18 December 2019
Logging of native forests should stop until bushfire damage is assessed
An alliance of 13 conservation organisations is calling for an immediate moratorium on logging of native forests in NSW until the impacts of the catastrophic bushfires on species and habitat are understood.
In a letter to Premier Gladys Berejiklian, the Stand up for Nature Alliance warned:
“The impact on many species has been extreme and is ongoing. The full scale of wildlife losses will probably never be known, but they will surely number in the millions.
“The effects of the catastrophic fires have been so far-reaching that allowing further loss of habitat and impact on native species would be unconscionable.
“There needs to be a full assessment of the impact of the fires on the entire forest network, on threatened species and ecological communities, and reappraisal of existing wood supply commitments.
“Without this information, the sustainability of harvesting operations cannot be guaranteed.
“These unprecedented fires have jeopardised the long-term viability of threatened species populations and forest ecosystems in several areas.
“We believe the developing crisis justifies the use of the force majeure clause of the Wood Supply Agreements as fire has significantly reduced the availability of native timber across State Forests.
“These clauses, designed for extreme events such as these, will ensure that public money is not spend on FCNSW being unable to meet current Wood Supply Agreement obligations.”
The alliance acknowledged a moratorium could have impacts on native forest timber industry workers and their communities.
“We therefore call on the government to ensure logging industry workers are supported during this process, either with alternative employment options, financial assistance or other worthwhile alternatives. We stand ready to engage constructively with the industry and government to achieve this goal.”
The Stand up for Nature Alliance includes: Birdlife Australia, Colong Foundation for Wilderness, Friends of the Koala, Humane Society International, IFAW Oceania, National Parks Association of NSW, National Trust, Nature Conservation Council of NSW, North East Forest Alliance, NSW WIRES, The Wilderness Society, Total Environment Centre, WWF–Australia.
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Forests and wildlife
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