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🇦🇺 Australia /Environment & Climate

Government accused of 'logging by another name' in WA forests

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Western Australia is conducting an 'ecological thinning' experiment in its forests, removing smaller trees to help remaining ones grow and potentially restore old-growth forests.
  • Critics, including local landowners and scientists, question if the practice is merely native logging under a new name, especially as logging trucks continue to operate.
  • The experiment aims to address tree stress caused by a drying climate and historical logging, but its long-term ecological impact and true purpose remain subjects of debate.

An ecological experiment in Western Australia's South West forests, termed 'ecological thinning,' is drawing sharp criticism from locals and independent scientists who suspect it's a guise for native logging. The practice involves removing smaller trees with the stated goal of allowing larger, older trees to flourish and eventually restoring the region's historic old-growth forests.

We are slowly moving into this warmer drying period, which has put a lot of stress on the forest ecosystems.

— Katinka RuthrofExplaining the environmental pressures on the South West's forests.

The scientific rationale, according to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), is rooted in the region's drying climate. Trees are increasingly competing for water, leading to stress and forest collapse, exacerbated by historical logging and wildfires. DBCA scientist Katinka Ruthrof explained that thinning helps reduce this stress, showing less stressed trees in the thinned areas compared to untouched sections.

In combination with a change in forest structure following historical harvesting and wildfires … we have this new or divergent structure which uses a little bit more water than the old type.

— Katinka RuthrofDetailing the factors contributing to forest stress.

However, the continued presence of logging trucks has fueled skepticism. Jeff Thornton, a retired teacher and volunteer firefighter near Pemberton, argues that 'ecological thinning' is simply 'logging by euphemism.' He expressed disbelief that contractors, whom he claims are motivated by profit, genuinely care about the environment.

I say it's native logging by euphemism.

— Jeff ThorntonExpressing his skepticism about the 'ecological thinning' practice.

Since native logging was banned in Western Australia, approximately 3,000 hectares of state forest have undergone ecological thinning. While this represents a small fraction of the state's forest reserves, the visual similarity to past logging practices has ignited concerns. The debate centers on whether this intervention is a genuine conservation effort or a continuation of resource extraction under a different label, leaving the future of these unique forests uncertain.

They don't care about the environment; [the contractors] are just ripping up trees for money.

— Jeff ThorntonAccusing the contractors of prioritizing profit over environmental concerns.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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