19 February, 2015
Conservation groups call for immediate ban on logging of koala habitat in State Forests
Three of the state’s leading forest conservation groups are today calling on the NSW Government to immediately halt logging operations in state native forest compartments known to be, or likely to be, koala habitat.
Analysis of NSW Forestry Corporation harvest plans shows 83 compartments in the 170,000ha Great Koala National Park proposal area have been listed for logging over the next six to nine months.
The NSW Nature Conservation Council (NCC), the NSW National Parks Association NPA), and the North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) say they have no confidence logging in critical koala habitat will be properly controlled after a parliamentary inquiry into logging of koala habitat in Royal Camp State Forest revealed serious deficiencies in the Environment Protection Authority’s regulation of forestry operations in NSW. [1]
“It is clear that the EPA is not equipped to effectively regulate native forest logging, which has been shown time and again to damage koala habitat,” said NPA spokesman Ashley Love.
“The Forest Corporation’s native forest 12-month plan of operationsshows logging is scheduled to occur across 83 compartments in the Great Koala National Park proposal area.
“In light of the findings of the parliament’s report, we urge the government to impose an immediate moratorium on logging these compartments and other state forests known to have important koala populations.”
NEFA spokesperson Dailan Pugh said: “The inquiry into the logging of koala habitat at Royal Camp found the Forestry Corporation doesn’t properly look for evidence of koalas before they log. If they don’t look, they don’t find. If they don’t find, they don’t protect.
“This has been going on for 15 years, and the Forestry Corporation is totally unrepentant. They still refuse to properly look, and they are still logging koala habitat. Koala habitat needs to be independently mapped and fully protected before the Forestry Corporation is allowed anywhere near it.”
NCC CEO Kate Smolski said: “The number of koalas on the east coast of Australia plummeted by more than 40 per cent between 1990 and 2010, the equivalent of only three koala generations. [2] In 2012, the Federal Government listed the NSW, Queensland and ACT populations as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. [3]
“If nothing changes, the list of animal and plant species facing extinction in NSW is on track toreach1000 by 2020. Even a species as iconic and beloved as the koala is at great risk of extinction in parts of the state, including on the North Coast, if urgent action is not taken to reduce threats to its survival.
“I call on the state’s leading political parties to acknowledge the urgency of the threats facing koalas and place an immediate ban on logging in koala habitat. These forests are too precious to lose, and we will fight to make sure future generations have a chance to enjoy intact native forests and iconic species like the koala just as we do today.”
REFERENCES
[1] Performance of the NSW Environment Protection Authority (Inquiry),
www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/743BDB8875807D85CA257CFC002142D1
[2] Koala populations in NSW and Queensland fell 42% from 326,400 to 188,000 (a loss of 138,400 individuals) in the 20 years from 1990 to 2010. On current trends, koalas will be extinct in the wild in NSW by 2030. Habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, predation (dogs and vehicle strike), disease, drought, climate change, and inbreeding are keys threats. www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=85104#population_information
[3] Koala populations in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and national environment law, www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/factsheet-koala-populations-queensland-nsw-act-national
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Forests and wildlife
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