[Greens-Media] Intervention needed to save South West from reckless logging frenzy

[Guthrie, Shane]

Intervention needed to save South West from reckless logging frenzy
Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, Greens WA forests spokesperson Lynn MacLaren MLC. 2 July 2013.

The decision of the Environmental Protection Authority to allow the logging of almost 40 per cent of Western Australia's jarrah, karri and marri forests is a disaster in the making, the Greens warned today.

Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the South West of the State is a precious biodiversity hotspot that warrants Federal protection from the "misnamed Forest Management Plan 2014-2023".

"This move is the latest in a series of decisions by the EPA that raises the question - why does it exist?  The Barnett Government has demonstrated again that it can't be trusted with the environment.  The Commonwealth needs to intervene and protect Western Australia's native forests - which are of national ecological importance, and vital to the future of tourism in our State.

"It's hard to fathom why Federal Labor is trying to palm off more environmental decision making to the states when the Barnett Government continues to sell Western Australia's future out by destroying native forest, approving uranium mining, and backing industrialisation next door to 30,000 year old rock art and whale sanctuaries," said Senator Ludlam.

Greens MLC Lynn MacLaren said the decision is unacceptable and would see too much of WA's precious southwest forest fall to the chainsaws.

"The value of our South West forests is higher if they aren't logged," she said. "Converting a beautiful jarrah tree into a small pile of woodchips is a crying shame.  Forests have tremendous value in the carbon stored and the habitat provided for many species. They play a vital role in a drying climate, not to mention the aesthetic value."

"I hope the Minister sees this plan for what it really is: destructive, unproductive and unsustainable."


Contact:  Giovanni Torre - 0417 174 302