By Jessica Anstice
An anti-logging advocacy group is calling on the State Government to extend the timeline for the phasing out of all logging in native forests in Gippsland.
Following the devastation of bushfires, a global pandemic and now a recession, the group believes the Gippsland region has taken compounding hits to its social, economic and environmental foundations.
The State Government’s Forestry Policy Plan sees the exit from native forest harvesting set for 2030.
Committee for Gippsland Chief Executive Office Jane Oakley said the group is requesting the government extends the timeline of its Forestry Transition Plan beyond 2030 to allow communities, businesses, individuals sufficient time to recover.
“Committee for Gippsland supports the current sustainable harvesting practices that occur in our native forests and believe this should be maintained for an extended period until government is able to secure the required fibre to ensure economic and social wellbeing,” she said.
“We have concerns that the current timeline is not sufficient to secure the replacement fibre source we need which will lead to lost business and jobs having devastating impact on communities across Victoria.
“It is highly likely the state’s supply will be sourced overseas from countries that may not be as environmentally conscious nor have in place sustainable harvesting practices, as Australia and Victoria does.”
The Timber Release Plan for 2020 shows there are currently no approved boundaries that are identified for harvesting in the Bunyip State Forest as it is a protected national park.
Generally, the available and suitable state forest for timber harvesting is six percent of the entire public land, equaling about seven hectares in total across the state.
