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Logging in the Strathbogie Forest - Peter Holmes

6/10/2016

7 Comments

 
Some of you may already be aware from the news reports in the Benalla Ensign and Country News (21st September), of the situation in the Strathbogie State Forest in the Lima East area, regarding plans by Vicforests to clearfell log a 40 hectare coupe along Parlours Creek.

Members of the Strathbogie Sustainable Forests group have been in discussions with Victorian State government departments and politicians on numerous occasions, firstly successfully lobbying to have the planned burning regime altered to a “need to protect built asset” basis, rather than a blanket 5% per year burn-off, and more recently, had commenced discussions about selective logging, as opposed to clear-fell logging.

The Strathbogie Forest in this area is a mixed species forest of high value for both flora and fauna. There are many large old trees with hollows that support Powerful Owls and Sugar Gliders, and the forest is also home to a good population of Koalas.
​
VicForests is a commercial enterprise of the Victorian government, but it is very heavily subsidised by taxpayer funds. Returns from clear-felling are estimated to be no more than around $40 per hectare in this forest – a disgraceful return given the environmental destruction that is caused by this method of logging. A previous coupe in a nearby location has not recovered in 10 years, despite 3 attempts by VicForests to re-habilitate the coupe. The coupe is generally left as a single species (eucalypt) area, and earmarked for logging again many years later, usually for wood chips. All of this could be much better achieved through growing timber plantations in appropriate locations.
 
If you are interested in learning more about this situation, or wish to become involved in trying to stop the destruction of the Strathbogie Forest, you can follow the progress by Googling the website – “ Our Strathbogie Forest”  (www.strathbogiesustainableforests.wordpress.com)
 
Peter Holmes

By coincidence there was an opinion article in The Age on Wednesday 5th Oct., titled “Logging makes no sense” which really backs up the point made by Peter about the very poor economic return from logging. The article emphasises that unlogged native forest are worth more than logged ones.

John Lloyd

 
7 Comments
Mark Blackwell
12/10/2016 02:14:29 pm

I presume that the residents of Benalla will be happy that the McNulteys mill will shut. Hardwood is accessed from various forest for various mills. Shut the mills down but don't complain when the employment disappears in Benalla.

Reply
Peter Holmes
12/10/2016 09:02:33 pm

The respondent to my article about logging in the Strathbogie State Forest has totally ignored the fact that Vicforests sells off the timber for woodchips. SSF is not opposed to sustainable harvesting by selective logging, which will still allow the forest to recover and not destroy precious habitat. McNultys can still access hardwood timber in that fashion, or better still from hardwood plantations.

Reply
Mark Blackwell
21/12/2016 03:45:49 pm

That is plain not truthful. Not one hour ago I returned from the forest. I would be careful about the allegations you are making

Reply
Glenn Martin
8/1/2017 10:47:02 am

If you wish to save the world, don`t worry about some minuscule one off logging cope in Victoria

Stop advances in medical science now and increase funding for birth control or were all doomed.

Reply
Peter Maddock
10/3/2017 05:14:55 pm

Yes Glen. Population is the elephant in the room when it comes to environmental problems. And the population of Victoria is expected to hit 10 million people by the 2050s and Melbourne's population will double by 2031, new figures indicate, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-15/melbourne-double-in-size-as-victorias-population-10million/7632700. Unfortunately our economy is driven by growth which relies on population growth. This can only put more pressure on what remains of our natural environment.

Reply
Peter Maddock
10/3/2017 05:39:05 pm

From Population Matters, "Population growth is stifling our green and pleasant land" at https://www.populationmatters.org/chris-packham-speaks-impact-population/?utm_content=buffer01a70&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Reply
yvonne szwedyc
11/2/2017 07:25:22 pm

I stopped for a tiger quoll to cross the road at Lima East. Tried everyway I knew to get people interested. Donated money to have dogs trained to sniff out scat. All to no avail.

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