Stop logging in Victorian native forests

[Cr David Risstrom]

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Stop logging in Victorian native forests
 
³The Federal Government must act to end logging in Victoria's native forest
and catchment areas to protect biodiversity and water yields,² said David
Risstrom, Greens Senate candidate and Melbourne City Councillor.
 
As a guest speaker at a forum on the effects of logging in Victorian forests
on Tuesday night Cr Risstrom will argue for logging in native forests to
stop.

³Victorian forests, like the Tarkine and the Styx in Tasmania, are under
threat², said Cr Risstrom.
 
³The ongoing effects of logging on Victoria's environment is enormous.
Cutting down trees and clear felling in our pristine and unique forests has
put and continues to put individual species and entire ecosystems in extreme
danger², said Cr Risstrom.
 
³But logging in Victoria has a broader effect than the threat to ecosystems
and native species, it is also a major threat to Victoria's water supply²,
he said.
 
³Water is now recognised as a one of Australia's most important and valuable
resources and we realise that we must act now to ensure we have adequate
supplies of water now and into the future².
 
³Governments at all levels, private operators, farmers and individuals are
changing practices to protect and better use this very valuable resource²,
said Cr Risstrom.
 
³If Governments were serious about saving water they would ban logging in
water catchment areas², he said ³logging in catchment areas is extremely
destructive, it wastes up to 50 percent of the water and removes
approximately 30,000 mega litres per year², he said.
 
³We know this. Scientists know this. Politicians know this. The evidence is
there but being ignored, logging forests in water catchment areas continues,
despite the evidence², said Cr Risstrom.
 
³The protection of Victoria's forest should be a priority for the Federal
Government. The future of Victorian ecosystems and native species and the
maintenance of a healthy water system depends on it², said Cr Risstrom. ³So
does our economy².
 
³It can be done, it just needs a politician with the will to do it but I
don't think the Prime Minister has got it in him², said Cr Risstrom.

Forum details:  Kaliede Theatre RMIT - 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm Tuesday 18 May

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact: Simon Lansdown
Victorian Greens Media Officer: 0415 535 564 or David Risstrom: 0418 502 713




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