WA: Forest management plan released
PERTH, Aug 15 AAP - A draft 10-year plan for the management of Western Australia'sforests, including the sustainable management of the timber industry, was released forpublic comment today.
Prepared by the WA Conservation Commission, the plan includes proposals to create 30new national parks and two new conservation parks.
Another proposal is the creation of 200-hectare mature habitat zones to protect biodiversityand provide for the recolonisation of logged areas.
Commission chairman John Bailey said the plan provided for both the protection of old-growthforest and ways to develop a high-value, sustainable timber industry.
"This is a major step forward not only in terms of conserving the biodiversity of thesouth-west forests, but also in ensuring the state's native timber industry will be basedon sustainable management for present and future generations," Dr Bailey said.
The plan has been criticised by both unions and conservation groups.
Australian Workers' Union state secretary Tim Daly said at least 1,000 timber workerswould lose their jobs as a result and insufficient attention had been paid to the socialand economic impact of the plan.
Wilderness Society state coordinator David McKenzie said less than one per cent ofthe forest assessed had been recommended for protection and there was no proof the suggestedyields for the timber industry were sustainable.
"Conservationists are particularly shocked by the lack of high conservation-value forestrecommended for protection," Mr McKenzie said.
"Under this plan it appears the timber industry will still have almost one millionhectares still available for logging."
The plan is open for comment until October 15.
AAP alm/was/sb
KEYWORD: FOREST
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