2024-06-11
The NSW Forestry Corporation’s operation at Orara East State Forest, near Coffs Harbour, has been reported to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) by members of the community after it was discovered that only 27% of trees required to be retained for koalas were marked for protection.
Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said “It is disgraceful, although not surprising, that the Forestry Corporation has only protected a quarter of the trees that are required to be protected for koalas - especially in a forest that Premier Minns has promised will become a National Park,”
“This forest is critical koala habitat and the mis-identification of koala trees means that there will be far fewer trees available for this threatened species,”
“This failure by the Forestry Corporation means that the logging in the forest is in breach of the law and will reduce the number of koalas remaining in the Great Koala National Park,”
“It is only thanks to the quick and diligent work of the community that this pre-logging survey has been revealed as unlawful and catastrophic for the koalas. The EPA needs to step up immediately,”
“The planned logging should not be allowed to go on. If this forest is logged over the coming days, then koalas will be killed and the area will see a massive reduction in koala habitat,” Ms Higginson said.