Communiqué - 5 May 2022
The third WA RFA Annual Meeting of Officials took place by videoconference on 5 May 2022. The meeting was attended by officials from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment; the WA Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA); and the WA Forest Products Commission (FPC).
On 29 March 2019, the WA RFA was varied to include improvements and a rolling 20-year extension by the Parties. In accordance with the requirements of the varied RFA clauses 8B and 8C, the Parties held an annual meeting to monitor the implementation of the WA RFA and discuss any matters or issues that have arisen since the last meeting.
Officials discussed updates and progress on a range of matters relating to changes to the WA Forest Management System that had occurred since the last annual meeting. This included an update on:
- finalising the end-of-term performance review of the Forest Management Plan (FMP) 2014‑2023
- planning for the FMP 2024‑2033.
WA officials provided an overview of WA’s forest policy including activities to improve forest health, expansion of the softwood plantation forest estate, and the Native Forest Just Transition Plan to support employees, businesses and communities transition the current native forest industry by 2024. Implications of the decision to end native forest timber harvesting and focusing on management of native forests for ecological health on the WA RFA will be considered by Parties out-of-session in further detail, including following consideration of the nature of the forest management activities incorporated into the next FMP 2024-2033.
Officials discussed research projects currently underway through DBCA and FPC in WA and noted that the focus of WA’s research priorities is to inform the implementation of the FMP 2014-2023 and development of FMP 2024-2033. Of particular note, recent research projects have focused on the impact of climate change on jarrah forests, factors involved in vegetation cover decline, and comparing thinned and not thinned forests to understand impacts of drought and heatwave events on forest health.
Officials detailed progress made in the preparation and implementation of Statutory Conservation Planning documents for Listed Species and Communities and agreed to consider opportunities to improve the alignment of State and Commonwealth processes for the preparation of these documents.
Officials discussed compliance processes in place for forestry operations. WA officials provided an overview of enhancements to the Disturbance Approval System which monitors forestry operations and has been a successful tool to indicate trends of non-compliance, which can then be followed up. WA officials also noted its focus on proactive inspection of harvesting coupes based on risks to environmental values, which is leading to improvements in compliance.
Officials provided updates on data collection projects underway that will become important sources of information for the next five-yearly review of the WA RFA. WA officials also noted the Biodiversity Information Office will provide benefits in collating data required for the review.
Officials discussed the process that will be used to support the five‑yearly review in 2024, as required by clauses 8D, 8E and 8F of the WA RFA. As part of this discussion, officials discussed risk management mitigation, a draft Communications Plan and a draft of the Scoping Agreement that would govern the process for the review. The Scoping Agreement will be agreed to by officials at the next annual meeting in 2023.
Officials agreed that the next annual meeting will be held before 31 March 2023.