Alleged Illegal Tree Clearing in Yarra Ranges National Park
Yarra Ranges, Victoria – Conservation groups are expressing outrage after an endangered Greater Glider was discovered dead in a habitat tree allegedly felled by Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) in the Yarra Ranges National Park.
The Greater Glider was found early this morning by citizen scientists who had previously alerted state and Commonwealth ministers to the presence of these endangered animals in the area. Despite these warnings, FFMV has continued to fell ancient hollow-bearing trees within the park, which is home to several threatened species.
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Conservationists argue that FFMV’s activities are in clear violation of the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. Detailed evidence has been submitted, highlighting the significant impacts on the critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possum and the endangered Greater Glider, among others.
“This is endangered wildlife culling,” stated Blake Nisbet, spokesperson for Wildlife of the Central Highlands. “We specifically informed the government that Greater Gliders were nesting in this tree. Instead of intervening, they chose to knowingly kill endangered wildlife.”
Matt Ruchel, Executive Director of the Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA), condemned the lack of action by state and federal environment ministers.
“This is disgraceful and has to stop. The survival of threatened wildlife is being ignored, with deadly consequences. We need an immediate halt to these operations and a thorough ecological assessment.”
Nature and community groups had warned that the destruction of old hollow-bearing trees along 250 km of fuel breaks within the Yarra Ranges National Park was devastating critical habitats for threatened species, including Leadbeater’s Possums, Gang-gang Cockatoos, Swift Parrots, and Greater Gliders.
Members of Wildlife of the Central Highlands (WOTCH) and the VNPA were dismayed to find that both Greater Glider and Leadbeater’s Possum habitats were logged near the intersection of Road 12 and Forty Mile Break over the weekend.
Lawyers from Environmental Justice Australia have written to Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and State Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos, detailing allegations that these operations violate the EPBC Act, which mandates referral, assessment, and approval of activities likely to impact listed threatened species.
The Victorian Government has acknowledged that the operations are not covered by existing EPBC referrals but has declined to comply with the requirements for assessing impacts on endangered species under federal law.
Wildlife Victoria has been engaged to provide veterinary assistance, while government regulators have been notified but have yet to take action.
EJA Special Counsel Danya Jacobs said “Destroying scores of ancient hollow-bearing trees home to critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possums and endangered Greater Gliders, and killing those species in the process, is plainly illegal under Federal environment law and it has to stop. Killing endangered species is also obviously illegal under Victorian law – Forest Fire Management are acting with impunity and must be reigned in by the regulators.”
This destruction of critical habitat of endangered species is clearly breaking federal environment laws designed to protect Greater Gliders and Leadbeater’s Possums, and this is a real test of whether Minister Plibersek will match her words with action and get serious about enforcing the law.
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