Environment Minister Albert Jacob today determined appeals relating to the Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) report and recommendations on the proposed Forest Management Plan 2014-2023, one of the final steps before the plan’s implementation in January.
“After considering all the information presented to me, I believe the EPA adequately considered the key environmental factors identified in its assessment of the proposal, and that this assessment was consistent with requirements of the EPA,” Mr Jacob said.
Fifty-six appeals were received in response to the EPA’s report on the plan, covering a wide range of issues from both conservation and industry perspectives.
The Minister said he took into account advice from the Appeals Convenor when he determined the appeals.
“I have allowed the appeals to the extent that target completion dates will be applied for a number of the management activities in the proposed Forest Management Plan,” he said.
“I am also imposing a condition that the Environment Minister must approve any proposal by industry to access maximum harvesting limits. Known in the new plan as the ‘upper limit allowable cut’, these maximum limits will still be within what has been determined to be a sustainable yield of forest products.”
In its report, the EPA said the proposed Forest Management Plan built on the current plan and was based on sound science and conservative assumptions. The next step in the process will see the plan amended to incorporate the Ministerial Conditions.
“The Conservation Commission of Western Australia will provide me with a final plan for approval before the end of the year,” Mr Jacob said.
“After an extensive process over a number of years we are now close to having a new policy framework for managing the State’s South-West native forests for the next 10 years.”
Fact File
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Full details at http://www.appealsconvenor.wa.gov.au
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Proposed Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 prepared by the Conservation Commission of WA to manage a diverse number of values and uses within South-West forests for the next 10 years
Minister’s office - 6552 5800