In light of claims being made around recent works in Mogo State forest the following comment has been provided by a spokesperson for Forestry Corporation of NSW: Mogo State Forest is a regrowth forest that has been producing timber for generations. Forestry Corporation’s current timber harvesting operations have been carefully planned to supply renewable timber for the local community today while preserving the health and biodiversity of the forest and recreational opportunities for the community into the future.
Close to a third of the area Forestry Corporation is currently working in will not be harvested. Across the remaining area, Forestry Corporation’s highly qualified forest technicians and ecologists have conducted thorough surveys for threatened species and have identified additional feed trees and hollow bearing trees, which will be protected during operations to help maintain continuous corridors of habitat and food for species like the yellow bellied glider, glossy black cockatoo and the swift parrot.
Every timber harvesting operation has a detailed harvest plan prepared in line with strict rules developed by expert panels to ensure threatened species are protected across the landscape. This process is completely transparent – known reliable threatened species records are presented in all Forestry Corporation harvest plans, we publish all our plans on our website, we are audited by the Environment Protection Authority and we are independently certified to the internationally-recognised Australian Standard for Sustainable Forest Management.
Forestry Corporation has balanced recreation and tourism opportunities with the active management of forests for timber production for generations and the State Forests of the South Coast won gold at the South Coast Tourism awards in 2016, recognising the value of Forestry Corporation’s tourism contribution.
Wombats are not frequently found in this area of Mogo State Forest and ecologists have found limited evidence of wombat burrows. However, in response to concerns raised by the community Forestry Corporation has worked with the Wombat Protection Society of Australia to provide additional training and guidance to all staff on this operation.
The areas of State forest that are available for harvesting make up just four per cent of the 23 million hectares of forested land in NSW. Timber harvesting in NSW is carefully managed to ensure State forests continue to produce a sustainable supply of timber while supporting thriving populations of native species, which are consistently found throughout State forests as a result of many years of well-managed, sustainable forestry practices.
