Dear Mr Underwood
Officers from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and
Department of Fire and Emergency Services have reviewed the Zylstra etal. (2022) paper
and consider that the data does not support the conclusions drawn by the authors for
several reasons largely due to issues within the methodology and analysis.
Thank you for your correspondence dated 19 August 2022 expressing your concern with
conclusions drawn in the Zylstra etal. (2022) paper, published in Environmental Research
Letters, that supports a theory that self-thinning forest understoreys to reduce wildfire risk;
and for sharing the review of this study s methodology by Jack Bradshaw. I am providing
you a response on behalf of the Government including the Minister for Environment;
Climate Action, the Hon. Reece Whitby MLA.
As described in my previous correspondence on 19 August 2022 (Ref # 62-31302)
regarding this research, the premise that forests can be left to self-thin, remain
unmanaged and thereby reduce bushfire risk to an acceptable level does not reflect the
Government s position. This study lacks sufficient scientific evidence to draw such strong,
wide-spread conclusions, and fails to recognise the large body of evidence that south¬
west forests maintain a significant bushfire risk for decades since fire. The study also fails
to recognise that low intensity planned burning reduces the size and potential impacts of
bushfires.
The Government will continue to support the fuel management programs conducted by
agencies including the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the Department
of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. This is vital to the protection of life and
property in high bushfire risk areas is the most efficient means of reducing combustible
fuel at a landscape scale.
Thank you again for raising your concerns to me about this matter.
Yours sincerely
Hon Stephen Dawson MLC
MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES
September 2022
