Forestry and water catchments

More than 80 people attended a workshop about forestry and water catchments in WA last month which covered important issues such as bushfire management, rehabilitation after bauxite mining and enhancing ecosystem health.

Hon Rick Mazza, Hon Mick Murray and Hon Nigel Hallet along with former-MPs Dr Chrissy Sharp and Bernie Masters attended the forum titled Managing forested catchments- threats and opportunities, which was organised by the Institute of Foresters in WA. Other attendees included people with interests in conservation and ecosystem health, staff from a range of Government departments, representatives of industry, academia, biologists and foresters.

IFA spokesman Frank Batini said, ‘It was a pity that no Government Ministers attended, though several were invited, but I think the importance of effectively managing water catchments was well understood by the Shadow Minister for Forestry and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party representatives who came along’.

‘Water catchments for domestic and irrigation use cover a million hectares of jarrah forest between Mundaring and Collie. Water catchments integrate a range of land uses- water supply, biodiversity, ecosystem health, bauxite mining, recreation and silviculture; and require protection from wildfire, disease, pollution and reduced stream-flows’, said Frank.

Speakers addressed changes in ecosystem health due to lower rainfall and the need to protect catchments from wildfire - noting that unless you can manage wildfire, you cannot effectively manage for any other value. The need to thin-out rehabilitation after bauxite mining was emphasised along with the need for appropriate silviculture to enhance ecosystem health and stream-flow, the value of lower-slopes and stream-zones for protecting biodiversity of flora and fauna and the much higher costs faced by irrigators when their water-supply is reduced.

Frank said, ‘Beneficial changes to catchment management, such as thinning vegetation to improve stream-flows and effective fire management, could be implemented at no nett cost which would greatly reduce the current costs to Treasury of desalination and wildfire suppression’.

The workshop concluded with a half-hour discussion from the participants that produced useful advice on the next steps. There was support for continued involvement by establishing a broader advocacy group, to develop proposals and to lobby Government.

Media contact: Frank Batini (IFA - WA): 08 9457 1952