Western Australia Forest Agreement Fails to Satisfy
5/11/99
OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY by EE
There is reason to be disappointed about the forest agreement signed
recently in Western Australia. While conservation areas are
increased, and significant old growth enters protection, the
inexorable diminishment of unique, biologically important old growth
forest ecosystems continues. The problem with these compromises is
that every few years the timber industry needs more old growth to
sustain itself, and the forests continue to be incrementally reduced.
Eventually, old growth logging must end in Western Australia and
elsewhere. The choice is whether to transition to secondary growth,
plantations, and alternative fibers now; while there are still
vibrant, large and functional forest ecosystems, or after all that
remains are museum like parks which are fragmented and not large
enough to sustain themselves in a natural condition. Continued
planetary ecological functionality depends upon the former occurring.
g.b.
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Title: Western Australia Forest Agreement Fails to Satisfy
Source: Environment News Service, http://ens.lycos.com/
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: May 5, 1999
CANBERRA, Australia, May 5, 1999 (ENS) - Forest conservationists are
disappointed in the Regional Forest Agreement signed Monday between
the state of Western Australia and the federal government. The
agreement provides for a 12 percent increase in conservation reserves
and the protection of 67 percent of Western Australia's old-growth
forest. But conservationists had worked to protect 100 percent of the
old-growth forest.
Karri forest (Eucalyptus diversicolor) A tall tree growing to 80
metres (260 feet), Karri is a smooth silvery barked eucalypt unique
to the southwest region of Western Australia.
The timber industry was mildly pleased with the guaranteed amount of
cutting allowed, but the Australian Workers' Union says as many as 50
workers could lose their jobs due to the agreement. The union views
the agreement as a "significant victory for greenies."
Prime Minister John Howard called the Regional Forest Agreement a
"balanced and fair outcome."
Opposition Leader Geoff Gallop maintained that the majority of West
Australians want the logging of remaining old-growth forest to stop
completely.
Western Australia Premier Richard Court said the agreement was
ecologically sustainable. "It is the most scientific and detailed
assessment ever undertaken of WA forests," Court said.
Western Australian Forest Alliance (WAFA) called the outcome, "a
disaster for conservation," and the Conservation Council of Western
Australia and the Wilderness Society share this view.
Peter Robertson of the WAFA said, "The best forests have been given
to Wesfarmers Bunnings. They will be clearfelled and significant
portions of them will be exported to Japan as woodchips. The forests
of lower value to the woodchippers will go in reserves."
"The government has perfectly fulfilled the interests of Wesfarmers,
the biggest industrial group based in Western Australia," said
Robertson. "Around a fifth of Wesfarmers record profit last year came
from woodchips. Wesfarmers are large political donors at both state
and federal level. Woodchips are sent to Japan via Marubeni, the
ninth largest company in the world."
The Australian Conservation Foundation says forestry operations in
forests covered by Regional Forest Agreements, including most of the
Karri and Jarrah forests of Western Australia, will be exempted from
Commonwealth endangered species legislation and from Commonwealth
environmental impact assessment by a realignment of federal-state
power.
The combination of the Federal Government's Regional Forest Agreement
Bill and its Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation
Bill, both subject to Senate Inquiries in February, will give away
long held Commonwealth environmental protection to the States.
This means that in states such as Western Australia the conservation
values of forests will not be properly considered, the ACF says.
ACF president Peter Garrett has said, "One of the tragedies that
emerges under these proposed laws is that the future of the great
forests of the south-west of WA, which are important to all
Australians, will be handed over to a state government that is not
protecting them."
Jarrah forest (Eucalyptus marginata), the principal hardwood tree
harvested for timber, is used for cabinet making, flooring and
panelling. Early roads in London and Berlin were paved with blocks of
jarrah.
Under the new regional agreement, the state Department of
Conservation
and Land Management will be restructured. Responsibility for
commercial aspects of forest production and collection of royalties
paid on harvested timber will be assigned to a newly created Forest
Production Commission.
A single State Conservation Authority will take charge of all
forests. This Authority will recommend sustainable timber levels. A
third new agency, the Forest Industry Advisory Board, will also be
created.
The $59 million industry assistance package will be shared by the
timber and tourism industries to compensate for the protected
forests.