Queensland’s Premier Steven Miles has been accused of pulling an election stunt to appease environmental activists with scant regard for its own...
Vous n'êtes pas connecté
Recognition of the value of the managed harvested native hardwood timber forests could be the answer to the ongoing efforts to save koala colonies on the Mid and North Coast of New South Wales. Source: Timberbiz This is the proposal the REEF Research Foundation’s (REEF) Forestry Awareness Program has put to the NSW Minns Labor Government as it considers the location, formulation and size of its planned Great Koala National Park in Northern NSW. REEF Forestry Awareness Program Chair Noel Atkins said it has advocated to the NSW Environment Minister the Hon Penny Sharpe MLC in early 2024 that the Great Koala National Park should include significant parts of existing National Park rather than carving out managed forests which are promoting koala rejuvenation and helping with the housing crisis. “The evidence is in that koalas are living well in harvested native hardwood timber forests for the simple reason their colonies are protected by regulation, the animals can easily walk along the managed forest floor and enjoy succulent leaves from new trees,” Mr Noel Atkins said. “Why increase the size of the Great Koala National Park into managed forests when significant numbers of koala live there, are protected, and their colonies are growing according to respected evidence? We believe this is a sensible position the NSW Government should adopt. “There is already 88% of NSW Forests preserved in National Parks and Crown Land available for all flora and fauna. Only 12 percent of NSW forests are available in the Managed Forest Estate, which is also available to flora and fauna. Of this 12%, less than 1% is harvested annually by strict regulation and is subjected to regeneration for our nation’s future timber needs.” The CSIRO’s National Koala Monitoring Program (NKMP), estimate that koala populations range between 287,830 and 628,010, ten times more than the most recent Australian Koala Foundation estimate. The CSIRO confirms that population estimates are larger than in 2012 when koalas were classified as “vulnerable”, not “endangered.” Published research by Dr Brad Law, the principal research scientist at the NSW Department of Primary Industries and supported by Leroy Gonsalves, Traecey Brassil and Isobel Kerr “demonstrate high occupancy (of Koalas) in northeast NSW and no difference in density between harvested forest in the state forest and controlled forest in the national park”. “REEF and its members are totally committed to protecting koalas and believe the Government should be committed to maintaining the managed forests where many koalas roam and call home, rather than turning it into a park that will be costly to manage,” Noel Atkins said. “The native hardwood timber forest sector fosters koala population rejuvenation prevents catastrophic bush fires and supports regional communities. Koalas are a vital part of the ecosystem of native hardwood timber forests on the NSW coast and it will remain so for REEF.” REEF is committed to the native hardwood forest sector and improving its environmental footprint, protecting jobs in the region and delivering economic benefits. REEF represents large and small family businesses that have been working in the forests gathering native hardwood timber for housing, mining, construction and railways for generations.
Queensland’s Premier Steven Miles has been accused of pulling an election stunt to appease environmental activists with scant regard for its own...
Forestry Australia is disappointed the Queensland Government is jumping the gun in declaring a Greater Glider Forest Park. Source: Timberbiz Forestry...
Commercial logging in native forests is the industry that refuses to end, with foresters extending into private land logging and selling firewood from...
Commercial logging in native forests is the industry that refuses to end, with foresters extending into private land logging and selling firewood from...
In the Trump administration, trees were crops. In the Biden administration, they’re guardians of the climate. This fall’s election will determine...
In the Trump administration, trees were crops. In the Biden administration, they’re guardians of the climate. This fall’s election will determine...
The Federal Government has taken another important step in preventing trans-border environmental crime with a Bill to more effectively combat...
Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has announced the opening of a public consultation period for two draft standards to shape the future of...
Forest & Wood Products Australia (FWPA) has announced the opening of a public consultation period for two draft standards to shape the future of...
The Network for Certification and Conservation of Forests launched its PEFC-endorsed national Trees Outside Forests certification standard in New...