Last week GECO - Goongerah Environment Centre reported an illegal rainforest logging operation that has occurred on the Errinundra Plateau, East Gippsland. We documented the destruction and sent a report to the Victorian government. The mainstream media reported it, Australians called, emailed, tweeted and talked about it. They asked the Environment Minister to end this senseless destruction and immediately stop logging. The pressure was felt in her office but logging continues and the forests need you to act again.
Email: lisa.neville [ AT ] parliament.vic.gov.au
Call: 03 9637 9654
Tweet: @LisanevilleMP
#LogOutOfRainforest #ProsecuteVicForests
GECO - Goongerah Environment Centre reports:
Logging machinery was taken out of the area for a short time and some restrictions have been placed on where logging can now occur. But yesterday we observed that logging has recommenced and ancient trees, some up to 600 years old, near the area where rainforest has been logged are falling today!
We need to act now and let the Victorian Government know that if this matter is being taken seriously all logging operations in the area must immediately stop!
You can remind the Minister's office of the following points.
- Rainforest is a listed as a threatened community under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (FFGA).
- The Sustainable Forests (Timber) Act requires VicForests to comply with the Code of Practice for Timber Production which forbids the logging of rainforest.
- Evidence is overwhelming that VicForests has illegally logged Rainforest in breach of these two Acts.
- While an investigation takes place, all operations need to stop.
- VicForests need to be penalised and kicked out of the coupe.
#10;<p><strong>- At this stage, we know that at least a quarter of the coupe has been logged illegally. Continuing operations in the coupe may also be in breach of the law. So it's important to immediatley stop all operations until an investigation is complete.</strong></p> <p><strong>- VicForests should be forced to reserve an area equivalent in size to the area that was logged illegally.</strong></p> <p><strong>- The area of logged rainforest is about one hectare in size, it should have been given a 40 m buffer of retained trees either side of it. So it's not just rainforest that has been illegally logged, ancient trees (like the one in the photo at the top of this email) that should have been buffering the rainforest have been illegally logged.</strong></p> <p><img src=" />
- Once the investigation concludes, the government need to prosecute VicForests for breaking our state environment laws.
In your letters it's important to emphasise that VicForests are the problem here. The Minister's department enforces laws to protect rainforest but the rogue forest agency of VicForests think they don't need to obey them. They must be prosecuted and the logging must be stopped.
Our rainforests are unique, rare and precious and illegal logging of them by VicForests is an abomination that flies in the face of state environment laws. This sort of reckless destruction doesn't belong in the 21st century.
Thanks for taking action. You have the power to stop the destruction and if we all join our voices and make ourselves heard we can get the loggers out.
For the forests,
GECO - Goongerah Environment Centre.
Comments
VicForests vandalism (not verified)
Mon, 2015-04-20 17:31
Permalink
Government vandals
We expect governments to be responsible stewards of our environment, not be the wreckers! This corruption of values, and the desecration of such old growth heritage trees, is akin to blowing up a cathedral or a shrine! How are we to protect the natural heritage of our State if the vandals are in charge of selling the timber from these iconic forests that take centuries to grow? There's nothing "sustainable" about eco-terrorism, in the name of short-term cash flows.
VicForests is the face of government corruption and a service to protect high ranking fat cats, and is a destructive force now, and for future generations. As for "socio-economic" values, as of last year, the ten years it's been in existence, it has received $25million in grants and subsidies to help it haul $300million worth of free logs from public forest which it still owes Victorians $74million in unpaid dividends for.
"VicForests has controversially clearfelled and chipped at least 2/3rds of our forests to supply the export woodchip company at Eden. This will now see local sawmills suffer. Most Gippslanders though will celebrate the anticipated end to VicForests' reign in the east and an end to the decade of sending our rich forests into the woodchip pile and waste paper bin" said Jill Redwood on the 10 year anniversary last year.
VicForests – a decade of debt and destruction
Vivienne Ortega
Sat, 2015-05-02 08:29
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VicForests cleared of illegal logging!
Sheila Newman
Sat, 2015-05-16 18:56
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Woodchipping to go ballistic? Contact these pollies!
Message from Environment East Gippsland (http://www.eastgippsland.net.au/This is the latest:
The logging industry lobbyists have been telling everyone including politicians (they can be so naïve!) that tossing native forests into electricity furnaces is really ‘renewable energy’ because it would only be using the ‘waste’ – y’know – branches, leaves and those messy leftovers.
These claims were made 40 years ago to justify massive woodchipping of about 6 million tonnes a year, for decades. Untold deaths and horrific injuries of wildlife all being part of this.
Labor leader Bill Shorten will not be drawn on whether he will or won’t agree to this. Logging lobby group AFPA congratulated him. His environment minister, Mark Butler is saying ‘no way José. Is this playing good-cop bad-cop?
Join us to kill off this insane idea
What is needed is for Labor and the Independents to propose an amendment that defines ‘waste’, in such a way that it includes plantation and agricultural waste, even building waste, but clearly excludes native forest derived wood.
Unless this definition is unambiguously embedded in the RET legislation, it could raise its ugly head again as a regulation later down the track – and that could be worse.
Please – a couple of minutes of your day could make a lot of difference…
In order of importance, please call on Monday (it's more influential than emailing), the office of these politicians and leave a message for them.
And email or tweet them now…
Bill Shorten
(02) 6277 4022 or (03) 9326 1300
[email protected] @billshortenmp
Emphasise the need for an amendment to define 'waste' that excludes native forests from RETs
Mark Butler
(02) 6277 4089
[email protected] @mark_butler_mp
Emphasise the need for an amendment to define 'waste' that excludes native forests from RETs
Ricky Muir
(03) 5144 3639
[email protected] @Ricky_Muir
Emphasise that it won’t be just off-cuts but will be whole logs ! It will also rob limited assistance for genuine renewables like solar.
Zhenya Wang
(02) 6277 3843,
[email protected] @SenatorZWang
Ask that he supports an amendment to the RET Bill that defines extcludes native forest material from the ‘waste’ category and that there are more jobs in genuine renewables.
Nick Xenophon
(08) 8232 1144
[email protected] @Nick_Xenophon
Emphasise that including biomass in the RET will rob valuable assistance/credits from the solar industry.
Glenn Lazarus
(07) 3001 8940
[email protected] @SenatorLazarus
Emphasise that including biomass in the RET will rob valuable assistance/credits from the solar industry.
Clive Palmer
(07) 547 92800 or (02) 627 74372
[email protected] @CliveFPalmer
Explain that including biomass in the RET will rob Renewable Energy Credits and assistance/investment in genuine renewable energy like solar.
EEG LEGAL CHALLENGE FOR THE OWLS -
This wednesday 20th, EEG will be in mediation with both DELWP and VicForests over their obligation to properly protect our threatened owls. We'll keep you posted on that as well.
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