Hundreds voice concern on State Government-prescribed burning policy at Nornalup Rally for the Tingles protest

More than 400 South West residents gathered at Settlers Park in Nornalup at the weekend to voice their concern over the State Government’s “highly destructive” prescribed burning policy. Protestors at the Rally for the Tingles called for a review of the prescribed burn program the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions uses to mitigate bushfire risk, and for an end to burn plans they believe would put swathes of old-growth red tingles in Walpole-Nornalup National Park at risk. The group believes the burns endanger red tingles, which only grow in the 6000ha area of the national park, and can live for more than 500 years. One such tree, believed to be about 400 years old, was found collapsed and smoking after a burn on December 18. Convenor of the Denmark Environment Centre Bart Lebbing said the 2024-25 season of prescribed burns had also resulted in other habitat trees collapsing, and posed a risk to the lives of the native wildlife that inhabited the area. “The recent prescribed burns throughout the Walpole-Nornalup, Mt Lindesay and Mt Frankland national parks and coastal nature reserves within the Walpole Wilderness Area have all been highly destructive, and most likely have led to countless wildlife deaths,” he said. “What we see is cumulative damage through the frequency, severity and scale of these prescribed burns to our unique ecosystems. “National parks are intended to protect nature. The current management does the opposite.” A DBCA spokesperson said the December burn that resulted in the tingle’s collapse was conducted to protect visitor infrastructure in the Valley of the Giants tourism precinct, and around 300 tingles were successfully protected from the flames because of the application of fire retardant. “DBCA is aware of one large tingle tree that fell because of the prescribed burn,” they said. “An up-close inspection of the base of this tree found significant hollowing and signs of weathering that were likely from a long history of fire events.” Denmark ecologist and firefighter Melissa Howe said the “magnitude of fallen trees and crown scorch is shocking”. “The severity of these burns is distressing and unsustainable,” she said. WA Forest Alliance senior campaigner Jason Fowler, who last year started a petition against the policy that gained 3388 signatures, said the program had “severe impacts” on the “forest giants” and that WA was lagging behind other States. “The inability to evolve, change, or improve is a stark and depressing example of failed policy and management strategy,” he said. “If the current way of prescribed burning in forests continues, it won’t be long until most habitat trees in South West forests will be gone.” A DBCA spokesperson said prescribed burning was WA’s principal method of preventing intense summer bushfires that endangered the community. “Prescribed burns occur in more favourable conditions than intense summer bushfires, enabling animals more opportunities to safely move into areas of unburnt vegetation and various plant species opportunities to regenerate,” they said.