IN solidarity with protests and actions occurring in Victoria, Tasmania and Canberra on Monday in the wake of the government’s announcement residents and conservationists are calling for the cessation of native forest logging on public land in Australia, staging a peaceful protest to highlight the destruction of forests on the south coast at Bermagui State Forest Compartment 2001.
Logging is contrary to recommendations from expert consultants, local residents and conservation groups that forests in the area should be expertly managed for koalas and other species.
“Monday’s joint forest agreement is a Labor-Labor-loggers outcome which fails the spirit and letter of last year’s Statement of Principles, abandoning its core commitment to upfront protection for High Conservation Value forests,” Greens Leader Bob Brown said in Hobart.
“This is yet another example of the government’s lack of care for community and the environment,” Ms Stone, spokesperson for South East Forest Rescue said. “This industrial logging and burning means many forests are unable to support most threatened and endangered species and unable to recover.”
“The propping up by the state and federal governments of this unlawful industry just makes no sense given that Forests NSW is currently running at millions of dollars in debt and the native forest logging industry has proven to be unsustainable,” said Ms Stone.
“The forests of the south coast are being decimated at an alarming rate,” said Lisa Stone. “Core habitat areas for threatened and endangered species like spotted quolls, koalas, yellow-belly gliders is being lost. It’s not lawful, it’s unsustainable and it’s time for the government to take responsibility. It’s time to bring an end to native forest logging in this country.”
“The government’s policy of destroying habitat to satisfy ‘wood supply agreements’ is robbing from the future generations their chance of survival. The time for political machinations is over,” said Ms Stone. “We are calling on both state and federal governments to step in on behalf of the native forests and their dependents and stop these archaic practices.”
There must be action on climate change and there must be an end to native forest logging.
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Bermagui’ s cathedral of tree’s under threat
ON Monday morning Forests NSW moved their harvesting equipment into the "Cathedral of Trees". These are the spotted gums that the industry promised to retain.
Spokesmen for Forests NSW (Daniel Tuan, Kevin Petty and others) have stated clearly that these trees so loved by the townspeople would not be logged.
The logging contractor working under the direction of Forests NSW has stated that he will be taking 60 per cent of the trees for both saw logs and pulp.
“The town has been lied to,” Friends of Five Forests spokesperson Auzanne Foules said.
“Forests NSW also have a legal obligation to consult with both Aboriginal boards of management for Gulaga to the North and Biamanga to the south.
“No consultation took place, although Forests NSW have publicly stated that it did take place.
“Given the gross breach of trust and law, which took place in Mumbulla Forest last year when a gazetted Aboriginal area was logged, in spite of Forestry being informed of the illegality of the operation, the court system exonerated all those charged and costs were awarded against Forests NSW.
“Here again we have a total disregard for Aboriginal heritage values and the binding obligations within the Regional Forest Agreements.
“Bermagui town is very distressed, and angry,” she said.
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