The NSW Government today has locked in another five years of public native forests by extending most North Coast Wood Supply Agreements to 2028. [1]
“This decision flies the face of advice from the Natural Resources Commission, [2] which assessed the public forests estate after the Black Summer bushfires,” Nature Conservation Council Forests Campaigner Wilson Harris said.
“Those fires hit state forests hard, ripping through more than 830,000 hectares of the native forest estate, more than 80%.
“Despite the devastation and against the advice of the Natural Resources Commission, the NSW Government has insisted on cutting down native forests at the same rate as before the fires.
“That has multiplied and concentrated the ecological harm being inflicted on our dwindling native forest estate.
“Today’s decision is reckless and will push forest species closer to the brink.
“Forestry Corporation keeps putting the profits of the resources sector ahead of our wildlife and forests and the interests of the vast majority of citizens who want these priceless assets protected.
“Victoria and Western Australia have both announced they will end native forest logging to preserve the forests they have left. NSW should do the same.”
References
[1] Certainty for North Coast timber processors, 3-6-22, National Party website.
[2] Government must release Natural Resources Commission’s forestry report in full, Nature Conservation Council, 25-11-21
