                 Conservationists in tree canopy lead way for tiny Leadbeater’s Possum
Logging has been halted today in the Toolangi State Forest, in the Central Highlands just an hour and a half north of Melbourne.Â
“The forests of the Central Highlands have been decimated by years of unsustainable logging and more recently by bushfire. Any forest left standing must be immediately protected from logging”, said spokesperson for the group, Luke Pavia.
Independent conservationists have again today halted logging operations by occupying a tree platform suspended 50 metres up in the tree canopy and attached to four logging machines.
“With less that 1 per cent of old-growth forest left standing in the Central Highlands, there is no time to lose”, said Mr Pavia.
“This area is critical habitat for the Leadbeater’s Possum, Victoria’s faunal emblem and critically endangered, numbering less that 1,000 left in the wild. Woodchipping has caused their populations to plummet.”
“How can Victoria’s Premier Baillieu condemn his own state’s faunal emblem to extinction?”
“Earlier this month VicForests’ logging practices were called into question out in East Gippsland where conservationists found they had been unlawfully logging rainforest”, said spokesperson for the group Gillian Edmiston.
“Who’s monitoring VicForests here in the Central Highlands where they are attempting to log precious remaining old-growth forest that is home to tiny, amazing Leadbeater’s Possum?”
“Premier Baillieu must step in, take a stand to protect these forests from unnecessary destruction for woodchips and in doing so save Victoria’s endangered faunal emblem.”
