[Greens-Media] Logging on Brown Mountain is state sanctioned vandalism (Sue Pennicuik MLC Vic)

[Susan.Pennicuik at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Friday 7 November 2008

Logging on Brown Mountain is state sanctioned vandalism


Greens MP, Sue Pennicuik said today that logging at Brown Mountain in East 
Gippsland is state sanctioned vandalism and a blatant overturning of the 
ALP's 2006 commitment to protect old growth forests in East Gippsland.

Addressing protestors on the steps of state parliament, Ms Pennicuik said 
that "Nineteen years ago a forest protest at Brown Mountain stopped 
logging there in the lead up to the 1990 federal election. It is 
outrageous that it has commenced again now." said Ms Pennicuik. "The 
continued logging of old growth forests in this time of climate change is 
an absolute disgrace."

"You would think that the state government would have had time to learn 
since 1990 that old growth forests are much more valuable as critical 
carbon and biodiversity stores than as woodchips. The forests of East 
Gippsland must be protected and not logged as fodder at a bargain basement 
price for the Eden chip mill," she said.

The current Minister for the Environment Gavin Jennings should remember 
the Brown Mountain forests well. He was centrally involved in the 
negotiations which led to logging being stopped in 1990 in his role as an 
adviser to the then Environment Minister.

"Brown Mountain is part of the Snowy River catchment and so should be 
protected for that reason alone," she said."It forms the headwaters of the 
Bonang River and contains giant old-growth trees, which have been 
identified and mapped as part of a community-supported "Valley of the 
Giants" walking track. Many Victorians will have walked parts of Brown 
Mountain and have seen the magnificent trees for themselves."

"The government says it wants to deliver a 5,000 ha link between the Snowy 
and Errinundra National Parks. Brown Mountain is a vital part of this 
link," she said.

"It's not good enough for the Premier to claim he can't do anything. This 
forest is owned by the Victorian people. The logging contractors must be 
removed immediately and the area included for protection when the 
government (finally) delivers on it's 2006 election promise to protect 
40,000 ha of old-growth and iconic forests in East Gippsland," she said.

Background
This area contains three highly contentious areas of forest known as 
coupes (840-502-0015, 840-502-0019, 840-502-0020) that were only added to 
the logging schedule in July 2007.  Logging of these coupes would clearly 
contravene the government's commitment to protecting the last stands of 
old-growth forests in Victoria. Coupe 840-502-0020 is the one currently 
being logged.


For more information - Sue Pennicuik – 0407 000 270

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