The Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 was prepared over two-and-a-half years from 2010 to 2013. This page provides much of the background work and supporting documents used in the plan’s preparation, and should be considered in context of the 2010 to 2013 timeframe. Since the plan came into effect on 1 January 2014 some of the guidance documents published below have been revised and updated. Please note these documents will open in the legacy Parks and Wildlife website.
The process to develop the plan is detailed in the Forest Management Plan 2014 - 2023 Process Outline (PDF 219.49KB).
How was the Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 developed?
Like the Forest Management Plan 2004-2013, the plan considered the wide range of forest values, taking into account environmental, economic and social issues.
A proposed plan was assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. The EPA’s report and recommendations on the proposed plan was released 1 July 2013. The appeals against the EPA's report and recommendations have been determined. The Minister's decision and the Appeals Convenor's report is available from the Office of the Appeals Convenor website.
Following are a number of documents that supported the release of the EPA’s report and recommendations:
- Proposed Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 (PDF 3.88MB)
- Proposed Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 Maps
- Analysis of Public Comment on the Draft Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 (PDF 1.95MB)
- Independent Expert Panel Report on Sustained Yield (PDF7.88 MB)
- Response to the recommendations of the Independent Expert Panel Report on Sustained Yield (PDF 232.73KB)
- Maps of refined network of fauna habitat zones
The proposed plan was subject to a regulatory impact assessment. The assessment process is administered by the Regulatory Gatekeeping Unit of the Department of Finance. The process requires the development of a regulatory impact statement which is assessed for compliance. As part of this process, the Unit requires the publication of the following impact statement and the letter of compliance:
- Decision regulatory impact statement document (PDF 482.17KB)
- Decision regulatory impact statement compliance letter (95.33KB (scanned—does not meet accessibility criteria)
A major milestone in preparing the next Forest Management Plan came with the release of the Draft Forest Management Plan 2014 - 2023 (PDF 4.74MB for a 12 week public review period from 15 August to 7 November 2012. This comment period met the requirements of the CALM Act and the EP Act. Public submissions received on the draft plan were reviewed and the proposed plan was prepared taking into account, were appropriate, the comments and issues raised in public submissions.
The draft plan is the same format as the current Forest Management Plan 2004-2013 and aligns with the criteria of the Montreal process. The Montreal process provides a common framework to describe, monitor, assess and report on forest trends and progress toward sustainable forest management.
Supporting documents
Following are a number of documents that supported the release of the draft plan for public review:
Biological diversity
- Nature Conservation Service: Biodiversity Conservation Appraisal System (PDF 958.5KB)
A framework to measure and report on biodiversity outcome based conservation achievements and management effectiveness. - Regional Maps of Fauna Habitat Zones (PDF 3.69MB)
- FORESTCHECK Information Sheets
Ecosystem health and vitality
- Fire management planning, supplementary reading for the Draft Forest Management Plan 2012-2023 (PDF 1.04 MB)
An overview of the department’s fire management planning.
Soil and water
- Map of High Salt Risk Areas (PDF 985.88KB)
- Option 2 - 'silviculture for water production' map (PDF 993.99KB)
Climate change and carbon cycles
- Response and Final Report Vulnerability of Forests in South-West Western Australia to Timber Harvesting Under the Influence of Climate Change (PDF 9.6MB)
This report was prepared to address the potential implications of climate change for timber harvesting in native forest ecosystems in multiple-use State forests in south-west Western Australia. - Estimating Native Forest Carbon Stocks (PDF 556.83KB)
Productive capacity
- Silvicultural Practice in the Jarrah Forest (PDF 3.71MB)
- Silvicultural Practice in the Karri Forest (PDF 666.97KB)
- Silvicultural Practice in Wandoo Forest and Woodland (PDF 242.64KB)
Silviculture is the theory and practice of managing the establishment, composition, health, quality and growth of forests and woodlands to achieve specified management objectives. These documents detail the guidelines for field application in jarrah, karri and wandoo forests, in particular treemarking and silvicultural treatment to achieve the desired forest structure at the coupe level in areas from which timber is harvested. - Proposed Revised Jarrah Silviculture Guidelines (PDF 841.69KB)
- Review of silviculture in forests of south-west Western Australian Panel Report (PDF 392.22KB)
- Sustained Yield Information Sheets (PDF 2.94MB)
Socio-economic benefits
- Guidelines of the management of rehabilitation of basic raw material pits (PDF 1.81MB)
Provides guidance on the management and rehabilitation of areas quarried for basic raw materials on lands managed by the Department of Environment and Conservation. Basic raw materials are a range of minerals extracted for agricultural, pastoral, household, road making and building uses. - Social and Economic Impact Assessment on the Potential Impacts of Implementation of the draft Forest Management Plan (FMP) 2014-2023 Report (PDF 4.62MB)
- Compliance Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF 422.76KB)
Plan implementation
- Management Guideline No 1 - User Guide for Approvals Matrix for Operations on CALM Act Reserves (PDF 89.89KB)
Provides guidance on approvals required for operations on reserves on DEC-managed lands and waters. - Manual of management guidelines for timber harvesting in Western Australia (PDF 1.2MB)
- Code of Practice for Timber Harvesting in Western Australia (PDF 1.5MB)
- Management Audit Branch Charter (PDF 120.9KB)
Documents
- Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 Environmental Scoping Document (PDF 605.27KB)
The Environmental Scoping Document describes the proposal, summarises current knowledge about the area, identifies environmental issues associated with the proposal and further works to be carried out. - Forest Management Plan 2004–2013 end-of-term audit of performance report (PDF 1.99MB)
The end-of-term audit report aims to report on progress in implementing the Forest Management Plan 2004-2013 and to contribute to the development of the draft Forest Management Plan 2014–2023. The Environmental Protection Authority has released its report and recommendations on the audit. - Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 Process Outline (August 2012) (PDF 219.49KB
This document is intended to provide a clear framework and an understanding of the approach and likely timetable that has been adopted to prepare the Forest Management Plan 2014-2023. - Ministerial Media Statement: Forest Management Plan consultation begins (10 November 2011)
Fact sheets
- Draft forest management plan 2014-2023 at a glance (PDF 182.07KB)
- Draft forest management plan 2014-2023 and biodiversity (PDF 187.2KB)
- Draft forest management plan 2014-2023 and carbon (PDF 181.56KB)
- Draft forest management plan 2014-2023 and climate change (PDF 185.8KB)
- Draft forest management plan 2014-2023 and ecosystem health (PDF 180.37KB)
- Draft forest management plan 2014-2023 and heritage (PDF 180.22KB)
- Draft forest management plan 2014-2023 and protected areas (PDF 184.63KB)
- Draft forest management plan 2014-2023 and water (PDF 171.53KB)
- Draft forest management plan 2014-2023 and wood (PDF 236.43KB)