We call on the Federal and State Governments to immediately stop logging and all other forms of degradation in our public native forests.
Australia now faces the existential crises of catastrophic climate change and biodiversity loss. Species are hurtling towards extinction as they face a rapidly changing climate and habitat destruction. Forest-dependent species are especially under threat following the catastrophic 2019/2020 bushfires in eastern Australia.
Scientists and economists around the world are calling for immediate and far-reaching action to address climate change and biodiversity loss. One action that has strong support from experts, as well as overwhelming community support, is to stop the logging of native forests.
Australia’s native forests are ecologically unique and provide invaluable benefits to our society. These benefits include carbon storage, water supply, erosion control, pollination, nutrient recycling and biodiversity. Native forests are culturally, economically and spiritually significant to First Nations Peoples and provide all Australians with recreational and spiritual benefits.
A significant area of Australia’s native forest is on public land. That is, land directly under the responsibility and management of governments on behalf of the public.
Forests on public land must be managed in the public interest and for the public good and not logged and degraded to benefit a few.
Conservation of privately owned forests needs to be encouraged with financial incentives.
By protecting our remaining forests, and restoring degraded areas, we can actively address the biodiversity and climate change crises. Protecting and restoring forests will significantly reduce Australia’s greenhouse emissions and help to store and sequester carbon. It will also secure and improve habitat for Australia’s unique wildlife and create numerous job opportunities.
We call on State and Federal Governments to:
1. Immediately stop the logging and all other forms of degradation in our public native forests;
2. Develop stronger regulations and incentive programmes to encourage private landholders to protect and restore forests;
3. Invest in the management of forests for biodiversity, carbon storage and catchment integrity, including the restoration of degraded native forests. This will create a wide range of regional jobs in forest management;
4. Recognise the rights and interests of First Nations in the public forest estate and genuinely consult and negotiate on future forest management;
5. End public subsidies across the logging industry;
6. Ban the use of native forest wood as biomass for electricity generation;
7. Invest in ecologically-sensitive farm forestry plantings for biodiversity and timber.
Maggie Cowling
ACF Community Melbourne North by North West
Meredith Stanton
Australian Forests and Climate Alliance
Dr Aila Keto and Virginia Young Australian Rainforest Conservation Society
Peter Lockyer
BEAM Mitchell Environment Group
Caroline Joseph
Bellingen Environment Centre
Shaunti Kiehl
Biomass Action Group (BAG)
Louise Morris
Blue Derby Wild
Dr Bob Brown and Jenny Weber
Bob Brown Foundation
Sam Dawson
Caldera Environment Centre
Judith Bourne
Canberra Forest Alliance
John Edwards
Clarence Environment Centre
Joslyn van der Moolen
The Coastwatchers Association Inc.
Bob Debus and Christine Milne
Colong Foundation for Wilderness
Sarah Day
Eco-Shout
Jill Redwood
Environment East Gippsland Inc.
Dr Marion Cincotta
Extinction Rebellion Grey Power Vic.
Cat Macleod
Extinction Rebellion Darebin
Claire Burgess
Extinction Rebellion Tasmania
Kim Croxford
Forest Basecamp (Taungurung country)
Alana Mountain
Forest Conservation Victoria
Miranda Gibson
Forest Defence NSW
Sean Cadman
Forest Walks Lodge
Jack O’Hare
Forestry Watch
Sean O’Shannessy
Fridays4Forests
Lisa Roberts
Friends of Bats and Habitat Gippsland
Cam Walker
Friends of the Earth Melbourne - Forests Collective
Dr Leonie van der Maesen
Friends of the Earth Western Australia
Nick Hopkins
Friends of the Forest - Mogo
Steve Meacher
Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum
David Clarke
Friends of Noojee's Trees
Angela Wallace
Friends of Pine Creek
Robyn Grant
Gippsland Environment Group
Chris Schuringa
Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO)
Alex Wylie
Grass Roots Action Network Tasmania
Kevin Evans
The Great Koala National Park
Paul Payten
Great Southern Forests
Karena Goldfinch
The Great Tree Project
Prof. Don White
Green Shareholders
Catherine Jones
Kalang Land Environment Action Network
Katherine Kelly
Kalang River Forest Alliance
Daniel Peterson
Lismore Environment Centre
Sally Wylie
Margaret River Regional Environment Centre
Peta Goodwin
Nannas for Native Forests
Paula Flack
Nambucca Valley Conservation Association Inc.
Dr Grahame Douglas
National Parks Association of NSW
Chris Gambian
Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Zianna Fuad
Newry Native Forest Blockade
Cath Rouse
Newlands Friends of the Forest
Scott Sledge
Nimbin Environment Centre
Jim Morrison
North Coast Environment Council
Susie Russell
North East Forest Alliance
Leif Lemke
Orama River Care Association
Meghan Halverson
Queensland Koala Crusaders
Bev Dick
Rubicon Forest Protection Group Inc.
Scott Daines
South East Forest Rescue
Ann Taket
Sybil Disobedients - Naarm
Harriett Swift
South East Region Conservation Alliance NSW
Dr Helen McKernan
Save Our Strathbogie Forest
Dr Jennifer Sanger
The Tree Projects
Nick Fox
Warburton Environment
Jess Beckerling
Western Australian Forest Alliance