19 August 2019
Premier’s national park logging deal with the Nationals undermines nature conservation across NSW
Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s reported deal with the Nationals to legalise logging in national parks undermines the integrity of the entire nature conservation reserve system in NSW.
Nationals Leader John Barilaro has been pushing for months to remove national parks status for the Murray Valley National Park to allow logging of river red gums.
Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian reportedly supports a compromise deal whereby “ecological thinning” of national parks would be enshrined in law. [1]
“The sanctity of our national parks must be respected,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.
“Ecological thinning is like scientific whaling – a morally and logically bankrupt concept.
“You can’t save our forests by cutting them down.
“If the government is serious about forest conservation, it must restore funding to the National Parks and Wildlife Service so it can do its work and defend the parks network from industrial exploitation.
“These magnificent forests were protected because they needed saving after decades of unsustainable logging and grazing.
“To save our river red gum forests, we have to give them water and time to recover from decades abuse. More logging is the last thing they need.”
[1] Government opts for thinning rather than cutting Murray Valley status, SMH, 19-8-19
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Forests and wildlife
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