Australian Forest Alliance wants Independent Sustainable Logging Advice
1/28/99
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Title: Australian Forest Alliance wants Independent Sustainable
Logging Advice
Source: Australian Broadcasting Company
Status: Copyrighted, contact source to reprint
Date: 1/28/99
The WA Forest Alliance says two new 'independent panels' set up by the
Environment Minister to give advice on sustainable logging levels, must
be open and accountable.
An expert taskforce will scrutinise logging levels in WA's publicly
owned native forests, prior to signing of the Regional Forest Agreement
(RFA).
A post-RFA panel will then review the expected sustainable yield figure
reached during the RFA process.
Alliance spokesman Peter Robertson says it appears that the panels will
be 'in house' and closed to the public.
"Any panel to do with what happens to our remaining old growth and
native forest in general obviously it should be completely open to the
public at every stage including the production of its draft report which
should be released for public comment and Environmental Protection
Authority assessment," Mr Robertson said.
"That is the problem with the whole RFA process. It is completely
shrouded in secrecy, there is no possibility of the public knowing what
is happening behind the scenes and it is basically out of control."
The Forest Industries Federation will seek clarification as to the need
for one of the independent panels set up to look at the state's Regional
Forest Agreement.
The Executive Director of the Federation, Bob Pearce, says he will seek
clarification of a post-RFA panel, which will look at the expected
sustainable logging level reached during the RFA.
Mr Pearce says it seems the panel will be making decisions on
sustainable yields before another panel can decide the sustainability of
native forest logging.
He says a draft Regional Forest Agreement is not needed as an
alternative to the panels.
"Everyone's had their chance to make their submissions," he said.
"I think what people actually want is finalisation of this process, a
process that has gone on and on, and people are now about inquiries into
inquiries and inquiries into inquiries into inquiries.
"I think what most people want is a clear decision, and that's what
we'll be asking for."
c 1999 Australian Broadcasting Corporation