Australian Rural & Regional News sought the response of Forestry Corporation of NSW:

• regarding recent protests against native forest logging;
• as to what timber harvesting has been undertaken recently and what is planned for the region that falls within the site of the proposed Great Koala National Park? and
• what measures are taken to prevent injury to koalas and other wildlife in areas that are subject to timber harvesting?

A Forestry Corporation of NSW spokesperson responded as follows:

Newry State Forest, like all areas harvested for timber in NSW State forests, is a regrowth forest that has been harvested for timber and regrown multiple times before.  

Operations in native forests are always selective, with areas set aside for habitat in every harvest area.

Importantly, every harvest area is regrown to ensure the same forests continue to provide habitat and produce renewable timber for future generations.

On this operation, around 70 per cent of the area will be set aside and not harvested, including substantial protected areas on steep slopes to minimise erosion and protect waterways.

Koala habitat has been mapped across the landscape and Forestry Corporation compiles with strict rules that specify the number and type of koala feed trees to be protected in each area depending on the quality of the habitat.

This means that preferred koala feed and habitat trees are protected in forestry operations.

In addition, targeted ecology surveys and broad area habitat searches must be carried out before every harvesting operation and operators must inspect trees before felling and immediately apply a temporary stop to operations if a koala is detected within a harvest area.

Long-term independent research has shown these rules provide a high level of protection for koalas.

FCNSW has implemented its Operational Guidelines for Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, a due diligence code of practice, for these operations.

Our planning process for all operations includes consultation with the Aboriginal community and field surveys to identify and protect Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.

Detailed environmental protections are in place during all forestry operations in NSW and a thorough planning process must be completed ahead of every operation, which includes ecological surveys and mapping to identify and protect environmental features such as rainforest and old growth, wetlands and riparian zones, threatened ecological communities, ridge and headwater habitat, rocky outcrops and habitat for wildlife including koalas and our planning process includes consultation with community and field surveys to identify and protect Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.

We respect the community’s right to protest but must remind people that active harvesting sites are worksites that contain many hazards and workplace health and safety considerations are of the upmost importance for the safety both workers and the public.

During operations, forests are often legally closed to visitors for safety reasons.

See further: Koalas on the NSW north coast – Forestry Corporation – Koalas on the NSW north coast