Media
Threatened species yield ground to loggers
Josh Gordon
August 17, 2011
VICTORIA'S old-growth forests could be opened to more logging under a state government plan to dilute environmental laws designed to protect threatened species.
The Age has learnt that the Department of Sustainability and Environment is quietly examining Victoria's 23-year-old Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act so that the existence of animals deemed threatened or endangered is less likely to derail logging proposals.
Baillieu must stay true to the environment
August 18, 2011
Opinion
The list of worrying conservation policies is too long.
THE Liberal Party in Victoria has a proud history of protecting the state's environmental heritage. Sir Rupert Hamer's government of the 1970s, in particular, left a legacy of environmental concern and legislative reform that continues to enrich the state's famed liveability. The Hamerite Victorian Liberal tradition is founded on such things as the strengthening of environmental protection laws under the watch of an independent and well-resourced Environmental Protection Authority and, perhaps most valuably, the creation of so-called green wedges between Melbourne's transport corridors to act, in Sir Rupert's memorable phrase, as the ''lungs of the city''. It would therefore be surprising, and distressing, if the Liberal/National Coalition government of Ted Baillieu were to preside over a diminution of Victoria's natural assets. Yet, the early signs are not good.
Protesters target VicForests' Healesville HQ
The Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader Newspaper
17 Aug 11 @ 12:40pm by Staff writer
PROTESTERS are descending on VicForests’ Healesville office after an expected showdown with the timber industry fizzled.
Loggers, activists clash over forest
Adam Morton
August 17, 2011
CONSERVATIONISTS have held up timber workers in a fiercely contested area of native forest on Melbourne's fringe for nearly a month, chaining themselves to bulldozers and climbing trees scheduled for logging.
The protest, which has led to at least 10 arrests, is expected to reach a climax today as activists and local residents march into the logging coupe outside Toolangi in Victoria's central highlands.
Loggers, activists clash over forest
Adam Morton
The Age
August 17, 2011
CONSERVATIONISTS have held up timber workers in a fiercely contested area of native forest on Melbourne's fringe for nearly a month, chaining themselves to bulldozers and climbing trees scheduled for logging.
The protest, which has led to at least 10 arrests, is expected to reach a climax today as activists and local residents march into the logging coupe outside Toolangi in Victoria's central highlands.
Gunns settles legal action with protesters
August 12, 2011
Timber company Gunns has reached a settlement over its legal action against a group of forest protesters.
End logging to cut carbon: study
BY ROSSLYN BEEBY, SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT REPORTER
11 Aug, 2011
Australia could meet almost half of its 5 per cent greenhouse reduction target by ending logging of native forests, according to a new economic study.
The report, by Australian National University climate law expert Andrew Macintosh, estimates ending logging would generate enough carbon credits to meet 45 per cent of Australia’s emissions reduction target. In order to meet the 5 per target, Australia will need to reduce its carbon emissions by 152 million tonnes by 2020.
“It’s one of the fastest and cheapest ways for Australia to cut its emissions,” Mr Macintosh said.
Forestry deal hits headwinds
August 9, 2011
The intergovernmental agreement designed to save the Tasmanian forestry industry is meeting more opposition in industry and business groups.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard signed off on the $276 million deal in Launceston on Sunday, headlined by $85 million to support contractors and their families affected by the downturn.
Local residents blockade forest logging in Toolangi
9 Aug 11, by stewart kerr
Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader
A team of volunteers has stopped logging in Toolangi Sate Forest in a last ditch effort to save the threatened Leadbeaters Possum from extinction. The “Gunbarrel” and “Freddo” coupes on Sylvia Creek Road contain old growth forest that was spared from the Black Saturday fires, but is scheduled to be clear felled by state owned company Vic Forests. Wood from these forests are largely going to make Reflex paper which has sparked a boycott of brand led by the Wilderness Society. The around 30 protesters are camping on properties of local residents and driving up each day to set up blockades to stop the area being logged.
Forest peace deal under threat
abc.net.au
Aug 8, 2011
Tasmania's forest peace deal is in jeopardy, only 24 hours after it was signed, as the forest industry abandons support because of last minute changes sought by the Greens.
The forest industries association has labelled the deal an abomination and will campaign to have it torn up in parliament.