MEDIA RELEASE
Audit corrections support existing harvesting program
26 June 2009
The Forest Products Commission (FPC) has complimented the Conservation Commission of WA for correcting the flaws contained in its Mid-term Audit of the Forest Management Plan.
The Conservation Commission has corrected the data it published in April which showed a fifteen per cent shortfall in sawlog use and suggested a reduction in jarrah sawlog yield.
FPC General Manager, Dr Paul Biggs, said the Conservation Commission's new data provided a greater understanding of timber harvesting yields and confirmed that, on average, harvesting had achieved a nine per cent increase in sawlog volume than that predicted by the Department of Environment and Conservation.
“There can be many reasons for the variations from those predictions but we were somewhat disillusioned when the flawed data was published because the Conservation Commission wrote the Forest Management Plan 2004-2013 (FMP) which sets the standards for sustainable yields from State forests in Western Australia.
“The Conservation Commission’s calculations of sustainable yield in the FMP are already conservative and they included a substantial buffer for the effects of climate change.
“In fact, our harvesting practices were supported in the Conservation Commission’s own audit report, which stated that all jarrah areas being monitored had achieved the expected regeneration standards and on average, expected yields are being achieved.
“However, I am confident we are achieving an improved level of use of the timber available to us and this will provide the confidence necessary for stabilizing the sawmill sector at a difficult time.
“With the new data, DEC is recommending that no adjustment to jarrah sawlog yield is required," said Dr Biggs.
The Mid term Audit closes for public comment on 30 June.
Downloads
- Audit corrections support existing harvesting program - 20kb PDF (26/6/2009)
