Destruction and fragmentation of habitat are recognised by scientists worldwide as being responsible for species extinctions. Claims by Dr Robert Bain (13/2) to the contrary are quite misleading. This is evident when you consider that most agricultural and pastoral areas were forests before they were cleared. It is a tragedy that the recently signed Regional Forest Agreement in East Gippland did not take into account endangered species such as the Powerful Owl and Tiger Quolls. The sad reality is that the RFA protects very little and gives a green light to the continued destruction of large tracts of irreplaceable forest.
To add insult to injury, taxpayers pay for forest management, including pathetic attempts to establish regrowth after clear-felling and burning. Corporates and their shareholders pocket the profits. This is not fair or moral. This is an environmental and economic disaster. Jobs provided by unsustainable harvesting in native forests will evaporate when the forests are depleted, a trend already evident in the closure of regional sawmills in Victoria.
Plantations can supply our timber and paper needs - a fact studiously ignored by successive governments who have failed to adequately protect remaining forests and promote sustainable forestry. I, for one, will maintain my rage until the next election, and also choose to buy only from companies that have no products derived from native forest. Wake up to this insanity, Australia, before it is too late.