John Clarke
A quick note to say thanks to the Centre of Excellence team for a great symposium on Friday (21st October 2011). The enthusiasm of all the researchers came through strongly, although I’m still worried that there was/is not enough articulation of and widespread support for clear, realistic and achievable actions to redress some of the problems identified.
Some of the small scale projects on small reserves as reported at the symposium are fine, but there is a need to take actions on large, landscape scales. As far as the public forest estate goes, there are really only two tools at our disposal: use of fire and silviculture, and by silviculture I mean appropriate tree thinning on overstocked jarrah stands in particular.
Foresters are generally unanimous in their views in this regard, but their voices tend not to be widely heard.
I have recently assumed the position of chair of the WA Division of the Institute of Foresters of Australia and will be doing my best to promote our policies. Our primary concern is for the ongoing health and welfare of our native forests (as no doubt most people would be) but unlike some people, foresters accept that our forests can and should be managed for all their values, and that all acceptable users of those forests should be given a fair go. We support sustainable use of forests for timber production and are opposed to the view that our forests should be left to their own devices and “locked up”. In that regard I was encouraged by the remarks from Chrissy Sharp, former Greens MP, who pleaded for her fellow “greens” to accept that some thinning is necessary for the forests’ sake.
Again, thanks for conducting a fine symposium.
