End to native logging in sight with new 10-year plan for WA's forests

• Commitment to add more than 400,000 hectares of karri, jarrah and wandoo in national parks added under latest Forest Management Plan
• Builds on the legacy of Labor's decision to end old growth logging in 2001
• Plan to come into effect from 1 January 2024

Commercial logging in native forests will come to an end with the Cook Government's Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 setting out the latest framework for managing more than 2.5 million hectares of native forest throughout Western Australia's south-west.

The plan, which was published on Friday and will come into effect from 1 January 2024, will include:

• An end to commercial-scale timber harvesting in native forests;
• Commitment to add more than 400,000 hectares of karri, jarrah and wandoo forests as nature reserves, national parks and conservation parks;
• Support for Traditional Owner involvement in forest management, consistent with the intent of the South West Native Title Settlement;
• Promotion of healthy forests that are more resilient to climate change.

The State Government's latest Forest Management Plan was developed through extensive consultation, assessment and analysis by the Conservation and Parks Commission, which received more than 3,500 submissions when it released the draft plan for public comment.

Further details on the plan can be accessed at: dbca.wa.gov.au/fmp

Comments attributed to Environment Minister Reece Whitby:

"The Cook Government's new forest management plan marks a major historical moment for Western Australia's natural environment.

"It will support a range of actions to promote greater resilience in south-west native forests, as well as support conservation, protect cultural values and boost tourism.

"Existing reserve proposals identified in the plan are being progressed as a priority, with the Government already upgrading more than 3,000 hectares of the highly valued Lane Poole Reserve, near Perth, to national park."

Comments attributed to Forestry Minister Jackie Jarvis:

"I welcome this new Forest Management Plan, which will safeguard our iconic forests for generations to come.

"Under this plan, native timbers will only be available as a result of ecologically thinning, which promotes forest heath and resilience from drought and bushfires."