Save the forests - Save Warrup, Arcadia, the Amazon, all of them

By Gerry Georgatos

Bridgetown-Greenbushes Friends of the Forest (BGFF) are worried that the end is near for Warrup Forest. BGFF coordinated a Warrup Forest twilight rally - more of an information tour - on Saturday, 10 December for interested residents.

70 people coalesced at the old Bridgetown railway station and then by a bus and car pools went into Warrup for the twilight event. Representatives of the Western Australian Forest Alliance (WAFA) and the Conservation Council (CC) were present.

Piers Verstegen (left), convenor of the Conservation Council and Richard Wittenoom, President of the Bridgetown-Greenbushes Friends of the Forests.

In the hub of the forest BGFF President, Richard Wittenoom said, "Today, we were told either Warrup or Arcadia will be done with, so it's one or the other. We need significant community support to save Warrup. What you see around you may soon be gone, all of it."

December 10 twilight rally in Warrup forest

Long time BGFF campaigner and Bridgetown resident, Russ Catomore said, "It's pleasing to see a big crowd here. We need to save the Warrup, once it's gone it will be gone for good. We are being strongly supported by WAFA and the conservation movement in trying to stop the logging. We need to pass these forests down to our children's children and not to some short term interest that does more damage than good."

WAFA convenor, Rob Versluis said, "This is a prime example of high conservation forest, and it should not be logged. When the Forest Product Commission (FPC) brought its guidelines about they said there were 109 acres of high conservation value forests however assessed that only 4 of these acreas shall be protected."

He said, "The Warrup, like Chester, is a refuge for many species, some rare, and for complex biodiversity that cannot thrive elsewhere."

Conservation Council director, Piers Verstegen said, "It's a mature forest, unfragmented - the last high conservation value reserve in the Kingston Park region... The logging industry is both ecologically and economically dead. The FPC lost $15 million last year however the taxpayer subsidises this."

The FPC's Mr Beatty has said, "The FPC's core business of harvesting and regenerating south west forests and plantations does operate profitably."

Mr Verstegen said, "The whole job dependency argument from logging is false, there are only 400 jobs that arise from logging. It's not worth it."

"Towns, such as Walpole, Denmark and increasingly Pemberton that have phased out logging are the ones that are now boom towns, they understand carbon economics and their environments are pristine and the tourists flock," he said.

He said, "Rampant logging and willy nilly prescribed burns by the Department of Conservation (DEC) are destroying the forests. DEC does prescribed burns by firebombing whole areas. They have knocked up this arbitrary target of 200,000 hectares (in our south west) that makes no sense."

The DEC maintains that the prescribed burns are necessary to effectively reduce fuel reduction in forests.

A recent Council of Australian Governments (COAG) report disagrees with the DEC arbitrary target and on page 104 states, "Comparing the gross area treated annually in fuel-reduction burning - that is, for a whole agency, region or state - with a published target is not a good basis for assessing performance and is likely to be counterproductive." The report stated that there are risks to life and property and concludes, "...at a state or regional level the area actually treated in fuel-reduction programs in a particular year bears little direct relationship to the real reduction in risk."

FPC spokesperson, Gavin Butcher said that all policies and guidelines will be met and that the FPC will accord these and that there has been substantive consultation by an independent Legislative Council standing committee. The FPC has said that no final decision has been made on the logging of Warrup and Arcadia.

Mr Butcher said, "It is considered by some that management of the forest can reduce the impact of climate change. Reduction of the forest density by thinning on state forest will provide an alternative strategy to that of just allowing nature to take its course, as will occur on the 65% of forests in reserves."

Conservationists moved into Arcadia forest, east of Bunbury on the same day as the Warrup twilight rally. They too feel threatened by the FPC logging operations, and understand that either Arcadia or Warrup will go. They are making a last ditch effort to save a small colony of mainland quokka.

Arcadia Action Alliance have set up a road block to the main entrance of Arcadia. Spokesperson Peter Murphy said, "Quokka are a protected species under a number of state and federal biodiversity conversation laws, and we aim to make sure that the Arcadia quokkas remain safe from the FPC bulldozers and logging machines."

The FPC and DEC do not comment on the strategies and campaigns undertaken by other organisations or groups.

Mr Murphy said, "The minister for the environment Bill Marmion and the DEC have washed their hands of any responsibility in looking after the quokkas, so we have decided to do teh job for them, and at no expense to the WA taxpayer." Mr Murphy said the group plans to issue 'move on notices' to FPC and DEC officers entering Arcadia and if necessary will make 'citizen's arrests' under the WA Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 should any of them, or their logging contractors, attempt to harm the habitat.

Russ Catomore,long time south west forests campaigner,speaking at the twilight rally.

Warrup and Arcadia forest campaigners understand that the decision 'will come any day' as to which forest shall be logged. Mr Whittle said, "In the end we will fight for it, because if we don't we just lose it. If we have to we will come out here in a picket line and with the support of many and do what we have to do."

Forest Rescue campaigners Simon Peterffy and Cameron Johnson have said they will turn up in numbers to protect Warrup and/or Arcadia. Forest Rescue have become well renowned throughout Australia for a number of campaigns, sometimes leading to their arrests, and were recently in the Kimberley to protect James Price Point from the gas hub proposal. Recently, during the CHOGM they had been banned by police from entering the 'security exclusion zones' in the Perth CBD.

Mr Peterffy said, "We will stand with local communities between the bulldozer and imminent desruction of our precious forests. With our unique style of non-violent direct action, Forest Rescue has been highly successful in saving large tracts of our south west."

2011 has been the United Nations International Year of the Forests. United Nations Assocation WA Environment committee convenor, Paul Elkington said, "WA has some unique forest habitats... An example includes the large timber forests in our south west that are amongst the oldest in the world. They are at risk as we have vastly decreased these areas through land clearing as the population has expanded."

According to the United Nations, forests cover 31% of the world's total land mass, however this figure is decreasing each year. Forests store more than 1 trillion tons of carbon, and have a capacity to store up to 25% of the world's carbon, however if they are halved within a century this will add to the world's temperatures and rising seas. Over 1.6 billion people's livelihoods depend on forests. Forests are home to 80% of the terrestrial biodiversity. Forests are home to 300 million people around the world. Deforestation accounts for 12 to 20% of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.

Six years ago lawyer, Daniel Iacopetta and his partner relocated to just outside Bridgetown for the forests, simpler living and authentic community settings. He said, "We are walking through forests that soon we will not be able to walk again. This is really sad. Our two daughters were born in Bridgetown, and we love it here."

"This may not be my eloquent best, however it is b/s that they should even be contemplating logging these forests. It's madness and of no foresight, as if those to come after us do not matter. I live right by these forests." Mr Iacopetta and his partner bought his land right by the state forest.

Terry Redman and Mick Murray joust in parliament on the southwest forests

6.12.2011
Collie-Preston member of parliament and shadow minister for Forestry, Mick Murray asked a number of questions of the minister for Forestry, Terry Redman about the forests and timber mills of the south west. Mr Murray tabled the questions in the Legislative Assembly on October 18, and Mr Redman took the questions on notice.

Mr Redman answered the questions on Monday, November 22.

The first of Mr Murray's six questions was, "In relation to the timber mills in the south west, I ask what subsidy or royalty relief has, or will the government offer to any incoming buyer of the closed Deanmill facility in Manjimup if it is sold?"

Mr Redman's answer is, "The government has not made any general offer of a subsidy or royalty relief for any prospective buyers of the Gunn's jarrah sawmilling and processing business. Independent of the sale of the Deanmill facility, the Forest Products Commission (FPC) has reviewed its jarrah sawlog pricing arrangement to take account of the currently available log resource and market conditions. These arrangements - which include some price reductions - are already in place for several mills and have been offered to one prospective buyer of Gunn's log contract. These pricing revisions also require agreement to other commercial terms."

Mr Murray's second question, "What will be the breakdown of timber quality and quantity made available to the purchasers of 1st grade, 2nd grade and 3rd grade jarrah and karri?"

Mr Redman's answer, "The current quantity of logs - 70,000 m³ of jarrah first and second grade sawlogs, 30,000 m³ of jarrah third grade sawlogs and 4,000 m³ of marri sawlogs - remain attached to the Gunns' contract."

Mr Murray's third question, "Where will the timber come from?"

Mr Redman's answer, "The Gunns' contract specifies the logs are to be sourced from teh Northern, Mornington, Greenbushes, Sunklands, Nannup and Southern supply areas."

Mr Murray's fourth question, "What practices are in place - or will be implemented - to ensure timber quality and quantity will be kept up to ensure the industry's long-term future?"

Mr Redman's answer, "Under the current forest management plan (FMP), which expires on 31 December 2013, log quantities have been calculated to be sustainable. During the current FMP average size of logs has reduced as a higher proportion of smaller, younger regrowth logs making up the supply. No reliable assessment can be made about quality and quantity of timber that might be harvested during the next and subsequent FMPs that are yet to exist."

Mr Murray's fifth question, "If a variation in timber quality and quantity is given to Deanmill will other mills be offered the same variation?"

Mr Redman's answer, "The FPC seeks to be even handed with all of its customers; in the case of jarrah sawlog supply, the average delivery cost and the average size and quality of sawlogs varies for customers in different locations."

Mr Murray's final question, "If assistance in terms of subsidy or royalty relief is made to Deanmill will existing mills be offered the same terms and conditions if they differ from current industry arrangements?"

Mr Redman believes he answered this in his response to Mr Murray's first question.

Council rejects BGFF Warrup invitation

20.12.2011

Bridgetown-Greenbushes' December council meeting was brought forward to Thursday 15 and held at the Greenbushes Town Hall. Greenbushes residents were delighted to have a main council meeting in Greenbushes.

Audibility was poor and it was often difficult for councillors and those present to hear one another.

For Greenbushes' residents the council agenda included the business plan for the Greenbushes community gardens proposal.

The Bridgetown-Greenbushes Friends of the Forest (BGFF) who are campaigning to save Warrup forest from imminent logging extended an invitation to councillors to attend an information tour through Warrup. Recently, the BGFF held a public information tour, as a twilight rally, through Warrup and near 70 people, mostly Bridgetown residents, turned up.

Councillors spoke at length to the invitation which was tabled as a motion . Councillor Tony Pratico spoke with passion against it in the belief that 'logging' is not the 'business' of council. A little earlier councillors and the gallery sat through a presentation on lithium mining.

Councillor Doreen Mackman spoke in favour of accepting the invitation. Councillor Sue Moscarda said it was only an invitation and the courtesy should be accepted.

The motion was lost 5-3.

The meeting ended with a behind closed doors sessions for councillors with the Premiers' Australia Day Active Citizenship awards.

Giz Watson resigns city seat to contest the South West

20.12.2011

The Greens WA are looking to regain their South West seat in the Western Australian Legislative Council. They are throwing their top gun into it. Long serving parliamentarian, and parliamentary leader of the Greens WA, Ms Watson will resign from her North Metro seat, relocate to the south west, where she has lived before, and contest the seat at the 2013 state elections.

Ms Watson defeated Paul Llewellyn in a pre-selection ballot that was counted on Saturday. 85 south west Greens members voted, with 55 to Ms Watson, 28 to Paul Llewellyn and 2 to 'seek other candidates'.

Ms Watson said, "I am delighted to have won this pre-selection and the opportunity to represent the communities of the south west."

The Greens have grown as a political force nationally and state-wide. Nationally, they hold 11.37% of the voters and are part of the coalition and the balance of power that keeps the ALP in government. The Greens, believing they are approaching the crest of their halcyon days, are mapping for a 15% intake of the voting population and more seats in government.

At the Western Australian level they have mapped the objective of at least two more seats in parliament and to replace the National Party as the balance of power, and are fully aware that Eric Ripper's Labor may need the Greens WA to form government in 2013.

Paul Llewellyn was the Greens south west member 2005 to 2009, and Dr Chrissy Sharp, who lives in Balingup, was the Greens south west member from 1997 to 2005.

Mr Llewellyn lost the seat for the Greens at the 2008 elections when the multi-member electoral seat was reduced from seven members to six.

The Greens are confident they will regain their presence in the south west with Ms Watson and that they will retain Ms Watson's current seat with another high profile candidate primed for it, in addition to other seats they believe their increased profile as a political party can secure. The Greens hold four seats in the WA parliament, and after having lost Adele Carles, hope to regain the fifth seat so as to regain their party status in parliament and the funds and other privileges that go with it.

Ms Watson said, "I will be campaigning vigorously over the next 15 months on key south west issues, such as restoring the ban on GM crops, protecting Margaret River from coal mining, challenging DEC's out of control burning policy, addressing climate change, and promoting opportunities presented by the Greens-led federal carbon package."

The Liberals hold three of the six south west seats, with Bridgetown's Robyn McSweeney (since 2001), Barry House (since 1989), and Nigel Hallet (since 2005). Labor hold two seats, with Adele Farina (since 2001) and Sally Talbot (since 2005). After two terms without a presence in the south west the Nationals knocked off the Greens at the last election with Colin Holt (since 2009).

Ms Watson said Margaret River's dallying of a coal mine proposal highlighted the land-use policies and the existing conflicts. "The conflict between the use of prime agricultural land and mining has thrown up all sorts of unusual alliances. The level of frustration with all the other parties is palpable."

Ms Watson, a well known south west forest activist, said people are furious with the policy of prescribed burns that caused the Margaret River and Nannup fires. The prescribed burn at Nannup is inexcusable after what occurred at Margaret River.

National MLA Colin Holt, who will most likely go to head to head with Ms Watson for a south west seat, said that he didn't think Ms Watson could win the seat from him. "Cattle's a big industry in the southwest. I think that could be an Achilles' heel for them." He believes the Green's stance against live animal exports will be opposed in the south west.

Liberal state director Ben Morton said that Ms Watson's move for a south west seat is political opportunism however Labor state president Simon Mead believes that Ms Watson will appeal to the south west Liberals with a conscience. He said, "Her record in attracting Green votes in strong Liberal booths is well known."