The current Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 will end on 31 December 2023, and the next plan (Forest Management Plan 2024-2033) is expected to commence on 1 January 2024.
Public comment period closed
A public consultation process to obtain feedback on the Draft Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 was conducted from 18 October 2022 to 18 December 2022. Submissions are now closed.
All submissions received during the public comment period have been considered in the development of a final plan, scheduled for release in 2023. A summary of submissions is available: Summary of public submission on the Draft Forest Management Pan 2024-2033.
Draft Forest Management Plan 2024-2033
The current Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 will end on 31 December 2023, and the next plan (Forest Management Plan 2024-2033) is expected to commence on 1 January 2024.
A forest management plan provides the overall policy framework for protecting and managing forests on public lands in our south-west. It aims to incorporate a range of management activities to help conserve biodiversity, provide for recreation, tourism and other forest uses, and to protect water catchments.
The decision to end large-scale commercial logging of our native forests takes effect in 2024 at the start of the Forest Management Plan 2024-2033.
The draft plan was prepared by the Conservation and Parks Commission (through the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions) in accordance with the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984. It is more concise and readable, with an increased focus on Noongar values and the drying and warming climate of the south-west. Read the Minister’s 2022 media statement: Media Statement - Historic new plan to protect WA's forests.
The draft plan has been referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for its consideration of a level of assessment in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
Subscribe to the Forest Management Plan 2024-2033 newsletter
To receive our monthly eNewsletter and be informed on the development of the Forest Management Plan 2024-2033, please complete this online form to send us your contact details.
You can also email your questions to the team at forest.info@dbca.wa.gov.au.
About the Forest Management Plan
Covering 2.5 million hectares from Lancelin, north of Perth, to Denmark on the south coast, nearly 62 per cent of this total land area is in existing or proposed conservation reserves or otherwise protected areas. The Forest Management Plan aims to strike a balance between conservation and other activities. It incorporates a number of management activities to help conserve biological diversity, provide for recreation and a sustainable forest products industry, and to protect water catchments.
Our south-west forests are valued for many reasons:
- as the catchment area for most of the State’s population’s water supply
- as the source of our main native timber industries
- as a major recreation and tourism drawcard
- for their rich cultural and historic heritage
Forests need to be healthy – strong enough to withstand the changing climate evident in the declining rainfall, streamflows and groundwater levels recorded since the 1970s.
The plan sets out management activities to protect forest values and balance the many ways the forests are used.
Forest Management Plan 2014-2023
The Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 provides the policy framework for managing south-west native forest until 2023. The Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 was released on 6 December 2013.
Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 mid-term review of performance report
The mid-term review of performance assessed the management of land to which the plan applies has been undertaken in accordance with the plan, including the extent to which key performance indicator (KPI) targets were being achieved.
The report made no specific finding on sustainability but considered the status of 49 measures to indicate the achievement or otherwise of performance targets for 24 KPI. About 80 per cent of performance targets were achieved or largely met, with 16 per cent of performance measures or success criteria only met in some cases, and four per cent of performance targets not achieved or not progressed.
To view the Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 mid-term review of the performance report, please go to the download below.
Preparing the Forest Management Plan 2014-2023
The Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 was prepared over two-and-a-half years from 2010 to 2013. Our page on Preparing the Forest Management Plan gives detailed insight into this process.