NATIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION OF NSW INC

PO Box A96 Sydney South 1235
Ph: (02) 9233 4660 Fax: (02) 9233 4880

EDEN FORESTS DECISION

One Third of Old Growth Forests Not Protected
Clearfelling Continues

The National Parks Association today challenged the accuracy of claims by the NSW Government that old growth forests in Eden have been adequately protected and called on the Premier to review the decision.

NPA's analysis of the Premier's announcement reveals that 36% of Eden's old growth forests are not protected in the new reserve system.

"Nearly half of that unprotected old growth, some 15, 000 hectares, occurs in areas left under the control of State Forests agency", said Noel Plumb, Executive Officer of NPA.

"This includes giant brown barrel and grey gums 60 metres high and 500 years old in the Nalbaugh, Coolangubra and Cathcart forests on the Great Dividing Range, directly adjoining the existing South East Forests National Park."

"The last time that State Forests agency was left in charge of highly sensitive old growth in this area, in 1993, they clearfelled it even though it was designated in their own plan of management as a specially sensitive area. This led to the last major forest blockade in the South East Forests, Compartment 1402 in the Coolangubra Wilderness, where the vandalism was finally stopped. Over 1200 conservationist were arrested in the long fight to protect Coolangubra and the South East Forests."

"Today we have learnt that Compartment 1402 and others in the Coolangubra Wilderness have been sentenced to the woodchip pile. The public should be outraged."

The government has also made no commitment to end the clearfelling for woodchips in Eden's continuing timber production forests despite Bob Carr's promises to end export woodchipping by 2000.

"Extensive old growth and its dependent wildlife, birds, bats, possums, gliders and reptiles, cannot be protected in an environment of clearfelling, burning and extensive roading, even if State Forests agency could be trusted '', said Mr Plumb.

For further comment: Noel Plumb 02 9233 4660 or 018 975 075


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