Western Australia Forest Agreement

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WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS

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Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises

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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/

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.

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