DEAR News Of The Area,

IN response to the letter ‘How wildlife is protected in State Forests’ (Coffs Coast News Of The Area, September 3 Edition).

National Parks and Wildlife withdrew the licences for logging in Pine Creek State Forest in October 1995 as a consequence of extensive clear-felling of core koala habitat (approximately 30 Ha or 70 acres).

Reports were prepared by two independent scientists, and it was scathing.

“Clear felling in Pine Creek State Forest is far removed from ecologically sustainable forestry and can only be described as conversion of native forests to tree farms,” the report read.

“Unharvested trees left standing after removal of Sawlogs appear to have been bulldozed, windrowed and burnt before the areas were replanted with plantation species.

“Undoubtedly koalas and gliders were killed by logging.”

As a result, a koala management plan was required before logging could resume.

A part of this plan included testimonies from former loggers and ex-Forestry workers “who were concerned at the over logging with the advent of ‘integrated logging’ 1990”.

“You need a range of species to make a sustainable forest.

“Until the conservationists strengthened their attack, there didn’t seem to be a concept of protecting any species other than for commercial purposes and practically every species in the forest other than Blackbutt and Flooded Gum became targeted.

“You don’t do the forest any favours by bringing in all the Blackbutt and Flooded Gum.”

The original forest in Pine Creek as described by E.H.F. Swain (District forest Bellingen) in 1912 listed Grey Gum, Tallowwood and Brush Box as the major wood species on the ridges with Blackbutt last and the forest floor smothered with tree ferns and Burrawangs.

With multiple rainforest species in the gullies.

Forest practices on the Mid North Coast have converted these moist sclerophyll forests into dry blackbutt forests.

The new Integrated Forest Operations Approval, allows clear-felling of native forest up to 45 hectares, larger than the devastation of 1995.

The attempted ‘Green Wash’ by Forestry is just that.

Regards,
Friends of Pine Creek.