The Great Southern Forest National Park proposal launched in Eurobodalla
The National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) along with other conservation groups are calling for the creation of the Great Southern Forest, a visionary new national park proposal to protect nearly 1.2 million hectares of forests, wildlife habitat, vital water catchments, and cultural landscapes across southern New South Wales.
At a launch on Friday at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens guests were welcomed to country by Aunty Loretta Parsley.
Forest campaigners with decades of advocacy and traditional owners were in attendance to hear the from the NPA leaders, Sue Higginson MP, Liza Butler MP, Harriet Swift from South East Forest Rescue, filmmaker David Gallan and local campaigner from Eurobodalla NPA Joslyn van der Moolen.
Strong community and government actions to create the globally iconic Great Koala National Park inspired three local South Coast-based NPA branches to join forces to protect their own patches through the Great Southern Forest proposal.
NPA CEO Gary Dunnet speaking of linking the forests said “we must avoid the island mindset.”
“The current pathway is not sustainable and we must think of the future with warmer climate.”
NPA President, Liz Jeremy said “Right now, native forests in southern NSW are being logged at an industrial scale, primarily for woodchips, putting our unique ecosystems and wildlife at risk. The Great Southern Forest is once-in-a-generation alternative that could reverse the fate of these forests and see them thrive again.”
“Stretching from the Illawarra to the Victorian border, the proposal would bring together 55 State Forests, 24 Flora Reserves and 98 existing national parks and reserves into one of Australia’s largest connected conservation landscapes.
“With NSW national parks attracting more than 65 million visits each year and contributing more than $19 billion annually to regional economies, protecting these forests represents a significant opportunity to secure both environmental and economic benefits for generations to come,” said Ms Jeremy.
Joslyn van der Moolen, Convenor of NPA’s Eurobodalla Branch, said the event is an exciting opportunity to bring together people from across the region to hear about the ecological, cultural, recreational and economic importance of the Great Southern Forest “The strong turnout today demonstrates growing community and local business support in securing a long-term future for the region’s forests,” said Ms Joslyn van der Moolen.
“This proposal provides an opportunity to work with stakeholders on increasing their engagement with our public forests. We look forward to continuing conversations with communities, Traditional Owners, local tourism, and primary industry local business, recreation groups, local councils and government in the months ahead.”
Greens MP, Solicitor and spokesperson for the environment Sue Higginson said “It’s exhilarating to see the decades of work by hundreds and thousands of dedicated experts and community members come together in this Great Southern Forests National Park Proposal. This is a moment of hope and vision for communities from the Illawarra to Eden and will benefit the entire Country. I haven’t seen something this positive for nature since the plan for the Great Koala National Park was first revealed some 16 years ago,”
“Industrial scale logging of our public forests on the NSW South Coast is coming to a rapid end. Our high value timber products come from plantations, not our native forests. The millions of public dollars currently being spent to prop up the failing native forest logging industry can not be justified any longer. It should be redirected, and invested in the future of nature protection and public good.”
“The Great Southern Forest proposal is a vital step in reversing species decline and safeguarding our region’s biodiversity.” NPA Far South Coast Branch President, David Gallan stated.
“The proposal would protect more than 10,000 hectares of threatened ecological communities, support 12 endemic and 4 critically endangered flora species, and protect 61 threatened animal species, including the Yellow-bellied Glider, Swift Parrot, Southern Greater Glider, Spotted-tailed Quoll and Southern Brown Bandicoot.
“We need proper protection for our native forests now, more than ever. Every Australian has a responsibility to conserve our unique natural heritage.” Mr. Gallan concluded.
The launch comes amid growing momentum across New South Wales and internationally to protect and restore nature, including commitments to conserve at least 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030.
