127. Hon ALISON XAMON to the minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the Minister for Forestry’s answer to my question without notice 64 asked on 6 May 2021, directing questions regarding the impact on Carnaby’s black cockatoos from the Gnangara pines harvesting schedule to the Minister for Environment.
(1) Will the government commit to refusing to harvest the remaining Gnangara pines until such time as a sufficient amount of native feed has been planted and reached maturity to support the cockatoo population currently relying on these pines?
(2) If not, why not?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following answer is provided on behalf of the Minister for Environment.
(1)–(2) Further to the response from the Minister for Forestry, a number of management activities are in place for Carnaby’s cockatoo on the Swan coastal plain. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions works with the recovery team for Carnaby’s cockatoo to guide and coordinate conservation efforts. DBCA, in partnership with the WA Museum, non-government organisations including BirdLife Australia and the World Wildlife Fund, research institutions and community volunteers, is implementing actions from the recovery plan for this species to guide ongoing conservation efforts. Recovery efforts include the installation and repair of artificial nest boxes to improve breeding success, measures to reduce vehicle collisions with adult birds, rehabilitating injured cockatoos, protecting habitat, and monitoring and research to understand the movements and requirements of the species.
One action of relevance to the conservation of Carnaby’s cockatoo is the carbon for conservation initiative, released as part of the government’s COVID-19 economic stimulus and recovery plan. One of the candidate sites identified for the carbon for conservation initiative is the northern Swan coastal plain area, including the areas of harvested pine plantation within the Gnangara state forest. DBCA has recently partnered with the Water Corporation and BirdLife Western Australia to plant 15 000 to 20 000 native plant seedlings in the Gnangara state forest each year over the past five years. This complements DBCA’s ongoing annual replanting program within the former pine plantation areas to create habitat for the endangered Carnaby’s cockatoo and other native wildlife. DBCA will continue to explore opportunities for such partnerships to return native vegetation to the former pine plantation areas of the Gnangara state forest and create habitat for Carnaby’s cockatoo and other native wildlife.