Forest protectors Valerie Thompson and Kashmir Miller face court in Ballina today, charged with a series of offences related to suspending logging works in the Doubleduke State Forest.
Ms Thompson stopped work in the iconic forest for 30 hours over 9 and 10 March in 2023. The forest was subsequently placed under an EPA-imposed stop work order, after Forestry Corp NSW were found to have not even mapped the giant trees the forest is affectionately named after.
‘This forest is one of the few places in NSW which is a stronghold for three large forest owls in the one place – the masked owl, powerful owl and barking owl,’ said Ms Thompson.
‘When will the real criminals of the forest face court for their crimes against the forest and iconic species like the koalas, yellow bellied gliders, the powerful owl, barking owl and masked owl who rely on this forest?’
Outstanding ecological value
Local ecologist Anastasia Guise has identified the forest as having ‘outstanding ecological value with trees of irreplaceable quality’.
She also noted that the logging was given the green light in error, based on outdated ecological reports that had been written before the two fires 2019 that devastated the important wildlife corridor.
Valerie Thompson said, ‘We all want these magnificent old trees to continue to exist in this native forest that is right on our doorstep – along with the diversity of wildlife they are home to.
‘We call on the Labor government to immediately act to protect these giants, put real controls on FCNSW forest malpractice, and end all subsidies propping up this destructive industry. We need a rapid transition out of native forest logging to an end this wasteful destruction for good.
‘By ending native forest logging, the NSW public will be secure in the knowledge that these magical forests will stand for generations to come, playing their essential role in preserving our biodiversity and climate,’ she said.
Ms Thompson and Ms Miller have been charged with three forestry regulations relating to entering a closed forest and stopping work by being tied to forestry equipment suspended from a tree.
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