ECOLOGICAL
THINNING
996. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
It is an old question, lodged in June. It is number 554.
Apologies; it has taken me a while to get to it. There has been too much fun
stuff to do! I refer to a Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions explanatory note on ecological thinning that states ''mechanical
fuel reduction thinning at the stand or patch scale could only be considered
ecological thinning if it is undertaken consistent within a broader landscape
objective of maintaining biodiversity conservation values''.
(1) What are
the department's scientific reasons for taking this position?
(2) Will this
position, if adopted by the government, reduce the amount of ''ecological
thinnings'' available from the remaining timber harvest in this state
following the government's closure of most of the native hardwood
timber industry?
(3) What will
the impact of this position be on the amount of ecological thinnings?
The PRESIDENT: I note that the question seems to be
seeking an inordinate amount of information.
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I assure the President that it is a succinct answer.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for some notice of the
question—lots of notice, in fact, given it was from 13 June. This
information was obviously current as at 13 June 2022.
(1) To date,
mechanical fuel reduction trials of intensive thinning practices have been
undertaken to reduce fuel loads and mitigate bushfire risk. These operations
prioritised the removal of almost all potentially flammable vegetation in the
vertical and ground layers. Ecological thinning prescriptions are likely to incorporate
greater retention of mid-storey species, legacy habitat elements and coarse
woody debris to ensure landscape-scale biodiversity conservation outcomes are
achieved.
(2)–(3)
The nature, location and extent of ecological thinning to be undertaken will be
determined through the process to develop the next forest management plan for
2024–2033.