The Victorian Government has signed an agreement with Hancock Victorian Plantations, which ensures the destruction of native forest in Gippsland’s Strzelecki Ranges.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings and HVP’s CEO Linda Sewell claimed that under the agreement, native forests across HVP’s entire estate in Gippsland’s Strzelecki Ranges would be protected.
But no mapping has been provided to back up their claims. Both finalised the legal agreement, after reaching a secret in-principle agreement in May.
The agreement ignores the Government's 2006 election commitment to protect the 8000 hectare Cores and Links’ area and create a reserve to be managed by the Trust for Nature.
Mr Jennings tried to put a positive spin on the deal saying “It will result in the immediate protection of the native forest in the Cores and Links and the eventual protection of all areas of the Cores and Links.
“1500 hectares of plantation areas within the Cores and Links will be subject to a one-off harvest, with those areas progressively regenerated and placed into public reserves and protection over the next 20 years.”
Unfortunatelty the deal means that native forest in areas such as College Creek will be trashed and turned into wood chips...
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Tags:
hancock, logging, rainforest, strzelecki
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