A local environment group, No Electricity from Forests (NEFF), is concerned recent logging by the NSW Forestry Corporation may have damaged endangered subtropical rainforest in the Camden Haven River catchment of Comboyne State Forest west of Kendall.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The group has lodged a complaint with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) about the matter which is now under investigation.
In January this year, NEFF held an on-site meeting with FC officers from Wauchope and Coffs Harbour to discuss the harvest plan for Compartment 145 in Comboyne State Forest, before the logging took place.
Spokesperson for NEFF and rainforest ecologist, Les Mitchell, said there were discussions about a large area of old growth eucalypt and subtropical rainforest on the steep slopes adjacent to the proposed logging area.
Mr Mitchell said NSW Forestry Corporation agreed the logging would not impact on the rainforest fringe.
NEFF is now exploring whether there has been damage and encroachment into the rainforest after an inspection on May 10.
"Lowland rainforest on the NSW north coast is an endangered ecological community and the disturbance caused by FC logging operations will no doubt see a significant expansion of lantana which was apparent on top of the ridge following past logging activities," Mr Mitchell said.
"Even though the endangered Stuttering Frog was recorded from a protected watercourse within the rainforest, the logging on the surrounding steep slopes may well lead to increased siltation of that stream and thus detrimentally affect the frog."
NEFF said the value of this endangered lowland rainforest in the Camden Haven River catchment is significant.
NEFF have contacted the NSW Forestry Corporation and member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams on the matter.
Meanwhile, Gumbaynggirr custodians are claiming a hard fought victory over the NSW Forestry Corporation in the battle over protection of cultural sites in Nambucca State forest.
Stop work proceedings were filed earlier this month in response to active logging taking place within the Nambucca State Forest over sites that hold significant cultural value to the local Gumbaynggirr Nation.
"There have been concerns about the lack of transparency from Forestry Corporation who have avoided Gumbaynggirr community consultation processes and ignored contact and questions from the community," Sandy Greenwood, Gumbaynggirr custodian and spokesperson said.
"This has been the first positive response from the Forestry Corporation since the protest camp was set up and the forest blockaded."
NSW Forestry Corporation has been given the permission to log 140,000 hectares of coastal forests from Taree to Grafton.
A Forestry Corporation spokesperson said it had already altered its operations in reaction to the impact of the fires on forests, but needed to maintain timber supplies for the rebuilding phase of affected communities.
"Forestry Corporation is carrying out a small-scale low-intensity thinning operation in Nambucca State Forest to produce renewable timber poles and structural timbers that are currently in high demand as communities rebuild after the bushfires," the spokesperson said.
The Gumabynggirr people are calling on the NSW Government to establish a new cultural heritage area that will safeguard cultural sites and endangered species, protect water catchments and boost local jobs in land management and tourism.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.
