Forest salvaging not logging

By Lachlan Ellis

Over 100 people have protested a “destructive salvage operation” undertaken in the Wombat State Forest, though the State Government says the works are merely to reduce fire risk.

On Good Friday, members of the Wombat Forestcare group took to the Wombat State Forest with signs bearing slogans such as “stop the destruction” and “VicForest salvage savages”, opposing what they call an “industrial scale salvage operation”.

Gayle Osborne from Wombat Forestcare said VicForests’ actions put local wildlife and the environment at risk.

“The local community fought long and hard for the forest’s protection from logging and for its protection with park status, and are now very distressed and angry to see this environmental destruction,” Ms Osborne said.

“This block of the Wombat Forest is considered to have conservation values that make it deserving of national park status, including a large population of greater gliders, a species threatened with extinction.”

Last June, the State Government committed to establishing three new National Parks, including a ‘Wombat-Lerderderg National Park’, following the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) Central West investigation.

Ms Osborne argues the operations in the Wombat State Forest “completely ignore the government’s undertaking to protect the environment and biodiversity”.

But Victorian Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas, whose District of Macedon takes in much of the Wombat State Forest, said VicForests’ works were no cause for concern.

“Many members of my community have contacted me about the amount of fallen and hazardous trees and debris. We know Wombat State Forest was one of the hardest hit areas during the storms in June last year, and VicForests, in partnership with Traditional Owners, is clearing only fallen and windblown trees,” Ms Thomas told the Moorabool News.

“No trees are being removed unless they present a safety or operational hazard.”

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-04-26/3

in the 26 April 2022 edition
OR
pick up a paper around your town.