There is a bitter dispute within the NSW Government over the logging of native forests. On the one side, Forestry NSW is saying it will resume logging on the South Coast, ignoring concerns about logging native forests damaged by bushfires - effectively breaking the law. On the other side, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is very concerned that the resumption of logging in burnt forests will have long-term, irreversible impacts to forest and have warned Forestry Corporation not to resume logging. The EPA are seeking to preserve the large old trees which often have the hollows that are vital for the forest dwelling creatures. They also seek to protect creeks and trees with unburnt canopies. We all remember the dark skies and choking air from the unprecedented bushfires that burnt huge swathes of our native forests. These native forests and the life they support are starting to recover, but will be extremely vulnerable to disturbance and logging for decades. It is utterly irresponsible for Forestry NSW - a public corporation - to thumb their nose at the EPA’s concerns. Citizens on the South Coast have been hiking into the forests to check on the logging activities. They have found many breaches of the rules, with some large habitat trees hacked down by the chainsaws. Native forestry only accounts for around 9% of wood products in NSW. We should be protecting our remaining native forests by phasing out logging and switching to 100% plantation. The Nature Conservation Council is working to protect native forests and support the EPA’s conditions in our discussions with the government. We are also training up citizen scientists to discover, identify and record plants and animals in the forests and prevent illegal logging from occurring.