How we got the Forest Management Plan 2024–2033
As required by the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984, the draft Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 was prepared for the proponent, the Conservation and Parks Commission, by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in consultation with the Forest Products Commission (FPC) and released for public submissions in October 2022.
Staff in DBCA and the FPC whose jobs depend on logging and burning had the job of preparing the draft FMP.
The draft proposed FMP was released in May 2023 and submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for assessment. The EPA published its report in August 2023 and appeals against the EPA report followed.
The Appeals Committee published its report in November 2023.
On 30 November 2023, Environment Minister Whitby released the statement that a proposal, the Forest Management Plan 2024-2033, may be implemented (Statement No. 1214, the Ministerial Statement).
Along with many other groups and individuals, we made a submission on the draft FMP and we appealed against the EPA’s report.
Except for correction of some stupid mistakes we pointed out and support for the proposed increase in the area of forest to be reserved, our submission and appeal have been totally ignored.
The FMP 2024-2033 is not a ‘working plan’. It is a public relations exercise, selling DBCA’s questionable concept of forest management, with pretty pictures and pages of pro-logging, pro-burning propaganda.
Here is some of what the FMP 2024-2033 will and will not give us:
- No annual 200,000 hectare limit on prescribed burns.
- No Independent scientific review of prescribed burning – just a scientific research program involving DBCA scientists and experts in the field.
- No independent audit.
- No public availability of data – just a biennial report that summarises activities and implementation of the forest health monitoring program.
- No assessment of Greenhouse Gas emissions of logging or burning.
- No firm deadlines for implementing the proposals for additional conservation reserves.
- Limited Stakeholder Consultation – just on the proposed boundaries of 400,000 ha of new reserves.
Preparing submissions and appeals was a waste of time.
You can access the FMP 2024-2033 at this link.
These two documents outline the scientific ecological reasons for zero thinning:
Thinned jarrah forest