Conservation group Denmark Nannas for Native Forests found a bleak aftermath of a 1123ha prescribed burn in November of Sheepwash North in Mt Lindesay National Park.

They were shocked to see big areas of tree canopy defoliated and most of the remaining canopy scorched.

Group member Theda Mansholt said there was no earth cover, instead bare ground, which would be exposed to the sun for months to come, further heating the planet.

Many habitat trees had collapsed in the area frequented by the three threatened species of cockatoo – Baudins, Carnabys and forest red-tailed black cockatoo.

The November 10-12 burn in the 7797ha Sheepwash North area leaves 6674ha which is due to be burned when conditions are suitable, either this autumn or next spring.

Sheepwash North block is north of Denmark, east of the Denmark Mt Barker Road and comprises jarrah-marri forest, the most southern occurrence of wandoo and banksia woodlands, heathlands, wetlands and peatland.

These take thousands of years to establish.

Priority-4 rare, near-threatened mammal species seen in the area are the western brush wallaby and the rakali.

Group member Glenda Rufus asked how the Government could cause so much destruction national parks.

Gina Blieberger said the area looked like a wildfire had gone through.

“I thought a prescribed burn was a gentle trickle of fire through the leaf layer, nothing like what we see here,” she said.

Diane Evers called for a review of the prescribed burn practice as soon as possible, before there was nothing left of the biodiversity.

Barbara Thayne hoped the Government would see sense and not burn the remainder of the area.

“National parks should be refuges for fauna, not treated like this,” Barbara said.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 9 January 2025.