Woodchip burn plan is madness

Aaron Harvey, Donvale, The Age (letter), 27/7/1999

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Craig Eyes from Business Victoria has obviously never been to East Gippsland if he believes that it is in the best interests of the forest to ''burn the lot standing'' (The Age, 22/7). This is an outrageous suggestion that should be dismissed as madness immediately.

East Gippsland contains forests of enormous value to all Australians. The forests contain high conservation values, such as endangered species like the long footed potoroo which has been recognised by the Government’s own scientists as being of national and international significance.

Burning wood to provide energy as a renewable and so-called "green source" is short-sighted and stupid. When you cut down a forest, you release its store of carbon dioxide. True, a growing forest takes up carbon dioxide, but this is offset by the preceding logging, releasing stored carbon dioxide (from logged trees) into the atmosphere.

This whole idea sounds like a desperate move by the woodchip industry to create a market for itself. The woodchippers of Australia are finding it more and more difficult to sell their tainted product. However, the State and Federal Governments are bending over backwards to accommodate them.


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