About our Forests

KERR FOREST (coupe of 132ha)

The last stand of pre-European dieback free jarrah forest located close to Balingup town

Identified by the Balingup community for its ecological, recreational, social, cultural, and visual amenity values.

Of the 2,870ha Kerr forest block, the Balingup community proposes that the small unlogged coupe of just 132ha become a secure conservation recreation and tourism reserve. The economic benefits flowing from such a reserve are far greater than that gained from logging it.

The Balingup community has shown a strong commitment over several years to protection of Kerr forest coupe. This is the only unlogged area close to Balingup - it is a sanctuary to many different faunal and floral communities. The coupe contains some fine stands of mature and senescent jarrah, blackbutt and some huge marri trees, providing superb habitat for the abundant bird life and other arboreal fauna, These ecological values have made it of particular interest to the local community.

Current Department of Conservation and Land Management policy sees this last unlogged section of Kerr block as committed to extractive forestry. and as representing just so many cubic metres of sawn timber and woodchips.

The Balingup community has a vision of the area, its character and potential for the future which has quite a different use for this forest, a use that will continue to contribute to the community for generations. The community wishes to have an opportunity to work constructively as an equal partner in caring for Balingup's bushland.

BIODIVERSITY:

This small forest coupe is a sample of pre-European jarrah, marri and blackbutt forest which once covered much of the Balingup area. Local forests have been largely cleared for agriculture and that which remain have been heavily logged. Pine plantations and more recently blue gum plantations while providing tree cover do not provide the diverse values of native forest. Kerr coupe provides an important refuge for the diverse flora associated with jarrah forest and the fauna that finds habitat therein. "The jarrah Forest is regarded as being one of the world's most unique forest ecosystems." C.A. Gardner, Eucalypts of WA 1978.

FLORA:

This forest being free of dieback disease provides an opportunity to conserve species that would elsewhere succumb to dieback.

While no list has been compiled, the species found in this coupe include the diverse range found in the jarrah forest of the central Darling Plateau. In Spring the forest flo~or is covered with a carpet of understorey species eg blue lechenaultia, yellow hibbertias, and red and green kangaroo paws. In summer other species such as pink mulla mullas and bull banksias, with their large yellow flower heads and pale green new growth, make a more subdued display

FAUNA:

Fauna surveys in this block revealed an active community of the endangered Chuditch (WeStern Quoll). The presence of Chuditch, an opportunistic predator, indicates that Kerr hosts a variety of life. It is crucial that major disturbances such as logging be prevented to ensure their survival Community surveys (which are very incomplete),have identified the following species

	MAMMALS:
	chuditch
	western grey kangaroo
	black gloved wallaby
	brush tailed possum
	bat
	ring tailed possum
	black tailed phascogale
	southern brown bandicoot
	bettong

	BIRDS:
	wedgetailed eagle		elegant parrot		rufus tree creeper
	peregrine falcon		28 parrot		black faced cuckoo shrike
	southern boobook owl		western bristle bird		red winged wren
	tawny frogmouth		brown thornbill		white tailed black cockatoo
	willie wagtail		black duck		new holland honey eater
	red wattle bird		kingfisher		crown headed honey eater
	western king parrot		black shouldered kite		red tailed black cockatoo
	grey shrike thrush		magpie		scarlet robin
	splendid wren		crow		common bronze wing pigeon
	banded blue wren		mudlark (pee wee)		bee-eater
	kookaburra?		grey fantail		white browed babbler
	western rosella		rufus whistler

The species of reptiles, frogs, insects, spiders, molluscs etc that exist in the coupe have not been surveyed

 

COMMUNITY VALUES:

The Department of CALM is well versed in the history of the community's very positive projects to conserve this small area but remains determined to log Kerr coupe. This forest forms a significant part of Balingup's green belt, providing a sense of place and character for the town of Balingup. It has easy access via Grimwade Road. Old logging tracks mean visitors can explore the forest and avoid damage to the understorey.

Balingup is increasingly becoming a tourist town where visitors expect to enjoy and appreciate a visit to mature jarrah forest, as well as local attractions such as wineries and a,rt and craft works. In addition, the jarrah forest protects water quality in the streams that provide the lifeblood of local industries and lifestyles of Balingup residents

CATCHMENT OF THE (nameless) SECOND ORDER STREAM WHICH RISES IN KERR FOREST:

Kerr coupe 0301 harbours a second order catchment. This area of forest is important for salinity control. The stream flowing through Kerr supplies domestic and agricultural water supplies to the properties in the lower catchment. A heavy pulse of salt could be put into the stream if the remaining unlogged part of the catchment is logged.