Monday 7 December 2009
Media Release
Conservationists have today stopped logging in native forest near Bonang in East Gippsland, coinciding with the first day of the Copenhagen climate negotiations.
“The message to the Rudd Government is simple: cutting carbon starts at home. Victoria’s ancient forests are vital carbon banks, and must be protected,” said spokesperson for the action, Lauren Caulfield.
“While Prime minister Kevin Rudd is in Copenhagen talking about emissions reductions, and promoting international forest protection for carbon offsets, Australia’s old growth forests continue to be logged and woodchipped on this Government’s watch”.
“The area of Goongerah water catchment forest being blockaded today is part of a wildlife corridor between the snowy River and Errinundra National Parks – a corridor promised for protection at the 2006 state election,” said spokesperson for the Goongerah Environment Centre, Emily Black.
According to studies by the Australian National University, for every hectare of forest logged, 150 tonnes of carbon are released into the atmosphere.
For more information please call:
Emily Black 5154 0174
Lauren Caulfield
Trunk Phone (in the logging coupe)
0394162129
wait for tone then dial 8384620
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Today independent forests conservationists are protecting ancient forests from logging in far East Gippsland.
“Two protestors are ‘flying’ a platform located thirty metres up in the tree canopy”, says spokesperson for the group, Ms Lauren Caulfield. “This platform is cabled off to four logging machines, immobilizing them.”
The tree-top protestors are supported by twenty-five forests conservationists on the site.
Bungywarr Creek was first blockaded in 1994, and has remained a contentious logging site ever since.
“Bungywarr Creek forest was identified as iconic almost two decades ago. The old-growth that remains at Bungywarr should be included in the Brumby government’s next round of forest protection”, said Ms Caulfield.
Earlier this month it was revealed that forests like the magnificent stands along Bungywarr Creek are sold to export woodchipping companies for less than the price of a Mars bar – a mere $2.50 per tonne.
“Selling our valuable and carbon-rich native forests for the price of a fast food snack is not making the best financial returns to Victorians”, said Ms Caulfield.
“For VicForests to continue to woodchip the remaining 8% of Victoria’s old-growth forests under Mr Brumby’s watch is a disgrace. Victorians expect and deserve management of our forests for a truly sustainable future.”
“Protecting nature is one of the most important ways to fight climate change”, continued Ms Caulfield. “The forest at Bungywarr Creek will do a better job fighting climate change if it is left intact and able to suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.”
“While the Brumby government dithers on delivering the ageing 2006 old-growth forest promise, logging at Bungywarr Creek is making climate change worse”, concluded Ms Caulfield.
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| Sassafras and treeferns - cool temperate rainforest being logged on Bungywarr Rd | Massive old growth tree - all that is left is this stump, logged for pulp | Old growth trees at Bungywarr Rd - still being logged in 2009 |
VicForests have again been flouting the law on protection of species.
Conservationists continue to maintain the Bungywarr Creek forest blockade in East Gippsland for the third day, while scientific surveys demonstrate the presence of sensitive species that require much of the area to be protected from logging by law.
Night time surveys conducted by biologists in just a 1km section of forest at Bungywarr Creek have shown the presence of both Greater Gliders and Yellow-bellied Gliders.
“These hollow dependant species require protection of old-growth forests under Victorian law,” said spokesperson, Lauren Caulfield.
“Bungywarr is the third area surveyed to date where these species have been found in high densities”, said Ms Caulfield.
“These findings warrant immediate protection of hollow-bearing old-growth forests from VicForests’ logging activities. A moratorium on logging must be put in place while these scientific findings are investigated.”
The East Gippsland Forest Management Plan states that gliders are ‘unlikely to persist at site after logging occurs’.
“Conservation groups are currently investigating their legal options to force the Brumby government to abide by their own laws”, concluded Ms Caulfield.
Conservationists continue to maintain a 35 metre high tree platform cabled to 4 machines halting logging work in the area.
Logging in the controversial survey road area has been halted by tree platforms and tripods attached to six logging machines. Four people were arrested at the logging coupe.
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| Banner says it all: Gliding into extinction | tripod over logging machines prevents work from continuing | all that remains of the old growth forest at survey rd |
Today, four people were charged for being inside a Public Safety Zone, and for obstructing logging in a stand of old growth forest being clearfelled in East Gippsland.
Protesters have also charged the DSE and VicForests with a greater crime of destroying a forest that, by their own laws, must be given protection. They have also allowed machines to operate in the logging area while the tree-sitter was suspended 40 metres above the ground in the danger zone. This is in clear breach of the Occupational Health and Safety laws.
Since Tuesday, a group of 20 forest conservationists have prevented clearfelling in the upper Delegate River catchment.
“This particular old growth forest was recently surveyed by trained biologists and the result showed very high density of tree dwelling mammals”, said spokesperson for the group Carmel Roberts. “The DSE is neglecting their responsibilities to protect endangered wildlife habitat, even though it clearly states in their Forest Management Plan that where high numbers of threatened species are found, habitat must be protected.
“The DSE are saying they are unable to protect these species' habitat despite the logging being in clear breach of their legal obligations. The government puts more value on a months work by a few people than protecting endangered wildlife from extinction.
“In 2006, Premier Brumby made an election promise to protect the “last significant stands of old growth”. These forests are the very the last refuges for our rare species.”
“Since the devastation caused by the bushfires, East Gippsland’s forests are now even more critical to the survival of Victoria’s native species than before. Rare native wildlife could have been made locally extinct in other areas due to the fire damage.”
“Old growth forest habitats such as hollow-bearing trees, are critically important for the survival of these threatened species in Victoria. The logging industry can survive in plantations and regrowth, endangered wildlife can’t.”
This morning a group of 20 forest conservationists are preventing the clearfelling of one of the last stands of old growth forest in the upper Delegate River catchment in East Gippsland.
Members of the group have prevented six logging machines from working using a complicated series of tripod structures, cables and a tree platform.
“This particular old growth forest was recently surveyed by trained biologists and the result showed very high density of tree dwelling mammals”, said spokesperson for the group Carmel Roberts. “The DSE’s own policy states that areas containing high densities of tree dwelling mammals, must be protected. The DSE are saying they are unable to protect these species' habitat despite this prescription.”
“In 2006, Premier Brumby made an election promise to protect the “last significant stands of old growth”. These forests are the very the last refuges for our endangered wildlife.”
“Since the devastation caused by the bushfires, East Gippsland’s forests are now even more critical to the survival of Victoria’s native species than before. Rare native wildlife could have been made locally extinct in other areas due to the fire damage.”
“Old growth forest is critically important for the survival of these threatened species in Victoria. The logging industry can survive in plantations and regrowth, endangered species can’t.”
ABC Online
The Member for Gippsland East, Craig Ingram, is calling on the Victorian Government to bolster its Safety on Public Land legislation.
Twelve anti-logging protesters appeared in the Orbost Magistrates Court yesterday, after recent tree-sit protests in logging coups at Stony Creek and Brown Mountain.
A number of charges were withdrawn, and the court also recognised that protesters were not conducting illegal activity, merely by being present in a logging coup.
Their bail conditions only restrict them from re-entering the coups in which they were arrested.
Mr Ingram says the laws need to be strengthened to protect the right of East Gippsland workers to do their job.
"It's my view that the Government must address this, and if the legislation is not strong enough to ensure that they can move the protesters on, and I use the comparison with a construction site, it's not okay for people just to wander in at their own desire and go and do a tree-sit at a workplace, because it's a workplace," he said
Scientists working on behalf of Environment East Gippsland say a survey last weekend found endangered glider, owl and crayfish species in a coupe at Brown Mountain.
Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said it was outrageous that it was left to self-appointed "forest defenders" to survey the area for threatened species. "The Department of Sustainability and Environment must be hanging its head with shame … these are fabulous Victorian wildlife and the Brumby Government is aiding and abetting their onrush towards extinction," he said.
Senator Brown called on the Federal Government to investigate whether Victoria had breached the Regional Forest Agreement by allowing rare and endangered species to be destroyed.
Bureaucrats responded by ordering logging be delayed for at least a fortnight while claims of a large population of greater gliders were investigated.
But VicForests, the state-owned commercial forestry business, cast doubt over some of the claims.
Its regional manager, Barry Vaughan, said a crayfish specimen presented by conservationists was not the endangered Orbost spiny crayfish, but the relatively common Bidawal spiny crayfish.
Despite this, a precautionary 100-metre buffer would be placed around a rainforest creek as a precaution, he said.
He said two owl species — the sooty and powerful owls — had access to "ample protected vegetation" in adjacent native forest. "The claims are worthy of investigation, but we are confident that harvesting will continue," Mr Vaughan said
MEDIA RELEASE 19th January 2009
BLOCKADE TO PROTECT OLD-GROWTH FOREST BUILDS
Blockades to protect the iconic old growth forest near Stony Creek escalate this morning, with conservationists establishing tree platforms and roadblocks to protect the area.
Three conservationists occupy a 30 metre high tree platforms in the canopy of the ancient forest, with another two attached to a road block, stopping logging from continuing.
Old-growth forest near Stony Creek is being logged, despite the Labor Government’s 2006 election promise to protect the last remaining “significant stands of old-growth forest in East Gippsland”.
“This irreplaceable old growth Mountain Ash forest is a rich carbon store, and has valuable ecotourism potential to the community if left standing,” said spokesperson for the blockade, Lauren Caulfield.
“The forest surrounding Stony Creek forms an integral link between existing national park,s” said Ms Caulfield.
“The Brumby Government is claiming they will deliver a contiguous link between the Snowy and Errinundra National Parks, yet in a matter of weeks they have logged vital links, first at Brown Mountain and now here at Stony Creek”
“In a time of drought and climate crisis it is tragically short sighted to reduce Victoria’s old growth forests to woodchips bound for export”
At the 2006 State election the ALP promised to protect 41,000 of old-growth and iconic forest in East Gippsland.
For more information please contact:
Lauren Caulfield (03) 5154 0174
MEDIA RELEASE
13 JANUARY 2009
FOREST DEFENDERS PROTECT CARBON STORES
Today thirty conservationists have again halted the logging of old-growth forests near Stony Creek in East Gippsland. Two people remain in tree-top platforms which are cabled to bulldozers on the ground.
"Not only are these magnificent Ash forests important for endangered species and for providing clean air and water, they are also amongst the richest natural carbon stores on Earth," said spokesperson for the group, Kate Reynolds.
Latest research published by Australian National University reveals that Victoria's Ash forests store up to ten times more carbon than previously thought.
"When these carbon-rich forests are logged, huge amounts of carbon dioxide are released back into the atmosphere. The ANU's 'Green Carbon Report' has proven that logging is a major cause of climate change," said Ms Reynolds.
"Intact natural forests are our safest and most secure carbon stores,” said Jill Redwood, spokesperson for Environment East Gippsland.
"Ongoing clearfelling of our forests goes against findings of the recent Victorian State of the Environment report. Tax-payer subsidized woodchipping of our ancient forests is a crime against the planet. All that's needed is a common sense decision from government."
The recently released Climate Group's 2008 emissions audit found that Victoria is the worst polluter of all Australian states.
"One of the cheapest and most effective ways the Brumby government can reduce Victoria's emissions levels is by shifting logging out of our native forests. Plantations can meet our timber and paper needs,” continued Kate Reynolds.
"While reducing emissions from burning coal is critical, to make the deep cuts needed to protect us from dangerous climate change we also need to keep carbon safe in the bank by protecting forests from logging."
In 2006 the ALP state government promised to protect 41,000 ha of old-growth and iconic forests in East Gippsland.
"While the Brumby government dithers on delivering this promise, we are seeing irreplaceable old-growth forests continue to fall to the chainsaws and bulldozers," concluded Ms Redwood. "Premier Brumby is dangerously out of step with public opinion and scientific evidence."
Further comment: Kate Reynolds (03) 5154 0112; Jill Redwood (03) 5154 0145
12th January, 2009
BRUMBY STILL LOGGING ANCIENT FORESTS
Conservationists this morning captured logging machinery to protect ancient forest in East Gippsland.
Old-growth forest near Stony Creek is being logged, despite the ALP’s 2006 election promise to protect the last remaining “significant stands of old-growth forest in East Gippsland”.
“This magnificent old-growth Mountain Ash forest is a valuable asset if left standing,” said spokesperson for the group, Kate Reynolds, “it can provide many times more public value if protected.”
At the 2006 State election the ALP promised to protect 41,000 of old-growth and iconic forest available to be logged.
“The forest surrounding Stony Creek forms an integral link between existing national parks” said Ms Reynolds.
“The Brumby Government is claiming they will deliver a contiguous link between the Snowy and Errinundra National Parks, yet in a matter of weeks they have sliced off significant areas – first by logging the National Estate Forest at Brown Mountain, and now by lopping off part of the western link by logging Stony Creek.”
“Since the election promise over two years ago to save these areas, we have seen Mr Brumby’s Environment Department set aside degraded low value forest from logging while clearfelling the last 8% of Victoria’s ancient forests”, said Kate Reynolds, spokesperson for the group.
“While waiting to properly identify and protect Victoria’s ancient forests, there has been another two years of old growth logging” said Jill Redwood from EEG. “Mr Brumby must honour this election commitment.”
“When will this government honour its promise and look after our crucial water factories and carbon stores?” said Ms Redwood. “We are not a debt-ridden third world country - we are a developed nation that should be setting an example to countries like Indonesia and New Guinea, not adopting their reckless practices”.
For further comment: Kate Reynolds (03) 5154 0112; or Jill Redwood (03) 5154 0145.
THIRTY protestors have halted logging in an old-growth forest in East Gippsland, with two activists camped on platforms 30m high.
Two anti-logging activists occupied wooden platforms attached to cables 30 metres up in the trees to stop bulldozers and other machinery from starting work in the forest at Stony Creek, in Victoria's East, a spokesperson for the protest group said.
Local conservationist Jill Redwood said the protesters would stay on the platform until forcibly moved.
"It could be one day, it could be three days, but they will stay up there until they are arrested," Ms Redwood said.
Group spokeswoman Kate Reynolds said the state Labor party had promised at the last election in 2006 to protect 41,000 hectares of old-growth and iconic forest.
"The forest surrounding Stony Creek forms an integral link between existing national parks," Ms Reynolds said.
"Since the election promise over two years ago to save these areas, we have seen the government set aside degraded low value forest from logging while clearfelling the last eight per cent of Victoria's ancient forests.
"Mr (Premier John) Brumby must honour this election commitment and immediately protect old growth forests."
Up to 30 conservationists have stopped logging operations in an old-growth forest in Victoria's east.
Two anti-logging activists occupied wooden platforms attached to cables 30 metres up in the trees to stop bulldozers and other machinery from starting work in the forest at Stony Creek, in East Gippsland, a spokesman for the protest group said on Monday.
Local conservationist Jill Redwood told AAP the protesters would stay on the platform until forcibly moved.
"It could be one day, it could be three days, but they will stay up there until they are arrested," Ms Redwood said.
Group spokeswoman Kate Reynolds said the state Labor party had promised at the last election in 2006 to protect 41,000 hectares of old-growth and iconic forest.
"The forest surrounding Stony Creek forms an integral link between existing national parks," Ms Reynolds said.
"Since the election promise over two years ago to save these areas, we have seen the government set aside degraded low value forest from logging while clearfelling the last eight per cent of Victoria's ancient forests.
"Mr (Premier John) Brumby must honour this election commitment and immediately protect old growth forests."
© 2009 AAP
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