Regional Forest Agreement - Review 2010
Review of the effectiveness of the RFA in Victoria 2010
Review of the effectiveness of the RFA in Victoria 2010
Scope of this Submission
This submission highlights the ineffectiveness of governments in protecting the environmental values which form the core of the Regional Forest Agreements. Through years of independent assessment MyEnvironment Inc has documented many case studies where the Regional Forest Agreement is failing to be effective in meeting its environmental objectives. This submission is a ground truth of the government and industries miss-representation of the effectiveness of the Regional Forest Agreement.
Victorian Regional Forest Agreement Submission - (Un)sustainable
This submission presents a case where National Estate values were deliberately ignored in the RFA formulation and highlight how the RFA’s then failed to protect RFA recognised species such as the Baw Baw frog. The case reveals how members of the Victorian government removed crucial chapters of a state government commissioned report that recommended the protection of the Baw Baw plateau and escarpments. The removal of these chapters ensured that one of the world’s most significant ecosystems remained available for clear fell logging, a practice permitted under the RFA.
We then show why sustainability can’t be measured through the RFA process because of a lack of data.
And conclude with our recommendation being for the removal of the RFA’s and the immediate cessation of wood chip related forestry in the Central Highlands.
RFA review subm.pdf 293.29 kB
East Gippsland RFA Review - Dean Haywood
The review of the East Gippsland RFA which was signed over 13 years ago is overdue. The Victorian Government failed to honour its undertaking to review the RFA in 2002 and the second 5 year review, due in 2007, is well overdue. With less than 7 years to run, it is quite puzzling why a review is now so urgent, particularly when both Governments have already decided that no major changes are allowed under the current review:
The review to which this report contributes will not open up the RFA’s to renegotiation, however both parties may agree to some minor modifications to incorporate review findings.