Today’s release of the government’s proposed Improved Native Forest Method, which allows governments to claim carbon credits in return for stopping logging has been welcomed by the North East Forest Alliance and North Coast Environment Council as "providing a way to end native forest logging on public land".

Today north coast conservationists say they are shocked and alarmed at footage of the devastation being wrought in Ellis State Forest south of Grafton.

Labor has come under attack for stitching up a deal with the Coalition government to reduce the Renewable Energy Target. The Greens say the deal will mean fewer jobs and less clean energy on the north coast.