Fears for Leadbeater’s possum after Victorian logging deal is extended

VICTORIA’S critically endangered Leadbeater’s possum may not survive the two-year extension of a deal to continue logging in our native forests, environmental groups say.

Leadbeater's possums are Victoria’s faunal emblem.

VICTORIA’S critically endangered Leadbeater’s possum may not survive the two-year extension of a deal to continue logging in our native forests, environmental groups say.

The Andrews Government has reached a deal with the Federal Government to extend regional forest agreements for East Gippsland, the Central Highlands and the northeast.

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The extension will provide some short-term certainty for logging operations. Victoria’s timber industry generates $7.3 billion a year and employs about 20,000 people.

State Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced under the new deal immediate protection for about 2500ha of environmentally valuable woodland in and around the Kuark Forest, in far east Gippsland.

The Leadbeater’s possum’s habitat is under threat.

About half the area is old growth forest and provides essential habitat for threatened species, including the greater glider.

All large, old trees greater than two-and-a-half metres in diameter across Victoria would also be protected, she said.

But the Wilderness Society and the Australian Conservation Foundation have again demanded called for the immediate end to logging in the critically endangered mountain ash forests of the Central Highlands — the only home of the Leadbeater’s possum.

Wilderness Society Victoria campaign manager Amelia Young said the agreements had been a “disaster”, giving the industry “a special exemption from ­national laws to protect endangered animals”.

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Leadbeater's possums are Victoria’s faunal emblem.

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But Ms D’Ambrosio said the agreements were more than 20 years old and “don’t reflect modern forest science or the needs of local communities”.

Victorian Association of Forest Industries chief executive Tim Johnston said the deal would help many regional employers to invest, create jobs and support their local communities.

“Our state forests provide a sustainable resource that not only supports thousands of jobs directly and in downstream industries, but also generates beautiful appearance grade timbers for furniture manufacturing and structural timber for our vital housing industry,” he said.

Greens senator Janet Rice said: “Currently, 87 per cent of Victoria’s timber comes from plantations. If we ended native forest logging and shifted to 100 per cent plantation wood, we’d not only protect what’s left of our precious forests, but regional communities would have a long-term future.”

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