Tree sit stops logging in old growth forest on the Errinundra Plateau, East Gippsland.

GECO Media Release 14/11/11

Tree-sit stops old-growth logging

Conservationists highlighting the ongoing destruction of old-growth forests in East Gippsland have stopped logging on the Errinundra Plateau by attaching a tree-sit to five logging machines.

The tree-sit is suspended 40 metres high in the tree canopy and is held up by interwoven rope that is tied to the equipment.

‘With waratahs in flower, individual trees expected to be in excess of 500 years old and endangered spot-tailed quolls detected in the area, there’s no question this old-growth forest is worth more standing’, said Amelia Young spokesperson for the conservationists.

The controversial logging coupe in montane, old-growth forest borders the Errinundra National Park and represents some of the last old-growth forest outside of park reserves in East Gippsland.

‘It was recently reported that there is less than one percent of old-growth left in the Central Highlands of Victoria; we expect East Gippsland has not much more.

‘Unfortunately, old-growth forests are now rare and need immediate protection; they have been evolving for 65 million years and are irreplaceable.

The Errinundra Plateau has been identified as a key refugia – a safe place - for threatened wildlife, however it is also targeted for short-term logging projects.

‘Recent Baillieu government announcements seek to make our public forests easier to access for logging by allowing exemptions under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.

‘These proposed and regressive changes to legislation will make it easier for valuable forests to be logged when they more than ever need greater protection as there are fewer and fewer wild places left.

‘We do not want to see one massive, old tree - single log loads - on the backs of logging trucks in 2011; they should be images only from the 1950's’, concluded Ms Young.

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