Impact of biomass on Australian forests

Please write to your local MP and ask them to watch this video and oppose the burning of native forests for electricity.

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is drafting guidelines that will determine if leaving smaller and 'defective' trees in the forest for wildlife is a ‘higher use’ than burning them for electricity.

We know these trees are best left standing, but under the current rules habitat or ecosystem services are not considered a ‘higher use’.

We can’t let this slip under the radar. We need MPs to understand the awful consequences for our beautiful native forests.

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Dear MP,
 Proposals to burn timber (biomass) to generate electricity are a threat to native forests. There are currently two proposals that would see close to one million tonnes of NSW's native forest being logged, woodchipped and burnt for electricity here and overseas.  <a href="https://youtu.be/g5pZHgjWtLA">Watch this video to learn more.</a> Trees that are too small or not straight enough for sawlogs are usually left standing in logging operations providing crucial habitat in logged forests. Burning wood in power stations will create a market for these smaller or bent trees that will provide a financial incentive to clear-fell beautiful Australian forests.
Current rules in the Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Regulation 2021 state any tree that does not meet a ‘higher use’ can be logged and burnt for electricity.
This ‘higher use’ metric does not currently include habitat or ecosystem services.  The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is reviewing the regulation and will advise the government on what should be considered 'higher use' for our native forest.
The definition of 'higher use' should expand to include habitat and ecosystem services to ensure precious native forest cannot be logged and fed into power stations. 
<a href="https://youtu.be/g5pZHgjWtLA">Please watch this video</a> to understand why the EPA must change the rules to protect these trees from being logged and burnt. Prior to 2013, burning native forest for electricity was banned. This should be reinstated to keep native forests safe from the incinerator and to protect huge amounts of bush. I request that you raise this issue in parliament and with the EPA.
Yours sincerely,
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