Fridays4Forests Exposes Logging at Entrance to World Heritage Border Ranges National Park

On Friday Friday 29th July forest protectors from the Kyogle Environment Group gathered to document industrial style logging stretching for a kilometre along the road just a short walk from the World Heritage listed Border Ranges National Park. Concerned locals are calling for a halt to the logging while a proper assessment of the damage done is made by the EPA.

“While koalas & greater gliders are at risk of extinction – our native forests are being logged and cleared at an alarming rate and our iconic species cannot withstand any further loss of habitat.” said Kyogle Environment Group spokesperson, Tori Bail.

“Kyogle people are justly proud to be known as keepers of the ‘Gateway to the Rainforest’. This reckless damage to our most precious asset is deeply distressing to us all.” she added.

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On the edge of the ancient landscapes of Gondwana, butting up against Bangalow palms & rainforest pockets, this razorback of Private Native Forestry logging clearly shows tracks stretching up towards the escarpment.

“The area could potentially be Eastern Bristlebird habitat. The PNF Code identifies that “These birds are very rare, with fewer than 40 individuals known in northern NSW” & there are known records of Koalas on the identified property. Water erosion will flow downslope and it is yet to be shown if the PNF Code has been adhered to with required spacing to mitigate substantial erosion issues should we get a 3rd round of La Nina in Spring.” Ms Bail said

“The NSW State of the Environment reports makes it clear that maintaining native vegetation in good conditions is critical to the survival of the species & ecosystems that depend on it. There has been around 10,000 hectares altered or removed in Kyogle LGA between 2009 and 2019 according to the Regional State of the Environment Report.” pointed out Ms Bail

Private native forestry (PNF) is a form of forestry on private land. Landholders must apply for a PNF plan approval under the Local Land Services Act 2013. However there is concern that there may be breaches on this property and the environmental damage has been reported to the Environment Protection Agency asking them to investigate with urgency to see if the Private Native Forests Codes have been followed.

“If ever there was a case for why the May 2022 PNF Codes need to be tightened not relaxed, this is it. Right here on a popular tourist route, just metres from the Tweed Scenic Rim we are seeing destruction to loss of habitat, & aesthetic values on the steps of the world class Gondwana Rainforest.” said Tori Bail (Kyogle Environment Group)