Protecting Western Australia's old-growth forests: the impact of 2001 policy changes

Abstract

Summary In 1999, the signing of a Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) between the Western Australian and Commonwealth governments generated a storm of political protest which subsequently contributed to a change in government in Western Australia and the implementation of a new policy known as ‘Protecting our Old-Growth Forests’. This not only increased the area of native forest set aside for conservation but also significantly reduced the amount of native hardwood available for harvesting. This paper outlines the background to these changes in forest management policy in Western Australia; the impact the new policy has had on the local timber industry; the cost of compensating businesses and workers affected by down-sizing; and the broader environmental implications of the changes. It is concluded that, while the ‘Protecting our Old-Growth Forests’ policy succeeded in defusing a longstanding political conflict, the economic costs have been much greater than they would have been under the proposed RFA. The environmental benefits of the new policy also appear to be less clear-cut than is commonly assumed.