I refer to the recent letters concerning the destruction of the Otway native forests (17/2, 2012). On Saturday 8 February, the Apollo Bay Landcare Group and the Otway Ranges Environmental Network (OREN) held a rally in the Otway State Forest to protest the logging of the Wild Dog and East Barham Valleys and to consider ways of protecting the forest.
The groups are concerned for the preservation of the beautiful ridges of the forest which are very visible from both Wild Dog Road and the main Skenes Creek-Colac Road in this important tourist area, but they have a deeper concern for the preservation of the untouched temperate rainforest that lies in the heart of these valleys.
Logging will do untold damage to the quality of the rivers and to the many native species that are to be found in the area, Including the endangered masked owl and tiger quoll. Although logging: companies are supposed to leave a buffer of same 50 metres around any rain forest when clear-fell logging it has been shown that this is insufficient to prevent severe drying of the surrounding area. Rainforest deteriorates when put under pressure in this way.
The Apollo Bay Landcare Group calls on the Government to stop logging
in this sensitive area and to move to incorporate the area in the Otway
National Park. Any interested person can contact the Apollo Bay Landcare
Group (PO Box 281 Apollo Bay 3233) for more information.