National Koala Conference 2017

Transcription

1 National Koala Conference 2017

2 Brief history of Blue Gums in Victoria Late 1990 s/early 2000 s MIS (Managed Investment Schemes) offered huge tax deductions for investing in Blue Gums. 100 s of $millions invested. By ,000 hectares planted in Southern Australia MIS collapsed, many companies forced into liquidation. Media focused on areas where farmers who leased land to plantation companies were left to return their land to farming at their own cost Blue Gum industry in Green Triangle exposed for killing and maiming koalas during harvesting.

3 Blue Gum Industry alive and well in South West Victoria Generates conservative industry estimates of $790 million economic activity per annum. Supports 18,550 Forestry and Transport Jobs. Significant increases in employment in harvest, haulage, processing and export sectors. Many more roles in support services i.e. Spotters. 150 Associated Businesses.

4 PORT OF PORTLAND Largest exporter of hardwood chip in the world. Current year 3.7 million tonnes of blue gum chip and 0.3 million tonnes of blue gum log exported.

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7 Green Triangle area with Koala Zone inset

8 GTRPC Koala Zone for Harvesting

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11 Bessiebelle area 1997

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13 Crawford River area 1997

14 HEY, WE LIVE IN HERE!!!

15 Koala abundance. Blue Gum Plantations have created a temporary (10-15 years) habitat and connectivity. Within the Koala Zone there has been 80,000 hectares of blue gums planted. 0-8 koalas per hectare.

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19 Harvesting processes Log harvesting with either a single grip harvester or a feller buncher which gathers logs as it cuts. In fill chip (chipped on site) or cut to length and trucked to Port. Burning slash either windrows or mushroom heaps. Aerial spraying of coppice. Replanting.

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21 Minister announces new regulations for plantation harvesting. It will now be mandatory for Bluegum plantation management companies in the Green Triangle region, located in far south-west Victoria, whose operations may impact koalas, to apply for authorisation under the Wildlife Act Companies will also need to develop a Koala Management Plan that meets minimum requirements that have been set by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). The new requirements will ensure certain practices to protect koalas are implemented by plantation management companies, including the use of koala spotters during operations and the retention of a number of trees around any tree containing a koala. * It does not go on to say that the refuge trees can be cut down as soon as the koala/s vacate.

22 Where do these koalas go? Private land. Parks and Reserves. State forests. Predominantly Messmate (eucalyptus obliqua), low on preference list. Road side vegetation. Other blue gum plantations.

23 Koala using coppice

24 Roadside vegetation Other blue gum plantations & remaining refuge

25 Kurtonitj Indigenous Land May 2017

26 Kurtonitj Indigenous Land May 2017

27 Private land Narrawong 2015

28 Private Land 2017 Framlingham township February 2017

29 Critical Issues Landscape - Over browsing, tree death, irreplaceable loss of valuable tree species particularly Manna (Eucalyptus Viminalis). Accelerated by ongoing extensive plantation harvesting. Welfare - Unlawful shooting of koalas. - Ultimately starvation in large numbers. Lack of action - no tourist attractions in these areas, only media is pro blue gums so no pressure on politicians. If climate change continues on its predicted path, these Southern populations may be the last.

30 How do we start to fix this mess? Target hotspots with health assessments fertility control and translocation. Revegetation and mass plantings with protection from browsing. More research i.e. why do these fluffball s breed in habitat that is so over browsed. Carrying capacity of blue gums appears to be much higher than native species.

31 YOUR COLLECTIVE VOICES ARE URGENTLY NEEDED!! FLOOD THE MINISTERS WITH QUESTIONS i.e. New Regulations for the Blue Gum Industry do not require permanent habitat to be retained for koalas that live there. Why??? The Government is aware of the crisis in Far South West Victoria regarding the overburdened landscape, surely under these circumstances retention of habitat on plantations is CRITICAL. Ms Lily D'Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change

32 Please help us now. Write down the Ministers ment.vic.gov.au Did you do it?