Conservationists and ecologists are urging the NSW government to immediately halt logging operations in forests earmarked for the Great Koala National Park, a project long championed by Premier Chris Minns. While the government maintains its commitment to a sustainable timber industry and the park's establishment, concerns persist regarding the ongoing impact of logging on vital koala habitats and the slow progress in realizing the park's vision.
Calls are growing to halt native logging in forests currently under evaluation for the Great Koala National Park. This park's establishment has been a longstanding pledge by NSW Premier Chris Minns, who championed its creation during the 2023 state election.
While the government emphasizes its proximity to finalizing the park's assessment process and its commitment to a 'sustainable' timber industry, concerns persist regarding the long-term health and preservation of these vital green spaces amidst the threat of deforestation.Meredith Stanton, a seasoned conservationist who has resided adjacent to Clouds Creek State Forest on the NSW Mid North Coast for over 40 years, has witnessed firsthand the impact of logging operations. Although logging in Clouds Creek was paused earlier last year, Stanton has observed continued logging activities in nearby forests such as Sheas Nob State Forest. 'You've only got to go in there after there's been logging and everything's smashed. It's just completely obliterated,' she lamented. Clouds Creek and Sheas Nob are among multiple state forests in the region designated for inclusion in the Great Koala National Park. This park, intended to serve as a conservation reserve for vital koala habitats, was a key promise made by NSW Premier Chris Minns during the 2023 state election.However, ecologists have voiced frustration over the slow progress and the ongoing logging actions by Forestry Corporation. The North East Forest Alliance, an environmental group, has reported a surge in the area of forests harvested in the region since the Minns government assumed office. Their investigation revealed that 7,185 hectares of forest slated for the park had been logged in the 21 months following the state election. Dailan Pugh, co-founder of the North East Forest Alliance, stated that he utilized data and plans from Forestry Corporation for this report. Based on government density estimates since March 2023, Pugh asserted that the habitats of hundreds of koalas and 37 threatened species had been felled by logging. 'I knew they were targeting the Great Koala National Park for logging. That's a significant percentage of the proposed park,' Pugh emphasized. A Forestry Corporation spokesperson refuted these claims, stating, 'There has been no increase in timber harvesting in the area subject to assessment for the park.' They further explained that the average monthly volume of timber harvested from March 2023 to November 2024 was 15 percent lower than the average volume harvested over the preceding decade. The spokesperson added that Forestry Corporation's harvesting schedule is meticulously planned and executed in accordance with regulations designed to distribute operations evenly across time and space, while also factoring in weather, fire, and market demands. Despite repeated requests, NSW Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty declined to be interviewed.Professor David Lindenmayer, an ecologist, urged an immediate halt to timber harvesting in the region. 'The Minns government actually needs to abide by its promise … to ensure that the area is properly protected,' he stressed. 'We need to do it quickly given the operations that are taking place that are degrading the forests, making it more fire prone, and increasing risks not only to biodiversity but the safety of human communities.' Professor Lindenmayer characterized the government's progress in establishing the park as 'glacial, if that'. He urged the government to take decisive action and designate the area as a national park, affording it the necessary protection.Lindenmayer also criticized Forestry Corporation for operating within declared conservation areas, deeming it 'disingenuous'. A Forestry Corporation spokesperson countered these claims, emphasizing that the organization has gone to great lengths to avoid logging areas identified as prime koala habitats and carefully considers the impact of each logging operation. 'Since the Great Koala National Park assessment began, 8,000 hectares of state forests in the assessment area have been permanently protected as koala hubs, with an additional adjoining 4,000 hectares removed from the available harvest area due to accessibility and other considerations,' the spokesperson stated. They further asserted that the corporation adheres to regulations that were extensively researched and developed by environmental experts. 'The native forestry regulations, the Coastal Integrated Forestry Operations Approval (CIFOA) was developed by expert scientific panels and contains conditions that were developed based on ongoing research and monitoring,' the spokesperson explained. 'Operations in native forests are always selective, with large areas set aside for habitat, and every harvest area is regrown to ensure the same forests continue to provide habitat and produce renewable timber for future generations,' the spokesperson concluded
KOALA NATIONAL PARK FORESTRY CORPORATION LOGGING CONSERVATION NSW ENVIRONMENT GREAT KOALA NATIONAL PARK DAVID LINDENMAYER SUSTAINABLE TIMBER INDUSTRY
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