A new court case against VicForests highlights the risk to the endangered greater glider from current logging practices in Victoria’s native forests, according to BEAM Mitchell Environment Group.
The summons to VicForests has been issued by environment group Kinglake Friends of the Forests and covers all forests in the Central Highlands, including those in Mitchell Shire.
Expert advice supplied by Associate Professor Grant Wardell-Johnson for the case said that gliders had very small ranges, not travelling more than 70 metres from their nests in old hollow trees.
If the trees around their homes were chopped down, these gliders would die.
The group said the gliders were already at risk of extinction from increasing bushfires and climate warming, as well timber harvesting.
Citizen scientists from BEAM Mitchell Environment Group have returned to surveying in the Tallarook Forest, and will start surveying in the Mt Disappointment Forest.
Every new glider detected will be another one saved. Already more than 110 greater gliders have been recorded.
The group said Mt Disappointment had been heavily logged by VicForests in recent years and the Tallarook Forest had 14 areas proposed for logging.
BEAM president Peter Lockyer said the high level of greater glider presence in the Tallarook Forest gave weight to BEAM’s call for the forest to be safeguarded from logging and re-classified as a regional park.
“Logging in native forests has limited value and is a cost to Victoria’s taxpayers,” he said.
“All our wood product needs can easily come from plantation forests or farm forestry, noting the bulk of native forest harvesting for woodchips, not saw logs.
“Daniel Andrews and the Victorian Government just need to make this change happen, with an immediate and consultative transition plan.”
Mr Lockyear said turning the Tallarook Forest into a regional park would have value to the whole community “forever”.
“It would provide a climate change refuge for threatened species,” he said.
“It would store carbon and help bring down carbon from the atmosphere.
“The park would provide more recreation opportunities for Mitchell Shire residents, increase tourism opportunities and create more jobs and protect the greater glider and other endangered species.”
BEAM’s next spotlighting night walk in the Tallarook Forest to find greater gliders will be on January 15 and public participation is welcome.
Fore more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/Save-The-Tallarook-Forest or email Paul Macgregor at tallarookforest@gmail.com