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{{Short description|Bioregion in
{{For|the ecosystem|Jarrah forest}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2017}}
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Settlement of the region by Europeans began in the 19th century. Forests were logged for timber, and areas cleared for agriculture and pasture. The Noongar were dispossessed from much of the land, and the fire regime changed from one of deliberately-set low-intensity fires to one of general fire suppression, with accidental or lightning-set fires which are less frequent but often more intense.
Jarrah (''[[Eucalyptus marginata]]'') is considered one of the best general purpose hardwoods in the world. The British started logging the jarrah forest in the 1840s to produce timber for use in construction, transport and power, and to protect water supplies.<ref name="Abbott et al 2003">Abbott, I., Mellican, A., Craig, M. D., Williams, M., Liddelow, G., & Wheeler, I. (2003). Short-term logging and burning impacts on species richness, abundance and community structure of birds in open eucalypt forest in Western Australia. Wildlife Research, 30(4), 321-329.</ref> Logging was largely unregulated until the release of the Forests Act of 1918.<ref name="McCaw et al 2011" /> The following 50 years saw forest management expand to include water quality and yield, [[soil management]], rehabilitation of mined forest, recreation and nature conservation.<ref name="McCaw et al 2011" />
== Environmental threats ==
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The loss of forest for agriculture and timber has resulted in diminishing population numbers of many fauna species.<ref name="Whitford 2002" /><ref name="Nichols and Grant 2007" /> Nine mammal and seventeen bird species are obligate users of tree hollows.<ref name="Whitford and Williams" /> Species that use large hollows usually have a relatively small home range and depend on their hollows for breeding.<ref name="Abbott and Whitford 2002" /> These species are most likely to be negatively impacted by logging.<ref name="Abbott and Whitford 2002" /> Roost sites (hollows) are critical for the persistence of insectivorous bats living in Jarrah Forest.<ref name="Whitford and Williams" /><ref name="Webala et al 2010">Webala, P. W., Craig, M. D., Law, B. S., Wayne, A. F., & Bradley, J. S. (2010). Roost site selection by southern forest bat Vespadelus regulus and Gould's long-eared bat Nyctophilus gouldi in logged jarrah forests; south-western Australia. Forest Ecology and Management, 260(10), 1780-1790.</ref> Spending a large portion of their lives in roosts, they are used as diurnal shelters, shelter during maternity, and shelter for bachelors, migrating and hibernation sites.<ref name="Webala et al 2010" /> Facilitating complex social interactions including information transfer, roost sites also act as breeding sites, they provide protection from bad weather and predators, they minimise parasite load and promote energy conservation.<ref name="Webala et al 2010" />
==== Mining ====
Mining in the Jarrah Forest has caused further habitat loss and fragmentation to the local environment, as well as being the source of several controversies. In November 2023, 154 Australian scientists part of the Leeuwin Group of Scientists condemned continued mining in the northern area, particularly by Alcoa, and accused the American company of not completely rehabilitating bauxite mines.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dee |first=Mel |date=2023-11-30 |title=Scientists take on mining giant |url=https://www.yourlocalexaminer.com.au/scientists-take-on-mining-giant/ |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=Your Local Examiner |language=en-US}}</ref> Alcoa had handed back areas of its original bauxite mine in Jarrahdale in 2005 and 2007.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Grant |first=Carl |last2=Koch |first2=John |date=2007 |title=Decommissioning Western Australia's First Bauxite Mine: Co‐evolving vegetation restoration techniques and targets |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1442-8903.2007.00346.x |journal=Ecological Management & Restoration |language=en |volume=8 |issue=2 |pages=92–105 |doi=10.1111/j.1442-8903.2007.00346.x |issn=1442-7001}}</ref> The group's claim that Alcoa was clearing {{Convert|8|km2|acre}} each year was denied by Alcoa, with Alcoa refuting the group's criticism.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-11-27 |title=Scientists urge Alcoa and WA government to avoid 'extinction catastrophe' and stop mining in jarrah forests |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-27/the-leeuwin-group-scientists-stop-alcoa-mining-wa-jarrah-forests/103155496 |access-date=2024-01-07 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> Along with concerns that Alcoa's operations could impact the drinking supply of [[Serpentine Dam (Western Australia)|Serpentine Dam]], WA's [[Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia|Environmental Protection Authority]] (EPA) began looking into the company's operations and impacts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ABC alcoa jarrah forest |url=https://www.bing.com/search?PC=U523&q=ABC+alcoa+jarrah+forest&FORM=ANAB01 |access-date=2024-01-07 |website= |language=en}}</ref> In December 2023, Premier Roger Cook began stricker control over Alcoa's mining operations ahead of the EPA's decision.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New framework to strengthen Alcoa's environmental approvals {{!}} Western Australian Government |url=https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/New-framework-to-strengthen-Alcoa%27s-environmental-approvals-20231214 |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=www.wa.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>
=== Disease ===
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