RELATED CONTENT: Industry marks international day of forests
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South East Forest Rescue (SEFR) and South East Region Conservation Alliance (SERCA) have today blockaded the head office of Forestry Corporation NSW in West Pennant Hills. A protester is suspended 30m in the air in a tree sit attached to the front gate, blocking vehicle access to the site, according to the groups.
The protest, coinciding with International Day Of Forests, is to highlight the what the conservation groups say is unsustainable and uneconomic native forest logging industry in New South Wales.
“The 20 year Regional Forest Agreements (RFA's) which were supposed to provide a sustainable and competitive forest industry have totally failed and need to be torn up immediately,” said Scott Daines of SEFR.
“There has been a continuing decline in biodiversity, water, carbon and timber volumes and on top of this the taxpayer is footing the bill, it is totally outrageous.
“On International Day of Forests 2016 we should be protecting and celebrating our unique and diverse native forests along with all the ecosystem services that they provide, which are ever more crucial in the face of climate change.
“These forests are too precious to plunder. Logging them is also costing the people of New South Wales money, as each year this agency records a loss. From 2011 to 2013 this loss has been $44 million.
“Coupled with what we know about the decline in biodiversity, water quantity and quality and carbon stocks is yet another reason to stop this destructive industry.”
There are also other protest actions happening today for International Day of Forests in Coffs Harbour and Eden about the native forest logging industry.
Fairfax Media sought comment from Forestry Corporation NSW about the blockade and a spokesperson gave the following response:
“There are 23 million hectares of forested land in NSW roughly one million hectares of native State forest are available for timber production. That is just four per cent of the forests in NSW,” the spokesperson said.
“Our foresters and ecologists work in these productive forests every day and are passionate about the forest environment. Before we touch a single tree, we send out professional ecologists to complete intensive wildlife, birdlife and vegetation surveys to identify threatened species and set large areas of their habitat aside.
“Regular surveys show this careful management is continuing to support robust populations of threatened species, protect the biodiversity of forest ecosystems and maintain protection of waterways. In fact, due to the thriving population of long-nose potoroos in the State forests around Eden on the south coast, Forestry Corporation recently partnered with Parks Australia to reintroduce the species into the national park estate.
“There is a vibrant timber industry in NSW, which includes the largest number of hardwood sawmills in Australia and provides long-term employment to thousands of people – particularly in regional towns – and every year Forestry Corporation of NSW returns a dividend to the people of NSW. In 2015 this dividend was $19 million.
“Forestry Corporation maintains long term wood supply plans that show how wood will continue to be supplied from the state’s forests for the next 100 years,” the Forestry statement concludes.
South East Forest Alliance accuses State Government
On the International Day of the Forests declared by the United Nations, the South East Forest Alliance has accused the Baird Government of deceiving the public on claimed jobs and genuine forest protection associated with the recent declaration of four new Flora Reserves on the Far South Coast.
Noel Plumb, convenor of the Alliance said “The Member for Bega and Cabinet Minister Andrew Constance has claimed that the timber industry provides 278 direct jobs in the Bega Valley but he is fudging the figures.”
“We challenge Minister Constance to come clean on the real numbers.”
“Our research shows there are less than 100 native forest logging jobs for the whole South Coast from Nowra to Eden, quite insignificant to the regional economy. They certainly do not justify intensification of the already shocking logging around Narooma, Batemans Bay and Ulladulla with forests around Nowra and Braidwood next on the chopping block to ‘compensate’ for the flora reserves.”
“Mr Constance has also contradicted the Minister for the Environment who says the flora reserves provide a “protection similar to national parks. Mr Constance has said repeatedly that the forests were converted to flora reserves instead of national parks so that they could be logged in the future.”
“The public and the environment deserve better than this conflicted approach on forest protection within the government. Contrary to its own economic policies it continues to prop up native forest logging, a dinosaur industry, with massive taxpayer subsidies and undercuts plantation forestry that has real jobs, sustainable jobs,” said Mr Plumb.
Fairfax Media sought comment from Mr Constance who said he was all for a local, sustainable industry that created jobs on the South Coast.
"I want to ask Noel Plumb and SEFA why they want to import endangered rainforest timber taking away the habitat of orangutans when we have a sustainable logging industry here in our country," Mr Constance said. "Why do they want to deny local jobs?"