In solidarity with protests and actions occurring in Victoria, Tasmania and Canberra today 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.
“Today’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 today.
“This is yet another example of the government’s lack of care for community and the environment,” said Ms Stone, spokesperson for South East Forest Rescue. “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.
South East Forest Rescue
‘Stoppin the Choppin’
PO Box 899 MORUYA NSW 2537
www.myspace.com/southeastforestrescue
http://www.lisaandtony.com.au/South%20East%20Forest%20Rescue%20home.htm
South East Forest Rescue
