The National Parks Association welcomes today’s commitment by the NSW Greens to end logging in NSW’s public native forests and calls on all parliamentarians to work towards this goal.

NPA President Dr Grahame Douglas said that, while a move to 100% generation of construction timber from plantations has become inevitable, it is essential that we protect the biodiversity jewels of our public native forests from any further damage while that transition is underway.

‘Forest biodiversity under immediate threat includes a significant portion of the proposed Great Koala National Park near Coffs Harbour. Forestry Corporation’s harvesting plans will decimate around 10% of the park over the next year. NPA calls for an immediate moratorium on all logging within the boundaries of the proposed park.’

‘The Great Koala National Park has been designed to protect critical populations of NSW’s most loved wildlife icon, the Koala. Koalas are on track to disappear forever if we don’t act swiftly. The people of NSW would be absolutely horrified if they understood just how much Koala habitat Forestry Corporation is targeting for destruction’ Dr Douglas concluded.