In the wake of the Commonwealth notices on applications for protection of public forests in the Five Forests area and Bodalla area the conservation group South East Forest Rescue today announce they have stepped up the campaign to end native forest logging on the south coast.
“We have repeatedly requested that Forests NSW listen to the community’s concerns,” said Ms Lisa Stone, spokesperson for South East Forest Rescue. “We have repeatedly requested that Forests NSW adhere to the law. This has fallen on deaf ears.”
“We informed Forests NSW that there was application for emergency protection in with the federal government,” said Ms Stone. “Forests NSW knew about these applications because they were informed by the federal government and they still kept logging and burning. This is evidence of the disregard and contempt for the law that Forests NSW have.”
This was also evidenced by Forests NSW actions on Monday, in Bermagui State Forest. Forests NSW crossed over the road to the eastern side of the compartment into what is known by the community as the Cathedral of Trees. Over 70 residents held a peaceful protest. Forests NSW declared a prohibited area to keep the people out. South East Forest Rescue requested that Forest NSW honour both the community’s wishes and the Biamanga Board of Management’s request to the state Ministers, and discontinue logging. Forests NSW called the police and threatened to have people arrested.
“Forests NSW must discontinue logging of both the Bermagui State Forests and Bodalla State Forests,” said Ms Stone. “As citizens cannot take Forests NSW to court for a breach of their Act, or any Act, or any law, or take out injunctions, the only choice we have is to put our bodies on the line. We have asked Forests NSW to cease logging. We have made many representations to the state and federal Ministers. We have made application to the NSW Ombudsman.”
Section 40 of the Forestry and National Park Estate Act bars third party litigation.
The police officers on-ground at Buckenbowra State Forest yesterday stated that conservationists were telling lies. However a contravention of the terms of a licence makes the person carrying out the forestry operations liable for offences, even if the licence provides a defence. It is an offence for a person to damage the habitat of a threatened species, population or ecological community or damage critical habitat of threatened species under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974; it is an offence to pollute waters under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.
“We do not lie,” said Ms Stone. “Rainforest logging is illegal in New South Wales. The licence that logging is conducted under, the Threatened Species Licence, upholds this as it does that logging of Rocky Outcrops is prohibited. These are criminal offences, much like driving under the influence or committing a hit and run. Yet again police are being used to aid or enable unlawful logging operations.”
The Commonwealth Government has announced that there will be a cessation of native forest logging within six years.
“This is not soon enough,” said Ms Stone. “We will continue to fight until Forests NSW can prove what they are doing is sustainable and start adhering to the law or until there is an end to native forest logging on public land.”
The Zapatistas have a saying - 'Ya Basta' which means 'enough is enough'.