Fridays4forests Lismore branch continues to nag our politicians to get with the program and set about saving our precious forests.
On 23rd October, we actually got the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) gazetted and approved by both houses of NSW Parliament. You may have thought we already had the GKNP approved? The machinations of government are a puzzling business.
First the GKNP had to qualify as a viable Carbon Credit project. (Yes, they are trying to put a monetary value on the environment!) Then the Park had to be gazetted in Parliament. Then there were amendments… there’s more to it, but you get the gist.
As your eyes glaze over, please be comforted by the fact that for all of this year, the logging stopped in most of the Great Koala National Park. That has been the result of many years of pressure from many groups and businesses, working to get the ear of government and raise awareness as to the incredible value of intact forests.
Our group is quite worried that the mismanagement of our State forests by NSW Forestry Corp will be allowed to continue.
Forestry Corp has used our Public forests (belonging to you and me apparently) like a mining resource.
Many breaches of their own rules and losing millions of tax-payer funds doesn’t seem to make a difference to their existence. Any other business would have been deregistered and removed from operations before doing any more damage.
You would think the new Environment Laws should allow the natural death of this organisation, but some are working hard behind the scenes to ensure the continuing existence of these cowboys. We will be keeping our locals informed as soon as we know which way the wind is blowing.
Lismore4forests hold a permanent spot at The Channon Market. For the 50th Anniversary and until the New Year, we will be focussing on raising awareness about the Richmond River Koala Parks. These National Parks contain high biodiversity forests in the lower Richmond Catchment. We hope to use the model of the Great Koala National Park to support our efforts.
Dailan Pugh OAM and team have put up the proposal. As many know, Dailan has worked long and hard to ensure the establishment of the GKNP and is keen for that model to be adopted here. So far, Lismore4forests have over 200 letters signed to go to Premier Minns requesting they keep to the 30X30 commitment made by our National and State governments.
30X30 means 30% of Australia conserved by 2030. For the State to meet this commitment, they will need to include the high biodiverse forests in the Richmond River catchment.
We will continue to promote our campaign letters available at Channon Market and on our new Lismore4forests facebook page at: www.facebook.com/groups/1818838709121933 to get the numbers up, because as we all know, numbers matter!
On facebook, our group is getting some attention (negative) from logging supporters, so it seems we are hitting the mark!
