Minister: Give native forest habitats proper oversight - Victorian National Parks AssociationVictorian National Parks Association

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Dear Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos,

Re: Independent Oversight of Fire-Related Management

I am writing to express significant concerns regarding Forest Fire Management Victoria's (FFMV) logging activities within our national parks, and the inadequacies of our current legislation in properly overseeing and guiding these operations.

I have closely followed the work of VNPA, particularly their investigations into 'salvage logging' and fire prevention efforts across the state. Their findings have revealed logging activities within established national parks such as the Dandenong Ranges National Park and Yarra Ranges National Park, as well as in promised national parks like the Wombat Forest, conservation areas, the Cobaws, and even the closed Silvan water catchment.

Climate science underscores the increasing frequency and intensity of weather events and fires. While protection of human life and emergency response are paramount, we must adopt a more thoughtful approach. Nature is not the enemy but a vital part of the climate solution. It would be a governance failure to succumb to the temptation of exploiting natural disasters for commercial gain or for an unevidenced approach to fire prevention.

To address these issues, direct investment in independent, on-ground habitat and tree assessments prior to fuel reduction works is imperative. Hasty appraisals of trees as hazardous by DEECA/FFMV are resulting in the unnecessary felling of significant trees. Achieving the joint ambition of preserving human life and significant trees requires enhanced oversight and transparency in FFMV's operations, coupled with improved biodiversity management.

The absence of a regulatory body overseeing fire management allows FFMV to effectively regulate itself, which is concerning. Therefore, there is an urgent need for increased transparency, independent oversight, and regulation of FFMV's operations.

'Salvage logging' exacerbates forest vulnerability during the critical recovery phase after storms or fires. The broad powers granted to FFMV under the Forests Act 1958 must be subjected to scrutiny to prevent abuse. Despite claims of assessing impacts on threatened plants and animals, these assessments are not made public, raising questions about their validity.

Furthermore, works conducted under the guise of fire mitigation bypass established forestry guidelines and lack independent ecological oversight. This contravenes both state and federal environmental laws and undermines commitments made to protect national parks from logging activities.

Operating in an ecologically questionable manner based on dubious science is a troubling pattern observed in FFMV's behaviour. This issue was highlighted in the IGEM report following the 2019-20 bushfires.

Given that the national park is not within a Regional Forestry Agreement (RFA) area, both state and federal environmental laws must be strictly adhered to, and exemptions for forestry operations do not apply.

I urge you to take immediate action by establishing an independent regulator of fire operations in Victoria to monitor and assess the biodiversity impacts of fire management operations.

I eagerly await your prompt and decisive action on this matter.

Sincerely,

Our native forests cool our climate, house our native critters, support livelihoods and keep our air and water clean.

But across the state, Forest Fire Management Victoria’s ‘salvage logging’ and ‘clean up’ operations are flying blind. They’re tearing up habitat in established parks, promised parks, conservation areas, and even water catchments.

We’ve found critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possums in the path of destruction. Endangered Greater Gliders living in trees on the chopping block. Cool Temperate Mixed Rainforest on their schedule to bulldoze.

Ask the minister to put independent oversight in place and regulate fire management using up-to-date science.

Together we’ll hold rogue agencies to account and protect the places we love from bad science and state exploitation.