What a turn out! 100 march to save unburnt forests. The rain poured and the mists moved through the tall forests of Toolangi as residents and conservationists joined in to protect the precious Toolangi Forests form woodchipping. Save Sylvia was launched in order to protect a beautiful piece of unburnt Old Growth forest just 500 metres from Wirra Willa. A popular tourist destination and old rainforest. The forest is a mixture of tree's from the 1920's back to the 1600's. Yes the 1600's!
According to the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the forest contains critically endangered Leadbeaters Possum, rainforest of state significance and senescent Mountain Ash tree's. There are ferns in the understorey that could be as old as from the 13th century AD. These towering ferns are 8-10 metres tall and occur alongside the endangered Tree Geebung and old Mountain Pepper. Preliminary studies have found the forests meet Leadbeaters Habitat Zone 1a.
Locals are planning to continue to gather to block operations. The Dept. of Sustainability and Environment will also be in there while they are logging, as they investigate our concerns. Interesting concept - like removing the evidence before police can investigate.
Thanks you to everyone that braved a cold, bleak and uninspiring picture of yet another unburnt forest being chopped for Australian papers REFLEX copy paper. It is a day of National shame. 1000 Leadbeaters are thought to be left in the wild and Just 2000 hectares of old growth mountain ash forest remain unlogged and unburnt since 1939, so places like this are really too precious to lose.
The response from acting Premier Louise Asher is a tragic testimony to the vapid environmental leadership we can expect from the National run Coalition that governs this land. Take charge, join us tomorrow at 9.00 a.m at the Toolangi Pub to march into the operation again.
Alternatively write to Ms Asher or call her and let her know what you think: louise.asher@parliament.vic.gov.au 03 9596 9680
Text reposted from Myenvironmentinc newsletter
Account and photos of demo from Yarra Ranges Councillor Samantha Dunn
Update on the campaign
Yesterday, about 25 people braved the cold and wet yesterday morning to turn up on site, but logging did not take place. This morning, however, VicForests has sent the bulldozers back in to destroy these beautiful forests.
Your urgent attention and help is needed. The fight to save these forests will continue for some time, and your ongoing support is critical to getting the attention of government to clean up its act.
A meeting has been organised for tomorrow (Wednesday) night to determine what the local community is going to do next.
Please come along to join the discussion about ‘where to from here’ and hear from locals, MyEnvironment Inc. Friends of Mt St Leonard, The Wilderness Society and legal experts to find out how to help protect these forests from being turned into woodchips.
‘Where to From Here’
CJ Dennis Hall
Main Rd, Toolangi
Wed July 20th, 7pm
Please let all your contacts, family and friends know about this important meeting. We cannot let the state government and VicForests get away with this environmental vandalism.
Please be on notice that the logging of this area is imminent and there is a tentative plan for a community action on Thursday morning.