| Back to Letters | Back to Forest Letter Watch |
Old-growth forests are irreplaceable scenic, biological and scientific treasure troves. Loggers and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment see no value in forests apart from timber. Future generations will hold their heads in despair at our destruction of these forests.
The contribution of logging to the economy is overrated. According to the Western Victoria regional forest agreement, the logging industry is worth only one-sixth of the tourism industry, with nature-based tourism in the area growing at 5 per cent a year.
The sensible option would be to assist workers out of the logging industry and into timber plantations on marginal farmland. Plantations are a win-win-win they provide jobs and timber, they prevent erosion and salinity, and they absorb greenhouse gases.
Before the state election, Labor told the Victorian National Parks Association that it was committed to a reserve system that protects all rare, old-growth forest, and that it would introduce a farm forestry program to encourage native timber plantations on private and degraded land. Good idea - if implemented.
Compared to regional forest agreements, better forest outcomes have
been obtained in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales over
the past few years. Why can't we do the same?
| Back to Letters | Back to Forest Letter Watch |