March 27th 2023 – Late last week the Forestry Corporation changed the status of a contentious area of Bulga Forest from ‘active’ to ‘suspended’.
“We are really pleased that the immediate threat to Bulga Forest has receded somewhat. While the area can be made ‘active’ again at a moments notice, the fact that after 3 months of our campaign, this change has been made on the website, suggests, Forestry Corporation have backed off for the time being as a result of community pressure”
said Save Bulga Forest spokesperson Dr Jarra Hicks
Protesters made it clear that they are prepared to be arrested during actions to stop logging the Bulga Forest:
° Forest defenders and climate activists arrested in Bulga State Forest
° Locals protest NSW Forestry logging in Bulga Forest
“As a result, our big post-election meeting at camp yesterday resolved to pull down our camp at the Ellenborough Falls reserve in Elands, on the understanding that should logging resume, another camp will be established.
“Since we took our first blockade action on December 20 last year, there have been less than 2 days of logging activity in Bulga forest. We’re calling that a win. For now.”
Dr Hicks said.
The Forestry action spread to other forests and protests even locked out Forestry Corp’s headquarters: Forest protesters lock out Forestry Corporation’s HQ.
° Forest wars in Shallow Crossing State Forest, South East NSW
° Forest action spreads to Doubleduke & Lorne State Forests
° Mother & daughter’s protest stops logging in Yarratt Forest on Mid-North Coast, NSW
The Bulga Forest protesters were heard by their local council who voted to #SaveBulgaForest – Midcoast Council Votes to Save Bulga Forest on Biripi Country. Midcoast Council unanimously supported a motion put forward by Greens Councillor Dheera Smith, calling for a just transition from native forest logging to ecologically sustainably managed plantations and farm forestry.
Sign the petition to Save Bulga Forest
A petition to NSW Parliament calls on the Legislative Assembly to urgently take all necessary steps to:
a) Arrest all logging in public native (non-plantation) forests or, at least, arrest such logging while the House seeks to
b) Expedite the transfer of koala and other wildlife habitat, in public native (non-plantation) forests throughout NSW, to national parks, and
c) Ensure that relevant parts of the Bulga State Forest are included in the expansion of nearby Biriwal Bulga National Park in Mid North Coast of NSW.
Heron Creek Sawmill
Heron Creek Sawmill, the biggest native forest mill in NSW, now owned by Pentarch, was a focus of protests and three women were arrested in two seperate protests:
° Knitting Nanna blocks saw mill & stops logging trucks
° Two more women lock-on protests at Heron Creek Sawmill
“We understand that Bulga forest won’t be safe, until all the native forests on public land are safe, and the forests are no longer being logged. The new Labor Government has not committed to do that as yet. However we hope that they will be more open to the scientific evidence, which is mounting every day, that shows the logging needs to stop.”
“Last week there was a new report showing the devastating impact logging is having on hundreds of species. We know too that the carbon, capture and storage function of forests is impaired by logging. With increasing extreme weather events, older, larger trees are better able to stabilise the catchment. And economically, the people of NSW would save money if the logging were to stop.”
Dr Hicks said.
Forestry Corporation’s behaviour was been highlighted and shared with the broader community:
° Out of control Forestry Corporation caught destroying more Koala habitat
° Forestry Corporation of NSW amassed huge fines since 2019 bushfires
Change of Government in NSW
Native timber harvesting in state forests became an election issue in NSW and the ALP committed to establish a Great Koala National Park on the mid-north coast, NSW.
Candidates forestry policies were noted:
° Greens plan to Save Koalas, End Clearing of Koala Habitat
° Who Supports Koalas & Native Timber Logging in NSW Election 2023 and voters supported a change in government.
“With a new Government there is an opportunity for reason to prevail. Save Bulga Forest will be using all available means to convince them of the need to act, and do so urgently, before much more forest is lost,”
Dr Hicks said.
Non-violent protests against the destruction of forests has a long tradition. Lola Koala’s Tree-Sit In Bulga Forest Continues A Tradition Of Forest Protest and Forestry Corp is now on notice that they have a fight on their hands.
