WA: Community leaders plead for say in forest management

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-1998
WA: Community leaders plead for say in forest management

PERTH, Dec 10 AAP - More than 40 community leaders pleaded with the West Australian
government today to let them have a say in the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA), which will
determine how the state's ancient forests are managed for the next 20 years.

Forty-two prominent parliamentary, business, scientific, conservation, Aboriginal and other
community leaders presented the government with a signed Declaration for a Genuine Forest
Agreement.

Denmark Shire President Rob Versluis said the forests in his south-west shire were too
important to leave control to RFA signatories the Department of Conservation and Land
Management (CALM), the state and federal governments and the forestry industry.

"There are 85 per cent of people in this state who oppose clear-felling of old-growth
forests; we cant all be wrong," Mr Versluis said.

"How many people have to say this before the government realises enough is enough - we have
forests that are not repeated anywhere in the world, and we cant afford to keep cutting them
down."

Mr Versluis and state and federal MPs, Catholic and Anglican church leaders, Aboriginal
elders, tourism operators, beekeepers, students, wine makers and former Environmental
Protection Authority executives, called on the state government to adopt the recommendations
of a parliamentary committee.

"In particular, we endorse the committees key recommendations that the RFA process be
replaced by an accord process involving representatives of forest stakeholders to finalise an
RFA for WA, and that the draft RFA be released for public comment and assessment by the
Environmental Protection Authority," the declaration read.

"We believe the accord process should focus on options to protect WAs remaining old growth
and other high conservation value forests, and the development of a sustainable timber
industry based mainly on plantations."

Perth elder Robert Bropho said Aboriginal people in particular had been ignored in RFA
negotiation process.

"The white-fella never understands how the black-fella feels when a tree is cut down - its
like losing a loved one," Mr Bropho said.

"To us its spiritual tree dreaming and we want the trees protected, because if theyre
not, then all that will be left is destruction and desert."

AAP kbw/it

KEYWORD: FORESTS WA (CARRIED EARLIER)

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