NORTH EAST FOREST DEAL BROKEN
STATE FORESTS ATTACKS OLD GROWTH
The National Parks Association today warned that State Forests had torn up the Government's north east forest decision with a premeditated and widespread attack on high conservation value forest, including old growth areas. These are areas which State Cabinet had decided last November were to be protected in so called 'informal reserves' exempt from logging (Forest Management Zones) under the guardianship of the State Forests agency
"We said at the time that it was putting the fox in charge of the henhouse. Now the Government's chickens have come home to roost," said Noel Plumb, NPA's Executive Officer
"Over 300,000 hectares of old growth, wilderness and other important conservation forest were reserved in these zones instead of the national parks estate as actually required by the forest assessment criteria. When challenged as to why the areas were not simply added to the national parks we received no real answer - now we know why!"
Protesters have already thrown State Forest out of several areas around Dorrigo and the conflict is escalating by the hour.
"The Government has to reign in this rogue agency and realise that the only way these forests can be protected is by adding them to the parks. The attack by State Forests also highlights the folly of the Government's action last year to legislate
to free State forests from any form of Environmental Impact Assessment for a term of 20 years in vast areas of the public forests,
to remove public rights to challenge illegal forestry and
to hobble the power of the National Parks and Wildlife Service to protect threatened species."
"NPA calls on the Government take action to stop State Forests once and for all and to add these areas to the parks system, as it should have done last year."
For further information or comment: Noel Plumb 0412 975 575
8 July 1999