A new report has been co-published by The Tree Projects and Victorian Forest Alliance. It details the carbon emissions from Victoria’s forestry sector. Written by Dr Jennifer Sanger, ecologist from The Tree Projects, this report has been adapted from a similar report released in June 2022 about Tasmania’s forests, Tasmania’s Forest Carbon: From emissions disaster to climate solution.

The findings of this report reveal the impact of logging to the climate and it provides the government with a real opportunity to act on the findings of the report.

On Sunday the 2nd of October, surveys were carried out over 12 areas scheduled for logging, across 6 locations from Toolangi, Black Range near Taggerty, Warburton in the Central Highlands, Alberton West in Gippsland, Colquhoun State Forest in East Gippsland, and Wombat State Forest in the Central West.

60 Greater Gliders were found across the state. Many of these areas will now be temporarily protected by the Kinglake Friends of Forest, Environment East Gippsland and Gippsland Environment Group court case.

The Greens have announced their plan to end native forest logging in Victoria. This is a plan that is in line with an urgent need for transitioning regional communities away from an industry operating at a loss to the taxpayer and a significant cost to the environment. It will see Victoria’s forests protected for climate, water and First Nations culture.

Localisation and community resilience in a time of transition.

The Friends of the Earth Melbourne campaign coordinating and organising team took a trip together for a few days last week, to the country of the Brataualung clan of the Gunaikurnai people in South Gippsland, staying in cosy quarters thanks to a kind and generous volunteer FoE member. 

The Victorian environment minister’s office has refused to extend public consultation on alarming changes that would significantly deregulate logging in Victoria’s native forests and undermine community legal challenges to perceived illegal logging. 

Join us for an urgent webinar with local environment groups as we break down some of the more insidious parts of the code changes and outline the urgent threat to our precious threatened species and ecosystems.

Wednesday, July 28.

Local residents near the Yarram region in South Gippsland have recently been dismayed that their beloved local forest, Alberton West State Forest, has been earmarked by VicForests for logging. Local residents have protested the impending destruction this week.

Alberton West State Forest in the Hedley Range is dominated by large stands of Bluegum and Yellow Stringybark.

World Environment Day is a day to celebrate the wins, and recommit to fighting for the protection of the natural world.

Since the 1990’s, together with Friends of Gippsland Bush (FoGB) we campaigned for the protection of rainforest catchments in the Strzelecki Ranges in Agnes River, Franklin River, Dingo Creek, Albert River and College Creek which resulted in the creation of the Brataualung Forest Park in 2018.  Now, the Brataualung Forest Park in Gippsland is home to some of the most important koala habitat in Australia. 

These forests make up part of the habitat zones of the Strzelecki Koala, Victoria's only endemic koala population. With possibly only 1500 - 2000 Strzelecki Koalas remaining in the wild, every patch of forest matters.

And with no other native forest in Victoria being listed as Reserves over the past decade, places like Brataualung are of great importance.

Can you support us with a tax deductible donation this World Environment Day to ensure we can continue to advocate for this protection for Koalas and their habitat?