The group “Save Bulga Forest” (SBF) is disrupting harvesting out of concern for the area’s threatened and endangered species.

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“We know there are dozens of Greater Gliders and as many as ten Koalas in this patch of forest that have no protection whatsoever from logging,” group spokesperson Susie Russell said before her arrest on Wednesday.

Calling themselves “defenders”, the protesters have climbed trees, constructed a tower over the access gate and chained themselves to machinery.

“Endangered animals, such as the Greater Glider and the Glossy Black Cockatoo are in rapid decline due to their nesting hollow and feed trees being destroyed,” arrested protester Ned* said.

“I can’t stand idly by without at least trying to get this issue in front of decision makers.”

The harvest is across a 100ha area and is fulfilling wood supply agreements to local sawmills and hardwood timber companies on the Mid North Coast.

In response to questions from News Of The Area, the Forestry Corporation said that more than 50 percent of the site will be set aside and not harvested.

“Forestry Corporation carefully plans sustainable timber harvesting in line with the strict guidelines contained in the Coastal Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals (CIFOA),” a spokesperson said.

“Suitable primary and secondary koala browse tree species have been identified and protected [and] more trees will be retained than required under the CIFOA.

“While Forestry Corporation respects the right of members of the public to protest, harvest operations are active worksites, and it is unlawful and unsafe to enter closed areas.”

Forestry representatives met protesters last week to discuss the harvest operation.

An email from MidCoast Council Senior Ecologist Matt Bell was tabled in which he asked that Forestry Corporation activities be suspended and deferred until the koala population had “demonstrably recovered from the impacts of the Black Summer bushfires; and it can be proven that [harvesting] does not physically threaten or stress koala individuals.”

This and the appeals of SBF were rejected.

However, the Forestry Corporation did agree to requests from Biripi Elder Uncle John Clark for information around Aboriginal cultural heritage assessments and consultation.

Forestry Corporation is a State Owned Corporation that has been appointed to manage tourism and recreation, roads, pests and weeds, conservation and fire across approximately two million hectares of public land on behalf of the NSW Government.

The cost of this is largely offset by revenue from timber production.

By Sue STEPHENSON