to assess quantities and test potential markets for lower grade logs as required under action 15.2 of the FMP. Departmental field staff monitoring the area have identified some compliance issues at Yabberup which are being dealt with through established monitoring, reporting and compliance protocols. All timber harvesting in State forests and timber reserves are required to meet the stringent environmental standards of the FMP.
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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