SA Green takes pot shot at plantation forests over Australian bushfires

Wally Menne, a member of a South African non-governmental organisation (NGO) has written an email commenting on Southem’s coverage of the bushfires in Australia. Emails directly to Southem are generally regarded as private but it is noted that he copied the message to a number of similar groups, including those in Australia. We have provided a reply below his comments.

Dear Mike

I am a member of a South African NGO called Timberwatch.

Here in South Africa there has been a steady increase in the incidence of plantation fires over the past 7 years. Those affected have been mostly of Eucalyptus spp. with Pinus spp. coming a close second. Last year a total of about 70 000 hectares was burned.

After listening to your interview with Linda Sewell I realised that our experiences here in Africa are remarkably similar to what has just taken place in your country, and that the underlying causes of the fires are probably much the same.

To confirm my fears I took a quick tour by Google Earth of the area near Kinglake in southern Victoria that was affected by fires , and sure enough all the signs appear to be there: non-existent fire belts; unmanaged scrub; catchments planted to the brim with fast growing, water devouring, even age tree monocultures.

These plantations, albeit made up largely of what were originally native Australian species, are very different from your mixed-age, biodiversity rich natural forests, that have now also suffered as a consequence of being in close proximity to areas that have been converted from meadow, scrub and forest into tinder time-bombs.

The question that needs to be asked is this: Who will hold the timber companies, which own the affected plantations, responsible for the damage that has been caused? Not likely the government, because they are complicit in their expansion through subsidies to the timber companies. Ideally it should be the Australian public, not just those who have lost their cars, homes and family, but those who will be threatened in the future as the government's daffy "2020" plantation scheme unfolds.
See http://www.daff.gov.au/forestry/plantation-farm-forestry/plantations/2020

I could go on and on, but I am relying on you to go out and do some homework, and then to make certain that the truth about the fires, and not just Hancock's biased propaganda, will be heard.

Yours sincerely
Wally Menne

Southem editor Mike Smith replies:
Wally,
Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple. These fires did not start in Hancock’s plantations. Well-managed pine plantations do not generally spontaneously leap into flame but it is virtually impossible for forest managers to stop flames from huge, indigenous bush fires from leaping across roads and fire breaks (200 km/hr winds?). This is the reality. The key problem isn’t the management of the plantation forests, where the companies spend large sums protecting valuable assets, but the management of reserve bush areas.

I have included below a link to an article from an expert in this area, who voices his obvious frustration on this topic. Note: bush as discussed here is indigenous forest; see point 3 re “every objective analysis…” – the emphasis is on “objective”.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25031389-7583,00.html

Finally, I find it really sad (and vaguely disturbing) that you would jump in and use such a devastating tragedy for your own policy ends. It may be that there is blame to apportion here – to whomever - but at this stage people in Victoria are dealing with upwards of 250 people known to be killed and probably even more. If you feel strongly, feel free to go to the Red Cross web site and contribute a donation.
http://www.redcross.org.au/

Kind regards
Mike Smith
Editor and Director
southem.com
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