MEDIA RELEASE
Harewood Forest (pictured) is on the burn list this year, which could be potentially devastating for this delicate ecosystem.
Southwest residents are feeling burnt after the Government has given the green light to even more prescribed burning in this week’s state budget, despite calls from scientists, conservation groups and residents to overhaul WA’s prescribed burning practices.
Loss of habitat and destruction of vegetation is on the way for the South West with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) receiving $65 million for prescribed burns this coming financial year and future funding of an additional $4 million taking the total budget to nearly $69 million by 2028-29. Bushfire suppression has taken a back seat, receiving only $48 million with a future increase of $2 million, taking the total budget to $50 million by 2028-29.
Around 180 tingle trees in the Valley of the Giants collapsed after a prescribed burn in 2024
Lines attributable to Western Australian Forest Alliance Senior Campaigner Jason Fowler:
“The department is not listening to calls from the community and scientists, and has instead barrelled on with their destructive prescribed burning program while ignoring moves by their eastern states counterparts who have ramped up funding on rapid bushfire detection and suppression systems”.
“1930s era manned fire towers are still being used to detect forest fires in WA, while the rest of the world moves towards advanced AI fire camera systems that are clearly far more effective at dealing with bushfires”
“Put simply, the WA Government is spending more on lighting fires than putting them out, and that has to change.”
“Outdated KPIs for large-scale burning are resulting in more burns in the middle of the bush, instead of close to towns where bushfires are risking homes and lives.”
“WA’s forest ecosystems are crying out for a complete overhaul of our prescribed burning and bushfire suppression practices, in line with 21st century science and technology.”
Media contact
Jason Fowler | Senior Campaigner WA Forest Alliance | 0487806385 | jason.fowler@wafa.org.au