DESPITE NSW being one of the states that has introduced laws to crack down on certain types of direct activism, some Coffs Coast residents are vowing to protest to protect local forests.

The State Government is seeking to further limit protests by stopping live streaming of actions on social media.

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Recently, in Boambee State Forest, one protester spent three days on a tree sit and two others locked on to a harvester.

The latter two protesters now face four charges each and their bail conditions include “non-association” with each other.

Tom Howell, from the Bellingen Activist Network told News Of The Area, “It’s the first time that this has been used on forest protesters.

“It’s usually reserved for organised crime or bikie gangs.”

Mr Howell said the protesters had never been in trouble before and “bail conditions are usually about protecting the public, not punishing people”.

Last week, twenty-five people walked through a logging site in Orara East State Forest, ten minutes out of Coffs Harbour and stopped logging for an hour.

They were threatened with trespass and moved on.

A spokesperson for the group said that an immediate, absolute end to all destructive logging practices in NSW is the only rational option for protecting habitat forests like Orara East and for slowing the extinction crisis of the east coast’s threatened species.

A spokesperson for Forestry Corporation NSW said it respected the community’s right to protest but reminded people that active harvesting sites are worksites that contain many hazards and workplace health and safety considerations are of the upmost importance for the safety of both workers and the public.

She said that, during operations, forests are legally closed to visitors for safety reasons, with signage displayed on the forest sites and online notices available.

Mr Howell said, “We’re seeing more support than ever before for direct action.

“We’re on the cusp of ending native forest logging in New South Wales, so whatever we save now will be saved forever.”

By Andrew VIVIAN