In a concerning development for Australia’s iconic marsupials, logging activity has ramped up significantly in forests earmarked for a koala national park under the NSW Labor government, according to a new analysis by conservation advocates. The report, which the state’s forestry corporation disputes, reveals that over 7,000 hectares have been logged within the proposed sanctuary’s boundaries in the 21 months since Premier Chris Minns took office on a platform promising to establish the protected area.
Veteran conservationist Dailan Pugh, who leads the North East Forest Alliance and sits on the government’s community advisory panel for the park, asserts that this accounts for approximately 8.4% of the area identified as potential logging zones. Alarmingly, these heavily impacted regions provide critical habitat not only for vulnerable koala populations but also 37 other threatened species.
Accelerated Destruction Despite Election Promises
The findings have ignited frustration among environmental advocates who accuse the Minns government of dragging its feet on fulfilling a key election commitment. In the lead-up to the March 2023 state election, Labor had pledged to create a “world-class” koala sanctuary, yet nearly two years later, the boundaries remain undefined as logging operations continue unabated.
“We were promised a world-class national park. That’s been reiterated many times since. We just want that to be done and the degradation to stop.”
– Dailan Pugh, President of North East Forest Alliance
Pugh’s analysis, which relied on the NSW Forestry Corporation’s own data and satellite imagery, paints a grim picture of accelerating habitat loss. In the 98 months between Labor’s initial 2015 pledge and their 2023 election victory, approximately 20,630 hectares were logged. However, in the mere 21 months since taking power, an additional 7,185 hectares have fallen – with the pace of destruction only quickening.
Disputed Figures and Delayed Decisions
While the NSW Forestry Corporation contests the report’s numbers, arguing there has been no increase in harvesting within the assessment area, conservationists remain unconvinced. They point to the Minns government’s failure to implement a logging moratorium during the prolonged evaluation period as evidence of misplaced priorities.
In examining over 176,000 hectares of state forest for inclusion in the proposed park, policymakers have also had to grapple with the potential economic fallout for the timber industry and affected workers. However, this drawn-out process has left critical koala habitats vulnerable to ongoing degradation, prompting environmental groups to demand swifter, more decisive action.
Political Failure and Ecological Consequences
NSW Greens environment spokesperson Sue Higginson pulled no punches in her assessment, decrying the situation as a “political failure” on the part of the Minns government. She argued that allowing logging to proceed apace in areas potentially designated for protection undermines the very concept of a national park.
“A national park is about protecting the values that logging takes away. You’ve actually degraded the very promise you’ve made.”
– Sue Higginson, NSW Greens Environment Spokesperson
As koalas face mounting threats from habitat loss, climate change, and disease, conservationists warn that time is of the essence. With every passing month, critical forest ecosystems are being pushed closer to a tipping point, jeopardizing the long-term survival of one of Australia’s most beloved creatures.
Urgent Call to Action
The damning findings have spurred renewed calls for the NSW government to expedite its assessment, finalize park boundaries, and halt logging operations in these ecologically sensitive areas immediately. Conservation advocates are planning a rally in Coffs Harbour to ramp up pressure on policymakers and demand concrete action.
As the debate over balancing environmental protection with industry interests rages on, one thing remains clear – the fate of NSW’s koalas hangs in the balance. With every tree felled, their chances of long-term survival grow slimmer. The question now is whether the Minns government will honor its commitments and take decisive action before it’s too late, or risk being remembered as the administration that presided over an ecological catastrophe.
