Question On Notice No. 2423 asked in the Legislative Council on 3 September 2019 by Hon Diane Evers
Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the Peatlands of Walpole Wilderness, and ask:
(a) to what extent are the Peatlands currently mapped;
(b) is the Government undertaking or planning to undertake a comprehensive map of the area;
(c) how does the department manage the increased damage of feral pigs in the areas post prescribed burning;
(d) what is the number of years between prescribed burns in this area (burn cycle);
(e) what studies or review are done to the area prior to a prescribed burn and after; and
(f) has the department assessed the impacts of its prescribed burn regime, including the effects of feral animals and increased acidification?
Answered on 16 October 2019
(a) The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has undertaken mapping of some discrete areas of peatland in the Walpole Wilderness Area.
(b) DBCA is working with the Walpole Nornalup National Parks Association to undertake specific on-ground assessment and mapping of areas of peatland within the Walpole Wilderness Area. There are currently no projects planned to comprehensively map the whole area.
(c) DBCA monitors for signs of feral pig activity following prescribed burning, and removes pigs in association with the Lake Muir Denbarker Community Feral Pig Eradication Group and the Albany Sporting Shooters Associations.
(d) The target fuel condition for the Walpole Wilderness Area is 45 per cent of the landscape with a fuel age of less than six years. The average number of years between prescribed burns in peat systems is difficult to quantify as these systems are, where possible, excluded from prescribed burns. This means the average number of years between prescribed burns in peat systems would generally be higher than the target fuel condition.
(e) Peatlands are considered during prescribed burn planning and implementation and are monitored post fire in accordance with DBCA’s Fire Management Information Note E1 “Organic Soils” and E8 “Southern Forest and Shrubland Mosaic”.
(f) DBCA has strategies and monitoring projects in place to assess the effects of prescribed burning on feral pigs. Other feral species are monitored to a lesser extent.
DBCA has not assessed the impacts of prescribed burning on acidification.
DBCA is currently ground-truthing infra-red technology to map burnt and unburnt areas and burn severity after prescribed burning.