A timber harvesting company owned by an Australian state government is facing 29 charges in the Land and Environment Court. It’s understood the matter relates in part to the death of an endangered greater glider at Tallaganda State Forest, near Canberra, which was found near a logging site in 2023.
On Thursday afternoon, the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) announced it had commenced legal proceedings against NSW Forestry Corporation (FCNSW), following a “detailed investigation”. The EPA will allege the company contravened provisions of the Coastal Integrated Forestry Operations Approval, breaching the Forestry Act and the Biodiversity Conservation Act.
World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia said the latest announcement should be the “final straw” for logging in NSW. It joined with conservation groups Wilderness Australia and South East Forest Rescue in urging the state government to follow the lead of other states and ban the controversial practice.
“Forests are far more valuable standing — for wildlife, carbon storage, and future generations. Native forest logging must stop,” its conservation scientist Dr Kita Ashman said.
Company had been searching for noctural animals during day
On August 30, 2023, the EPA issued a stop-work order after the rotting body of a greater glider was found 50 metres from harvesting at Tallaganda State Forest. While FCNSW had been searching for the nocturnal species prior to logging, the company subsequently revealed it was doing so during the day when they were sleeping in hollows.
South East Forest Rescue welcomed the EPA announcement that it would be taking the matter to court.
“Australia is the only wealthy nation still cutting forests down at scale. Eastern Australia remains a global deforestation front, and much of that is driven by logging in NSW. Western Australia and Victoria shut down their native forest logging,” its spokesperson Scott Daines said.
What charges does FCNSW face?
In a statement, the EPA told Yahoo News explained why it has taken action.
“It is alleged that between August 2021 and January 2024, FCNSW conducted forestry operations in seven compartments of Tallaganda without properly identifying and protecting habitat for the endangered Southern Greater Glider,” a spokesperson said.
The alleged offences include:
Failing to properly search for and identify glider den trees before harvesting.
Failing to replace hollow-bearing and other retained trees that were damaged or felled.
Damaging the habitat of a threatened species, the Southern Greater Glider.
FCNSW was contacted by Yahoo News, but it declined to comment as the matter is to be heard in court.
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