Greens applaud landmark forest ruling

In a David vs Goliath battle, grassroots group Environment East Gippsland took on VicForests and won yesterday.  The landmark decision in the Supreme Court found that logging in the established coupes on Brown Mountain was to halt immediately while endangered species such as the long footed potoroo are present.  In his judgement, Justice Osbourne ruled that no further logging take place at all on Brown Mountain until surveys adequately ensure that no threatened fauna is present in other areas that might be scheduled for future timber getting.

Justice Osborn has reserved his decision. It could take anywhere from one month to six months to hand down a finding, but of course we are hoping sooner.
 
The four week trial has been marked by finger-pointing between government logging bodies VicForests and DSE about who is responsible for endangered species. The behavior of those charged with protecting our wildlife has been exposed to public scrutiny and the Supreme Court’s enquiry.

Brown Mountain old growth trees much older than was thought

The University of Waikato, New Zealand radiocarbon dating laboratory has confirmed that a Shining Gum (E. denticulata) cut down by VicForests in the Brown Mountain old growth forest was 550-600 years old.

Greens MP Sue Pennicuik said in parliament today that “VicForests and the Brumby Government cannot ‘replace’ these trees once they are cut down. It would take until 2600AD to regrow a tree to the same size.”

“This ancient tree measured 11 metres around the stump close to the ground. It was young when Joan of Ark lived and before Christopher Columbus discovered America,” she said.

Greens MP, Sue Pennicuik said today that logging at Brown Mountain in East Gippsland is state sanctioned vandalism and a blatant overturning of the ALP's 2006 commitment to protect old growth forests in East Gippsland.