More than 150 ancient tingle trees in the Walpole-Nornalup National Park have fallen after a prescribed burn on December 18 last year. This is the finding of a local researcher, ANU environmental science student Uralla Luscombe-Pedro, who surveyed the area burned next to the Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions burnt the Giants East forest block and a month later reported that just one giant tingle tree had fallen. The DBCA said 300 other tingle and karri trees on the burn perimeter had been protected and the burn was a success.
Uralla Luscombe-Pedro surveyed the area for fire-felled trees after the Giants East prescribed burn and estimated 180 mature red tingle, yellow tingle, karri and marri trees fell in an area less than 100ha. “Large fallen trees, branches and entire tree canopies that were burned off their trunks are scattered across the forest floor, and in some places, trees have collapsed in groups,” she said. “From any standpoint in the forest, it’s clear this was a severe and damaging fire.”
Tingle trees have shallow roots, fibrous bark, burls and gnarls, which makes them susceptible to frequent and severe fire. Each burn sets up more trees to fall in the next fire event because of the cumulative damage of burning to their structure and stability.
Recent studies show that tingle forests have naturally low flammability when they are left unburnt for long periods. Dr David Edmonds of the Walpole-Nornalup National Park Association said the association was shocked and disappointed about the prescribed burn in Giants East block.
The WNNPA first raised concerns about the burning of the tingle forest more than 30 years ago. In 1997 a trial burn was conducted in the same forest leading to the collapse of at least 30 trees. The WNNPA and the government department of the time viewed this as an unacceptable result and recommendations were made to avoid the level of collapse again.
The association is calling for a halt to another burn planned in nearby tingle forest later this season and supports a call for an increase in pre- and post-fire monitoring programs. Robust and meaningful ecological outcomes should be built into burn prescriptions and an independent review into prescribed burning should be undertaken.
WA Forest Alliance senior campaigner Jason Fowler said West Australians overwhelmingly supported the protection of South West forests. “The Government has recognised that in the ban on native forest logging, now they need to take the next step and overhaul the prescribed burning program to prevent this unnecessary destruction,” he said. “Urgent changes are required to ensure fire-sensitive species and communities like tingles are not burnt in this manner.”
This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 6 March 2025.
