A new group that opposes large scale forest destruction plans to host a series of public information sessions.
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The No Electricity From Forests group says there is 'real community anger' over proposals to clear-fell increasingly larger areas of local forests, says the group's spokesperson Frank Dennis.
"And this is for wood chipping to provide fuel for wood fired electricity generation with new power stations planned for Bulahdelah, Kempsey and Grafton," he said.
“We intend to oppose what we see as forest destruction on a grand scale.
"While the demand for wood from these three power stations will lead to intensive logging of already highly stressed forests and will have unacceptable impacts; very worrying is the fact that the public is generally unaware that the industry is scaling up its operations.
"It will receive large public subsidies and grants, to supply large volumes of wood to lucrative overseas markets for wood fired electricity generation in countries such as Japan, China and Europe.”
Mr Dennis said the group considered this increasing rate of deforestation as a 'disturbing rate of extenctions of forest plants and animals'.
One of the richest and most species diverse forests areas found anywhere on the planet exists here in our back yard on the Mid North Coast.
- Frank Dennis
“One of the richest and most species diverse forests areas found anywhere on the planet exists here in our back yard on the Mid North Coast.
"Forests in our outer highland areas on the escarpment have been classified as World Heritage forests.
“We can’t allow them to strip mine our forests on an increasingly industrial scale, denying future generations all the enjoyment of the forests that we grew up with and expected would be protected in perpetuity."
Mr Dennis said small diameter trees will be harvested under new processes described in industry reports as 'mechanical biomass removal - mechanically removing forest fuel'.
He said illegal clear-felling was also occuring 'unchecked, without any serious sanction'.
“The proposed new logging rules will allow Forestry to clear fell areas from 50 to 80 hectares, areas greater than up to 30 Sydney Cricket Grounds.
"These rule changes will also scrap the requirement for pre-logging surveys for most species, including koalas, and allow logging within five metres of headwater streams.
"All this is supported by huge public subsidies of millions of dollars”.
Mr Dennis urged people to lobby local councillors, state and federal MPs and the Forestry Corporation and oppose these latest work practices.
Dates for the public information sessions will be announced shortly.
To find our more about the group, search Facebook for No Electricity From Forests.