EAST GIPPSLAND

The forests of East Gippsland are expansive and very rich. This area contains one of the greatest percentages of Old Growth Forest in Australia and this means rare and threatened plants and animals can survive here. The two main problems in East Gippsland are the lack of protection for Old Growth Forest in forestry areas and the protection of rare and threatened animals and plants.

Protection of Old Growth Forest

There currently is no protection for Old Growth Forest in logging areas in East Gippsland.

The Victorian Governments line is that the 15% required by the Commonwealth is fullfilled by Old Growth contained within Victorias National Parks. This is a legal loop hole and does not follow the spirit of the Federal Governments National Forestry Policy. For example, in NSW all Old Growth is protected weather it be in State Forest or National Parks.

Australia as a continent has roughly 4% of it's Old Growth Forest left and state boundaries should not allow this percentage to decrease.

Not only is the Victorian Government removing sawlogs from this Old Growth, they are clearing these areas for plantations !

[Old Growth / Plantation]

Protection of rare and threatened animals and plants, Water values

All protection for Flora (Plants), Fauna (Animals) & Water values is contained within the Forest Code of Practices and the East Gippsland Management Plan.

For example a permanent creek is classified as a stream that flows more than 90% of the year. These streams and their gullies are essential for animals even when they are not flowing as there is still water in the ground. New knowledge about elnino suggests that we now have times of greater rainfall then longer dry times. This suggests that the classifications for creeks should be altered.

[Creek bed]

Another example is that of the Endangered Owls. Owls are territorial and in many cases hand their territory over to their children. If they are discovered near a logging operation, they are expected to move into a National Park or a special habitat area. It would seem more sensible to alter the harvest plan from clearfell to selective log, This way only the mature sawlogs are removed which will retain the Owls habitat and food supply, effectivly allowing the Owls to continue living in the area.

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