Hygienic logging in the northern jarrah forest

Summary

Timber harvesting by conventional logging methods threatens other land-use values in the northern jarrah forest, as it can spread jarrah dieback disease. An alternative “hygienic” logging system has been developed. This involves eight overlapping steps, each designed to cover for a hygiene failure at some point in the system. After three years of operational trials, the system offers promise in the control of disease spread by logging. Other aspects, and in particular, cost-effectiveness, need further evaluation. Even so, the new techniques are now in widespread use throughout the northern jarrah forest.