A brief article entitled “Just Released: Mirboo North Forest Report by Marg Thomas” was recently published in the Gippsland Climate Change Network News. Marg wrote that this “meticulously prepared informative Report ‘Conservation Values of the Mirboo North State Forest Immediate Protection Area’, will give the reader a better understanding of the importance and uniqueness of the Mirboo North forest, its value to the Mirboo North community and its importance in preserving a natural area.” The full report was published by the Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) and is accessible here.
The VNPA website noted the “Mirboo North State Forest is a High Conservation Value Forest, with significant classes of vegetation deemed either vulnerable, depleted, or endangered” and that this includes “State-listed threatened (Victoria) and nationally listed endangered animals…including the Greater Glider, the Powerful Owl, multiple Burrowing Crayfish species and the Lace Monitor. Community field surveys identified a significant population of Greater Gliders despite the isolation and small size of these forest areas…Iconic and regionally significant fauna species include the Strzelecki (or South Gippsland) Koala, the Superb Lyrebird, and Platypus.”
Marg Thomas noted that the report “takes the reader on a journey into a small but important part of the Strzelecki Ranges Bioregion. It tells of the many native plants and animals found there, of their value to the biodiversity of Victoria and nationwide, of how they provide sanctuary and well-being for the local community and visitors. It tells of how they sustainably contribute to our local economies and critically, the role our forests play in keeping our air and water safe for future generations. The Report tells of why their protection within Australia’s protected area system is so critical. It also tells of how the Mirboo North and district community came together with passion and dedication, backed by citizen scientists, in a campaign to protect these forests.”
The report highlights the importance of biodiversity in a small patch of the bush. And maintaining biodiversity is an essential part of the climate change struggle. Added together they make the case against the logging industry overwhelming. As I have stated on many occasions logging must be ended as soon as possible (see here and here) and we should not have to wait until 2030 for the phase out our government currently intends.