Harewood Forest just outside of Denmark is under threat, with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA) preparing to burn it.
Though framed as a “prescribed burn for public safety,” this action raises deep concerns—not only for its risk to homes, but for the ecological damage it will inflict on one of the Southwest’s most precious natural ecosystems.
Southwest WA has just experienced its driest summer on record. Vegetation is stressed, wildlife is struggling, and yet annual large-scale burning targets are still in place, placing even more pressure on already vulnerable ecosystems.
Among the most at-risk in this burn are fragile peat wetlands and granite outcrops—environments that do not recover easily from fire. Peat is a critical carbon store, and when ignited, it burns deep underground, releasing massive emissions and leaving a trail of irreversible damage. Granite outcrops, meanwhile, support rare and endemic species that cannot simply regenerate once burnt. These areas must be protected, not sacrificed.
Scientific research increasingly shows that DBCA’s prescribed burning practices in the Southwest are outdated and ecologically destructive. Yet repeated calls from scientists, environmental groups, and even the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for an independent review have been ignored. There’s been almost no public consultation, little transparency, and virtually no independent monitoring of the ecological impacts.
Even more alarming is the shift in responsibility onto communities. While DBCA claims these burns are for safety, their recent message to residents near Harewood includes a prompt to check home insurance policies. If prescribed burns are supposed to protect us, why are we being asked to brace for potential damage?
Harewood Forest, with its Karri giants, understory biodiversity, and sensitive terrain, deserves better than blanket burn policies. Residents are not opposing fire management—but they are demanding smarter, safer, and science-backed approaches.
The community is now calling for:
- A moratorium on burning in long-unburnt, fire-intolerant ecosystems such as peats, granites, Wandoo and Tingle forests until appropriate fire exclusion zones and habitat protections are in place.
- The abandonment of DBCA’s fixed target of burning 200,000 hectares per year, and the adoption of a modern, risk-based approach that genuinely protects lives, homes, and biodiversity.
- Investment in early detection and rapid suppression technology to manage bushfires effectively without setting entire ecosystems alight in advance.
Clinging to outdated practices in the face of climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and community concern is anything but sensible now.
Government must serve both people and the environment—not treat them as collateral damage. Harewood must be urgently removed from the burn plan.
Before the flames rise, let’s make sure we’ve done everything to protect what we cannot replace.
