Australia, or more specifically eastern Australia, was identified as one of 24 ‘deforestation hotspots’ around the world in 2021 and the only first world country to be named.
Coming ninth in the list it appears that little has changed and logging of 446 hectares in critical koala habitat in Kiwarrak State Forest near Taree is set to commence this Friday 3 May to coincide with Wild Koala Day.
This is despite strong community opposition, the fact that the Federal and NSW governments invested significantly in this area following the 2019/20 black summer bushfires to help repair the damage, and the fact that the logging activity will barely generate $63,180.
‘It will cost NSW Labor’s Forestry Corporation $1,281 per hectare for their logging of the Kiwarrak Koala habitat and after costs, this leaves a total profit margin of around $63,180. Not only do their operations destroy critical habitat and the Koalas that depend on them, but they do so at a profit margin so meagre it is barely worth mentioning,’ explained Sue Higginson, Greens MP and spokesperson for the environment.
‘The Minns Labor government has promised to reverse the extinction trajectory of Koalas in the wild, but they are also actively contributing to this unthinkable future by continuing to open new extinction logging in areas that should be protected.
‘While NSW Labor is funnelling tens of millions of dollars into building koala hospitals, updating the Koala Strategy and planting seedlings, they are missing the real and serious point. Absolutely none of this will prevent the extinction of koalas in the wild. These strategies represent nothing more than a distraction from the real issue at hand – the continued logging of critical koala habitat in our native forests.’
Flora Reserve
The Kiwarrak community had come together and put a proposal to the Labor government to create a Flora Reserve over the part of Kiwarrak that would have seen critical koala habitat protected from logging.
‘The figures are staggering and the devastation is a disgrace when put in perspective. Kiwarrak could be saved for a fraction of a Minister’s annual salary. The proposed destruction of our precious native forests, NSW Labor could not even buy a mid-range Tesla, let alone a modest suburban home in Taree. Is this really the price of extinction?’ said Ms Higginson.
Valuation calculations:Value of high quality product = $523,680 (6546 T x $80)Value of low quality product =$180,000 (6000 T x $30)Total Product Value = $703,680Average cost of logging per hectare = $1281Cost of logging 446 hectares in Kiwarrak = $640,500
‘The koalas in Kiwarrak barely survived the black summer bushfires of 2019/2020. Just two breeding seasons later NSW Labor deems it appropriate to plunder the critical habitat that is left. The extraordinarily low price Premier Minns and Minister Tara Moriarty are slapping on the extinction of our iconic Koalas is an utter disgrace and must be called out. If it wasn’t so absolutely tragic, it would be almost laughable that on the same day we are set to celebrate and draw importance to the need for the conservation of wild Koalas, NSW Labor’s Forestry Corporation have earmarked Kiwarrak wild Koala habitat for destruction.’
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