In a gesture of goodwill in the lead up to the State election, forest protesters have withdrawn from their blockades of logging operations in East Gippsland.

The move is supported by the Greens, who are now calling on the Bracks Government and Liberal leader Robert Doyle to respond by seriously considering the issue of old-growth forest logging.

Spokesperson for the forest blockaders, Fiona York, claims the decision to withdraw was difficult. "We know that while we are out of the forests, the Government and the loggers will be destroying magnificent old-growth forests and critical habitat for endangered species. We don't do this lightly, but it shows that we want solutions, not conflict".

"We know from many polls that the majority of Victorians - two out of three, even in East Gippsland - want an end to old-growth logging. We know that many loggers themselves think it's wrong, particularly with the forests ending up mostly as woodchips. We know that the woodchip market doesn't actually want old-growth chips any more. It will be simple bloody-mindedness if the Government doesn't end old-growth logging once and for all."

According to Gippsland East Greens candidate Dr Kevin Thiele, the loss of these old-growth forests is a tragedy. "The protesters have highlighted the tragedy, now it's time for the politicians to come to the table and offer solutions."

"The withdrawal provides an opportunity to focus on the issues, not the conflicts. Parts of the logging industry, particularly vocal lobby groups such as Timber Communities Australia, have been promoting the conflict to avoid the real issues."

The Greens, by contrast, have achievable plans that would see viable jobs in the forests for the workers while at the same time protecting old-growth and other areas of high conservation value.

"Under our plan, the workers would continue logging, but instead of destroying irreplaceable areas they would be used to restore areas degraded by past logging practices. And the forests would become centrepieces of an international tourist attraction that would bring many more jobs to the region as a whole than the industry can dream of", said Dr Thiele.

"We will all lose if the magnificent old-growth forests of the region are destroyed for woodchips, and once they're gone the workers will still lose their jobs", concluded Ms York.

For more information contact:
Dr Kevin Thiele, Greens Candidate for Gippsland East, (03) 5154 0124 or 0427 540 124
Tom Crook , Spokesperson for Geco (East Gippsland) 5154 0163
Fiona York, Spokesperson for Geco (Melbourne) 0409 026 419

MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 6th November 2002

BRACKS CONTINUES FOREST LUNACY

For the fifth consecutive week conservationists have stopped work at Survey Road on the Errinundra Plateau, far East Gippsland. Dedicated conservationists have maintained tree-sits in high winds, snow, rain and hail, stating they will not give up until the old growth forest on the Plateau is protected.

Last week excessive force was used by NRE and police when removing protestors from this area of public forest. The role of NRE and police in protest situations should be to keep the peace and ensure safety of all concerned. "This violent abuse of power by public servants against legitimate peaceful dissent is unacceptable." Said Rena Gaborov spokes person for the Goongerah Environment Centre.

"Preservation of the Goolengook forest by the Bracks government would only complete half of the job. If the Errinundra National Park is to have any long term viability, all remaining old growth forest on the plateau must be protected immediately. The logging coup which these actions have targeted abuts national park on two sides and a special protection zone on another. It comprises the head waters of the Bonang River catchment, a pure water source and a rare commodity on this dry continent. The government are making a serious and irreversible mistake by allowing the destruction of a valuable resource. This is in no way sustainable by any stretch of the imagination. The government and logging industry should get real and stop trying to fool the public." concluded Rena.

For further comment call Rena Gaborov at Goongerah Environment Centre
Phone 03 51540156

Media Release
31 October 2002
WHEELCHAIR BLOCKADER STOPS LOGGING AT BONANG RIVER

A woman in a wheelchair is blockading Survey Rd on the Errinundra Plateau, preventing logging traffic from entering two controversial logging coupes in the Bonang River water catchment. The mother of two is suspended from a tripod in her wheelchair, which is blocking one end of the road, while a protester in a tree sit attached to a gate is blocking the other end of the road. It is the fourth week of protests at Survey Rd, and during this time, Search and Rescue police have removed three tree platforms attached to logging equipment. There have been two arrests for Wilful Trespass. The logging coupes, on the border of the Errinundra National Park, contain old growth forest and rainforest and form part of a wildlife corridor between two reserves.

"Melbourne is on the eve of water restrictions, yet the Bracks government is still allowing logging to be taking place in water catchment areas. While the country is gripped by drought, we have no choice but to stop this from occuring," said spokesperson for the protesters, Fiona York.

"Although we are pleased that the government is finally recognising the importance of protecting Goolengook, there are many areas of old growth forest, water catchment and endangered species habitat that remain unprotected. The Bonang River area is one such place that deserves protection, and we will continue to protest until areas such as these are permanently protected," she concluded.

Digital footage and stills will be available.

For further information:
Fiona York Goongerah Environment Centre (03)51540156

Media Release
Monday 28 October 2002
Treesitter evades Police Search and Rescue

A lone conservationist continues to defy police attempts to remove him from a tree in a logging coupe at Survey Rd. Police Search and Rescue removed the tree platform he had been occupying for four days, disconnecting it from machinery and allowing logging to recommence in the Bonang River catchment. However the tree-sitter evaded arrest by climbing higher into the canopy of the tree and is bearing witness to the destruction going on around him. There are two logging crews in the area and logging is taking place within 200m of the tree occupied by the protester.

The tree-sitter had remained in place over the weekend despite the presence of strong wind and even snow. Police and NRE are continuing to confiscate vital safety equipment from the area, including radios. Protests in the area are entering their fourth week, and Search and Rescue police have dismantled two tree sits during this time. There have been two arrests for Wilful Trespass so far.

"The government is allowing clearfelling in water catchments while the country is gripped by drought. We cannot allow this to continue," said spokesperson for protesters, Morgan Boehringer.

The logging coupes are situated on the edge of the Errinundra National Park and were recommended by government scientists to be protected as part of a wildlife corridor. They contain rainforest, old growth forest, and endangered species including the Spot tailed Quoll, the Long Nosed Bandicoot, the Masked Owl, the Alpine Pepper and a rare orchid.

For further comment: Morgan Boehringer or Fiona York GECO 03 51540 156

MEDIA RELEASE
Friday 25th October 2002
TREE-SIT PROTEST CONTINUES

For the third week running, concerned individuals have halted logging operations at Survey Road on the Errinundra Plateau, East Gippsland. There are now two coups being clearfelled side by side both with high conservation forest values and both part of the wild life corridor currently connecting the already fragmented Errinundra National Park. Once again a tree is being held in place by ropes attached to a Log loader and Bulldozer.

'It is extremely important for the park's integrity that clearfell logging does not take place on its borders. It is about time that the Brack's government took responsibility and protected high conservation areas properly. The current, token, disconnected forest we have now is not acceptable.' said Rena Gaborov from the Goongerah Environment Centre.

'The protest coincides with the announcement of attempts by the logging industry to label Victorian timber as "sustainable" under the bogus "Australian Forestry Standard". However, Survey Road demonstrates that logging in Victoria is UNsustainable, and should not be labelled as such. Consumers have the right to know what they are buying and while clearfelling is taking place in high conservation value forests. "Eco-labelling" of timber from Victorian state forests is an industry green-wash. Genuine certifiers like The Forest Stewardship Council would never approve of old growth logging,' said Ms Gaborov.

The department's own reports into the Brodribb forest block, where Survey Rd is situated, claim "this area yielded the highest diversity and density of arboreal species" in the forest block. This highlights the department's negligence in providing a sustainable timber industry, as they recognize forest values on one hand and destroy them on the other.

'It is absolutely crazy that in these times of environmental catastrophe that ecological scientific sites of significance can be destroyed in the name of resource value. Conservationists are taking action because it is the last resort for our rapidly disappearing forests,' concluded Ms Gabarov.

For more information contact Goongerah Environment Centre. (03) 51540156

MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 14th October 2002
TREE-SIT - FOURTH DAY

The area where logging has been halted is high conservation old growth, one of the last unprotected remnants left on the plateau. It borders National Park on two sides and a special protection zone on the other. To remove this area of forest will destroy a large part of the wildlife corridor currently connecting the already fragmented Errinundra National Park.

"Because of the odd shape, it is extremely important for the park's integrity that clearfell logging does not take place on its boarders.. It is about time that the Bracks government took responsibility and protected high conservation areas properly. The current, token, disconnected forest we have now is not acceptable." Said Rena Gaborov from the Goongerah Environment Centre.

"It is absolutely crazy that in these times of environmental catastrophe that ecological scientific sites of significance can be destroyed in the name of resource value. Conservationists are taking action because it is the last resort for our rapidly disappearing forests." Said Rena

MEDIA RELEASE
Friday 11th October 2002

WATER CATCHMENTS OR WOODCHIPS?
LOGGING STOPPED AGAIN

"It is madness to be logging the water catchments of these mountain rivers in this time of Victoria's biggest drought. We are calling on Steve Bracks to immediately protect and conserve the Victorian water catchments. Scientific research has proven the detrimental affects of clearfell logging on water catchments, and we cannot allow it to continue," said spokesperson for the protesters, Jo Edwards.

Logging in the Brodribb Forest block off Survey Road, which contains mixed forest and rainforest, started on Wednesday after two days of ceased work due to protesting. Today work has stopped again. The area has been the site of protest action for two years.

The coupe in the Brodribb forest block has been labeled a site of significance by government scientists and consists of divergent cool temperate rainforests gullies that provides wildlife corridors to the Delegate Block. This high conservation Old Growth forest block has evidence of the critically endangered Spot-tailed Quoll and is the only area with recorded sighting of the Long-nosed bandicoot.

"We cannot afford to recklessly log the remaining ancient forests on the plateau. This is truly the last chance to see the remnants of our old growth forests, out side of the fragmented national park, before it is hauled down the highway with royalties of 10C a tonne," she concluded.

For more information contact Jo Edwards or Fiona York G.E.C.O 03 51540156

Media Release
Tuesday 8th October 2002
Rainforest Treesit Blockade Continues

Conservationists maintain that NRE provisions for the protection of wildlife are not adequate and are concerned about the lack of pre-logging surveying in the region. The protection of rainforest species in the proposed forest coupes is also being investigated by conservationists. In particular the presence of rare mixed forest associations, consisting of a rainforest understorey and an emergent eucalypt canopy.

"The NRE's own block reports for the area detail these forests, and yet they are content to clearfell what are essentially rainforests with the public none the wiser. With adequate surveying, appropriate protection can be afforded for these stands." said Morgan Boehringer of the Goongerah Environment Centre. " Remember that when we found evidence of quolls in the area in 2001 the NRE decided the presence of a nearby Special Protection Zone and the National Park were enough protection - the old "they'll just go somewhere else" mentality all over again. The problem is, that somewhere else is increasingly disappearing," Mr Boehringer continued.

On ABC Radio (Sale) yesterday, spokesperson for the NRE, Anne Geary maintained that the forest operation was lawful and that conservationists should "abide by the umpire's decision." It seems that this is the same umpire who allowed the desecration of the Goolengook forest earlier this year, during which hundreds of concerned citizens, from the local area as well as the cities staged mass protests and six-weeks of civil disobedience. "Until the NRE come clean, do their homework and manage forests with sustainability in mind, they can expect the citizenry to continue to defend their heritage from bloody-minded vandals. Goolengook proved that ancient forests are more important as storehouses of bio-diverstiy and tourist icons to the public than they are being clearfelled, wood-chipped at a loss and failing as regeneration coupes." Mr Boehringer said.

For more information contact: Morgan Boehringer Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO) (03) 5154 0156

MEDIA RELEASE
MONDAY 7TH OCTOBER 2002
TREESITS BLOCKADE RAINFOREST ON EDGE OF NATIONAL PARK

'These coupes represent the last remnants of a wildlife corridor between two sections of the National Park.' said spokeperson for the Goongerah Environment Centre, Rena Gaborov. 'They also contain rare plant association communities, such as the mixed forest, an uncommon interaction between rainforest and emergent eucalypts. There are trees in these coupes that can fit seven people around them- there are not many of these giants left.' finished Ms Gaborov.

Roading and logging have been blockaded in this area for two consecutive summers, proving the tenacity and determination of conservationists in this remote area. Evidence of the rare and threatened Spot-Tailed Quoll was found by conservationists in the Survey Rd area in 2001, when a roading machine was captured and halted for over a month. In January this year a further blockade ended when extremely heavy-handed Police and NRE officers pulled apart a circle of linked conservationists at the base of a tree-sit. "Coupled with the devastation of the Dingo Creek catchment on the northeastern boundary of the Park, and considered in the light of the clearfelling of Goolengook this year, the presence on Survey Road of marked coupes this close to the National park emphasises the strategy of the NRE to fragment the boundary of the National Park, and thereby extinguish any hopes for an extension of the National Park by making these coupes into failed regrowth wastelands." said Morgan Boehringer.

Conservationists plan to halt operations in Survey Road for as long as possible. "These areas must be protected for future generations, they are our universal heritage. The Department's own forest block reports detail an uncommon abundance of animal and bird-life, as well as the afore-mentioned plants species and associations in this area. We are calling on the NRE to cease harvesting operations in the Survey Rd area, and on the Bracks government to make some sort of sign that old-growth and high conservation forests are worth more than clear-felling and woodchipping." said Mr Boehringer.

For more information contact Morgan Boehringer Goongerah Environment Centre. (03) 51 540156