By Justin Harman
PERTH — The future of WA's south-west forests is looking grim as the state government formulates a regional forest agreement (RFA) to determine what areas will be logged for the next 20 years.
Opposition to the destruction of WA's old growth forests has come from an unlikely source: Mick Malthouse, coach of the local West Coast Eagles AFL team. In a television interview, Malthouse said the region was being "devastated" by timber companies. He pointed to the contradictory role of the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), which is responsible for promoting the timber industry and conserving forests.
The following day, the West Australian reported that angry pro-logging residents of the timber town of Manjimup had vowed "never to watch another Eagles game" and to cancel insurance policies with the SGIO, the Eagles' sponsor. A public burning of Eagles' flags and scarves was arranged for the media at the local timber mill, with company management and employees looking on.
The National Association of Forest Industries declared Malthouse's comments those of a "football coach with no background in forest science". Premier Richard Court defended CALM, stating that "its professional foresters have given WA the magnificent forest we have today".
Industry submissions to the public consultation stage of the RFA argue that 46% of WA's remaining forest be available for logging. Submissions from conservation groups are hampered by the way the RFA process has been designed, earning it the nickname, the Rigged and Fraudulent Assessment.
RFA guidelines established by the Court government have ensured that the interests of timber corporations such as Wesfarmers and Bunnings are protected. The guidelines rule out consideration of the options of protecting all remaining old growth forest and conversion to a plantation-based industry. The RFA steering committee includes no representatives of community groups or independent scientists, just pro-industry figures.
Other difficulties include that the public discussion period ends on July 10, leaving very little time for community input. The Nyungar Land Council has already withdrawn from the process claiming that CALM continues to ignore Nyungar knowledge of forest ecology.
A forests defence rally supported by the WA Forest Alliance, the Conservation Council of WA and the Wilderness Society has been called for July 5, outside the Perth Concert Hall at 11am. Phone (08) 9496 1122 for more information.