The Greens believe the topic of forest protection is a critical matter 
of concern for many voters in the Gippsland region as it is so closely linked to our clean secure water supplies, carbon storage, climate stabilisation and protection of rare and threatened wildlife.
“The Labor and Coalition parties are turning a blind eye to the devastation that is being wrought in the Strzeleckis and Central Highlands”, says Michael Bond, Greens Candidate for Gippsland.
“My great Uncle, John Youl, worked for the Forest Commission in the 1920s and through the Great Depression with postings throughout Gippsland including Yarram and Heyfield. He won an OBE for ‘services to the timber industry’ in 1970 and loved the forests. In those days small scale local timber-getting operators cut chosen trees only for sawlogs. Today the intensive clearfell operations of VicForests and HVP are driven by giant woodchipping interests and much of this is to supply overseas companies”, said Michael Bond “I think Uncle John would be horrified to learn what’s now happening to his beloved forests.”
