Nexus - 0110 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Cook-Causley Committee, only one is an expert in ecology or wildlife. / The other five are all experts in logging; including three NSW Government repres- entatives, Dr R Curtin, Mr R Bridges, and also Dr J Turner. All are senior employees of the NSW Forestry Commission - the promoters of the woodchipping WHAT THE PRIME MINISTER ROBERT J. HAWKE CAN DO... Since 1983, the Hawke Government has allowed woodchip exports from the South East Forests to rise by 42%. In Japan, those woodchips may become cardboard packaging for comic books. We are all under a clear and increasing responsibility to stop the woodchipping of Australia’s native forests. Prime Minister Hawke has the constitutional power to do it. The Federal Government has had the power to control export woodchipping for more than 20 years. Since 1975 the Government has also had the responsibility of protecting forests and wilderness listed on the Register of the National Estate. FOR promoters of the woodchipping plans now under scrutiny. Two of the three Federal Government nominees also have logging industry backgrounds; Dr B Richards, of the University of New England, isa past spokesman for foresters. Dr K Shepherd, Australian National University, is an expert in introduced pine plantations. Professor H Nix, of Australian National University, is the only one who has a specialist background in native forest ecology or wildlife biology. When the commitice was setup in July 1989 it was not chosen by independent scientists, nor by our environment ministers. It was chosen by two men with responsibility for cutting forests down - the then Federal Resources Minister, Senator Cook, and NSW Natural Resources Minister, Mr Causley. Their bias towards logging meant there has been no moratorium or delay to logging during the study. The committee has been obliged to turn a blind eye to the bulldozing of 5,000 hectares of the same forests it was commissioned to study... the same area as the city of Sydney. and degradation and misuse of have logging industry backgrounds; resources, chemical pollution, Dr B Richards, of the University of New half-hearted recycling and England, isapastspokesman for foresters. waste management, global warming Dr K Shepherd, Australian National and the decaying ozone layev..... University, is an expert in introduced The 21st century’s environmental pine plantations. Professor H Nix, of problems present us with a great Australian National University, is the only challenge - to turn from the excesses of one who has a specialist background in human development to ecological native forest ecology or wildlife biology. sustainability. At the heart of this When the committee was setup in July challenge is preservation of the earth’s 1989 it was not chosen by independent last wild places. scientists, nor by our environment Australia’s eucalypts have taken forty ministers. It was chosen by two men with million years to evolve. Our ancient responsibility for cutting forests down - ‘oldgrowth’ gum forests were here long the then Federal Resources Minister, before European settlement. They holda Senator Cook, and NSW Natural unique place in the inventory of the Resources Minister, Mr Causley. Their earth’s living heritage, home to bias towards logging meant there has Australia’s great diversity of plants and been no moratorium or delay to logging animals, wild and scenic rivers and rich during the study. The committee has been Aboriginal tradition. obliged to turn a blind eye to the Since 1788, half of Australia’s native bulldozing of 5,000 hectares of the same forests have been destroyed. Forest now _ forests it was commissioned to study... covers only 5% of the continent. More _ the same area as the city of Sydney. than 100 plant and animal species have been lost, giving Australia the highest 4 wealth of evidence already recorded extinction rate of any continent F on the planet. More than 500 species are SHEPOTLS p POnae OTe of the threatened. Despite this tragic history, South East Forests in Australia. only 13% of remaining native forests are protected in reserves like National Parks. The latest independent research, The Cook-Causley Report is due to be released in May 1990 by the Australian released on June 30, 1990. Thisis astudy | Museum, renews the call for immediate of NSW and Federal Government plans protection of surviving oldgrowth for logging and woodchipping in the forests. What happens to the region will South East Forests. bea major factor in deciding the future of Thousands of Australians hope the native forests across Australia. But report will resolve conflicts over the unless the Government knows that you region’s future by recommending the care, it may not move to save them. Your protection of precious areas of oldgrowth _letters DO make a difference... native forest. Sadly, the result could be . r very different. Of the six scientistsonthe Wie your letter now: WRITE TO THE PRIME MINISTER HE HAS THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWER FOR CHANGE. Using any of the information provided here within your brief letter, will help to make sure he uses that power. HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED ... Writing to the Prime Minister is only the first step of many to help save the South East Forests. You can also... get more information; visit your local member and put across your views on the forests; write a letter to the editor of your newspaper; raise the issue of the forests on talk-back radio; help on a stall to give out information and encourage others to write letters; join in non-violent direct action to draw public attention to the forest’s plight; copy this and pass it on. SOUTH EAST FOREST ALLIANCE For more information, or to make a donation or offer your help, contact any of these environmental organizations... THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY (02) 267-7929 (03) 670-5229 AUST CONSERVATION FOUNDATION (02) 247 4285 TOTAL ENVIRONMENT CENTRE (02) 241 2523 CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF THE S.E. REGION & CANBERRA A wealth of evidence already supports protection of the South East Forests in Australia. (06) 257 6646 SOUTH EAST CONSERVATION WORKING GROUP (064) 92 3134 EAST GIPPSLAND COALITION (03) 650 8011 write your letter now! OL ——————— ————eeee—e—eeeeeeO OO EEE Nexus #10