A rich history of sustainability

The first form of protection for stands of native timber was introduced in Western Australia more than 130 years ago when the State government initiated felling licences.

Evidence that forests were being over-exploited first emerged in 1874 when forests were considered as farmland-in-waiting. Popular opinion at the time held that trees should be cut to make way for agricultural land.

It is therefore, not surprising that in 1874 the State government decided against a policy of forest conservation, although several royal commissions were held.

It wasn’t until 1916 and the appointment of professional forester, Charles Lane-Poole, as Conservator of Forests that WA pursued legislation for a ’Forests Act, through which to manage and protect the State’s unique timber resources.

• Legislation based in science and professionalism
• Protecting all the forests values
• Change is never easy
• Today
• Further reading

Legislation based in science and professionalism

The first formal protections and the establishment of the forest estate we have come to admire today, were in-part the work of Lane-Poole, Stephen Kessell, and the state’s 14th Premier, Philip Collier.

Without Lane-Poole, it is likely the Forests Act of 1918, which formalised forest conservation and management would have been delayed due to lack of priority.

Considered at the time to be a model piece of forestry legislation, it established permanent reservation of all prime timber for forestry purposes, set sustained yield principals for all timber mills, described the silvicultural principals and frameworks, and recommended the establishment of plantations.

It also established the state’s first professional forestry agency, the Forests Department, which existed through to 1985 when it was merged into the newly formed Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM).

Lane-Poole layed the foundations for forest reservations in Western Australia which were later formalised by his successors Stephen Kessell, and Premier Peter Collier, who concurrently held the portfolio of Minister for Forests.

Protecting all the forests values

Our first professional foresters knew and understood the need for the forest to be managed in multiple values.

From catchment protection, soil conservation, waterways and landscapes, recreation and habitat protection, foresters did their upmost to ensure the values were given equal consideration as part of forest management.

In fact, the very first planning document issued by the Forests Department, a management plan for the forests around Mundaring Weir, established the priority for this area as water catchment protection – not timber production.

With the economic depression of the 1930’s, the Government employed more than 1,000 people for nearly 10 years. They were tasked with the responsibility for forest rehabilitation, planting pines, and extending communication and fire control systems.

Change is never easy

Achieving the outcomes didn’t come easily for Lane-Poole, Kessell and Collier, because of opposition from pastoralists, farmers and graziers.

In the early days of the Swan River colony and through to the 1930’s, forests were not regarded by some as a legitimate land use. Rather, they were seen as land awaiting conversion to a high value.

The dilemma facing the Government was just how much land was needed for agriculture, an issue which promoted philosophical differences between Lane-Poole and Premier Mitchell, leading at times to vigorous public debate.

Following a royal commission in 1951, a land use committee was appointed with representatives from forestry, engineering, soil conservation, agriculture, lands and surveys and the treasury to advise the minister on preserving sparsely timbered crown lands in high rainfall areas of the state’s South West.

Through the work of the committee, more than two million hectares of the state’s forests were incorporated into reserves by 1970.

Today

This rich history and unwavering commitment to deliver and maintain sustainable forests still continues today.

Agencies such as the Forest Products Commission, its partner agencies, industry and forestry professionals alike, are all dedicated to upholding the vision of Lane-Poole, Kessell and Collier.

With their vision and the unwavering dedication of those involved, Western Australia will have sustainable and well-managed forests into the foreseeable future.

Further reading

Access the following titles for more about the history of Forestry in Western Australia.

• Carron, L.T. (1986). A history of forestry in Australia. ANU Press, Pergamon Press. ISBN 0080298745.
• Bolton, G (1972). A fine country to starve in. UWA Press. ISBN 187556036X.
• Bradshaw F.J, (1975). Proposal for a South Coast National Park. Unpublished report prepared under the auspices of the WA Division of the Institute of Foresters. Libraries Australia ID 9755630.
• Christensen, P (1992) The karri forest – its conservation significance and management. Department of Conservation and Land Management publication. ISBN 0730946762.
• Forests Department 1976. Focus on Forest Policy. Forest Focus April 1976. Forests Department publication. ISSN 0049-7320.
• Institute of foresters of Australia Western Australian Division. 1980 Bauxite. A report on Bauxite Mining in the Darling Range. ISBN 0959459219.
• Perry, DH (1987) Early chapters from a forester’s story. In: Leaves from the Forest. Roger Underwood (Ed) 1987. ISBN 0731632265.
• Underwood, Roger (2006). Old Growth Foresters. York Gum Publishing, Perth, WA. ISBN 0646458787.
• Wallace, R (1968). Fifty years of forestry in Western Australia. Supplement to the 1968/9 Report of the Forests Department. ISBN 9130014182.
• Western Australian Government. Forests Act and Forest Act Regulations 1918-1969
• White, BJ (1987) A Wilderness Experience. In Leaves from the Forest. Roger Underwood (Ed). ISBN 0731632265.
• White, Barney and Roger Underwood (1988). Conservation reserves in the karri forest. Landscope Summer 1988. ISSN 0815-4465.
• Williamson,J., Moore,S and Warren, C. 2005 1919 to 1935: A pivotal period for the forests of the south west of Western Australia. In: Calver, M.C., Bigler-Cole, H., Bolton, G., Dargavel, J., Gaynor, A., Horwitz, P., Mills, J. and Wardell-Johnson, G. (eds) A forest conscienceness: Proceedings of the 6th National Conference of the Australian Forest History society. Millpress Science Publishers, Rotterdam. ISBN 9059660269.