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The State Forests of Western Australia and the timing of their dedication. (After Jarvis 1981 and Williamson et al. 2005).
Source publication
Impacts on the forested bioregions of south-western Australia have, since first European settlement in 1826, been extensive and dramatic. Large-scale land clearing removed over two-thirds of the vegetation for agriculture and urbanisation. Other significant threats to the biota include: changed fire regimes; exotic predators, diseases and herbivore...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... tenure began well, because in 1922 the State's third Royal Commission into forest management confirmed the desirability of strict forest management (Dargavel 2008), as outlined in the Forests Department's annual report (Kessell 1922). The area of dedicated State Forest grew rapidly and by 1930 approximated 60% of its current extent ( Figure 2) (Williamson et al. 2005). Achieving a sustained timber yield on State Forest lands proved daunting. ...
Citations
... The motives for establishment and management of Yellowstone and other parks of the same era, such as Royal and John Forrest National Parks in Australia, reflected 19th century thinking about parks and nature. While some advocated establishing reserves for the conservation of nature and natural processes (Calver and Wardell-Johnson 2016), the dominant view focussed on nature as a resource for commodities and a place for outdoor recreation (Kellert 1979). ...
Visitors place a complex array of demands on conservation reserves, including provisions for recreation. Rising recreation demand includes a new suite of activities ranging from adventure racing, music events, and motorised activities to extreme sports. Policy implications raise questions anew: what is the fundamental purpose of conservation reserves—nature conservation or recreation or both, and where should the emphasis lie? There is a risk that the current and future emphasis appears to be on increased commercialisation, marketing of conservation reserves as music and/or sporting event venues, places where personal physical challenges can be undertaken alongside a mentality that celebrates human achievement rather than the appreciation of nature! Such a trend may de-emphasise visitor perceptions of conservation reserves as tools for nature conservation. The reported trend in recreational activity requires debate, policy direction and target areas need protected area management effectiveness evaluation to assess conservation implications.
... The written record is then invaluable, but far too often missing, either not made or lost. Hence the importance of capturing the ideas present at the time of the decisions, as shown in many papers in this forum (Adam 2017;Calver and Johnson 2017;Lunney 2017b;Lunney et al. 2017;Recher 2017). ...
The Royal Zoological Society of NSW forum on the value of protected areas for fauna conservation, held in Sydney in November 2014, comprised a series of papers interlaced with a series of plenary discussions, which can be read in full in this theme edition of Australian Zoologist. The forum was a parallel event to the IUCN World Parks Congress on protected areas, also held in Sydney in the week following the forum. One outcome of the IUCN Congress was the inspirational statement entitled 'Promise of Sydney', which included a call to invest "in nature's solutions, supported by public policy, incentives, tools and safeguards that help to halt biodiversity loss, mitigate and respond to climate change, reduce the risk and impact of disasters, improve food and water security, and promote human health and dignity". The papers and plenary discussions in this RZS NSW forum all foreshadowed this vision as it applies to protected areas. Our focus in this theme edition of Australian Zoologist is on conserving fauna in Australia, and in protected areas in particular. Our concern is not so much whether we are on the right track as a society in establishing and managing protected areas, but that we are going too slowly, much too slowly, if our aim is to ensure the survival of our fauna.
... It must be acknowledged that even during the most development-focused phase of Australia's history, SWA's biodiversity values were accorded recognition (Calver & Wardell-Johnson 2016). However, conservation programmes were ad hoc, with the dominant response being to create protected areas with relatively passive conservation programs. ...
... Box S1). Multiple use (Calver & Wardell-Johnson 2016) and active conservation measures on private land emerged through the Landcare movement during the 1980s. However, the ad hoc nature of resourcing, and dependence on volunteers makes these approaches insufficient and unviable as means of restoring ecological integrity at the landscape scale (Maron et al. 2016). ...
... It must be acknowledged that even during the most development-focused phase of Australia's history, SWA's biodiversity values were accorded recognition (Calver & Wardell-Johnson 2016). However, conservation programmes were ad hoc, with the dominant response being to create protected areas with relatively passive conservation programs. ...
... Box S1). Multiple use (Calver & Wardell-Johnson 2016) and active conservation measures on private land emerged through the Landcare movement during the 1980s. However, the ad hoc nature of resourcing, and dependence on volunteers makes these approaches insufficient and unviable as means of restoring ecological integrity at the landscape scale (Maron et al. 2016). ...
Bounded by ocean and desert, the isolated, predominately Mediterranean-climate region of south-western Australia (SWA) includes nine bioregions (circa 44 million hectares). The ecological integrity of the landscapes in this global biodiversity hotspot has been compromised by deforestation, fragmentation, exploitation, and introduced biota. Nature and degree of transformation varies between four interconnected landscapes (Swan Coastal Plain; South-west Forests; Wandoo Woodlands; and Great Western Woodlands). A Gondwanan perspective emphasizes a venerable biota and a cultural component to deep time. The particular importance of remnants and protected areas is recognized in restoring ecological integrity to Gondwanan landscapes. The nature and magnitude of the restoration task in these ancient, and neighboring, landscapes require higher levels of investment and more time than do recent landscapes. The protection, conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of ecological integrity require multiple approaches in each landscape as well as consideration of the whole. Active conservation of biota and minimizing the impact of industrial- and agricultural-use are priorities. Integrating a climate focus and rethinking fire are critical restoration considerations to future trajectories under anthropogenic climate change. A legislative mandate to coordinate industrial-scale restoration and active conservation to build from protected areas must become a societal priority to restore ecological integrity.
The Biodiversity Conservation Bill 2015 for Western Australia was criticised by scientists and conservation activists for its perceived flaws as it progressed from Bill through to Act. In this article, we summarise what we consider to be the major flaws in the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (WA) and suggest future amendments that could make the Act fit for purpose. Such criticism is important as biodiversity conservation initiatives globally appear to be failing to prevent biodiversity losses. As we move further into the 21st Century we need to identify, enact and implement effective legislation that will produce successful conservation outcomes.
