Partial protection for East Gippsland forest icons
Friday, 1 October 2010
Media release
Environment groups have welcomed the announcement today by Victorian Environment Minister Gavin Jennings that 45,500 hectares of old growth and other forests in East Gippsland will be added to the conservation reserve system.
"Old growth forest icons like Goolengook and part of the Yalmy River forests are outstanding additions to the state's national park system, for which the Brumby Government should be congratulated," said Victorian National Parks Association Director Matt Ruchel.
"However, it should be remembered that a number of the areas now being added to the reserve system were already unavailable for logging, while other large areas of old growth forests nearby, such as Brown Mountain, are being left out of today's announcement and are likely to be logged in coming years," he said.
The Wilderness Society's Victorian Campaigns Manager Gavan McFadzean said the new parks and reserves are testament to the courage of countless hundreds of people, including peaceful protesters who for many years put their bodies on the line and stood between the bulldozers and Goolengook's ancient forests.
"This announcement represents only a partial delivery of Labor's 2006 election promise to preserve Victoria's old growth forests," he said.
"Less than 8% of Victoria's old growth forests still survive, so there is an urgent need for the Brumby Government to fully deliver on its election promise and protect all remaining old growth areas for future generations.
"In the lead up to the November 27 poll, we are calling on both the Victorian Labor and Liberal parties to commit to protecting carbon-dense old growth forests, water catchments and endangered wildlife habitat.
"With the recent announcement by Gunns Ltd that they are moving out of native forests in both Tasmania and Victoria, the time is right for state political leaders to support the logging industry's transition into plantation forests. With Victoria's huge plantation resource now on-stream, there is no excuse not to do so."
The Australian Conservation Foundation's Healthy Country Campaign Coordinator Lindsay Hesketh said that the announcement, while welcome, must now be followed by a full scientific assessment of what is required to meet the future survival needs of Victoria's vulnerable forest dependent species in a changing climate.
"A primary obligation of government must be to plan to re-build the quality and resilience of forest ecosystems to withstand climate change," he said.
More information
- For further comment or information please contact Louise Matthiesson 0417 017 844.