Conservationists have held a protest weakening native forest logging laws in Narooma Protesters at an Environment Protection Authority "consultation" on the new laws have described the event as “farcical.” “The outcome is a forgone conclusion,” according to Deputy Convener of the South East Region Conservation Alliance (SERCA), Harriett Swift. “In a few weeks’ time the current appalling draft will become law, regardless of anything that anyone says in Narooma today,” she says. “Governments should stop deluding themselves and the public that our forests are a magic pudding that can keep on producing woodchips indefinitely.” “It is simply impossible to reconcile logging at current or greater intensities with meaningful environmental protection.” “The new laws will simply clear the legal decks for the industry to go for broke while there are still some trees remaining. Ms Swift says that NSW and federal Governments should now be looking urgently for fair and responsible ways to wind up the industry. “For decades the south coast region has endured the most intensive logging in the state to supply the Eden chipmill. “The draft new laws, known as Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals (IFOAs) implicitly acknowledge that logging in our region will remain the worst in the state. Other regions will catch up a little, but ours will still be the winner in the race to the bottom.” SERCA is one of a number of forest campaign groups around NSW that have been boycotting similar “consultation” events.
