CLEARFELL - shudder...

The Victorian Governments method of logging in East Gippsland is called clearfell. Unless the area is under Special Management Zone or Special Protection Zone status or the Harvest Plan states otherwise, all trees over 25cm are cut. This leaves a bare field which is then planted and classified as a plantation for timber harvesting.

In some areas of New South Wales another method of logging called selective logging is applied. The Sawlogs to be cut are marked, felled and extracted with care being taken to cause minimal damage to surrounding vegetation. This leaves the surrounding plants and trees to continue growing and if left alone the forest will regrow to a near natural state with a relatively balanced ecosystem.

[Clearfell]

Clearfell in East Gippsland


As State Forests N.S.W. have discovered, selective logging has less impact on animals, water quality & supply, greenhouse gas emittions, and the forests ecosystem as a whole. Re-vegetation (Planting) is unnecessary as native forest has its own rescue procedures in place to deal with minor disturbances.

  • It is very difficult to design a plantation using native tree species
  • A plantation is inadequate for the needs of most animals
  • Most of the Water retention and filtering values of native forest are lost

    State Forests N.S.W. have not had work stoppages from blockades for some time now and this is due to adavances in comunication between Forestry and Environmentalists. Forestry does not seem to be as much of a closed house as it has been in the past and are now providing information requested by environmentalists. In Northern NSW the Harvesting Advisory Board has been created which is a round the table discussion pannel including representatives from Forestry, the timber industry, the environmental movement and the NSW Government. This pannel has created new harvesting guidelines that are contained within a document called the Harvest Conservation Protocols and the Victorian and Tasmanian governments would do well to have a look at it.

    [Picture] NSW Forestry obviously does not operate in reality in a satisfactory mannor with events like log trucks carrying logs so big that only TWO!! will fit, going to the woodchipper (No profit and beneficial only to the chipping companies) and many areas being cleared with only four trees per hectare being left and who knows what else is going on in areas that do not have the watchfull eyes of the ever vilagent "Greenies" but each Forestry policy change, identification of a new Old Growth area, identification of an endangered species, successfull action or campaign is another solid step towards sane forestry in Australia and intelagent use and protection of our natural resources.
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