SAVE PINE CREEK KOALA HABITAT FROM CLEAR-FELL LOGGING – Support the Forest Bridge Proposal

Pine Creek State Forest in the Mid-North coast retains the highest density of wild koalas within a state forest in NSW, surviving untouched by the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires. The Pine Creek koala populations and their habitat are currently under threat from clear-fell logging by Forestry Corporation of NSW. State Forest plantation compartments containing established mixed native forest and Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) designated koala hubs, are being clear-felled, with more compartments planned for clear-felling in 2024. Areas of Pine Creek SF are under review for inclusion in the Great Koala National Park, however, their value for the conservation of koala populations and other forest-dependent species will be lost if they are logged before their protection can be legislated.

 

 

URGENT ACTION REQUIRED TO SAVE COMPARTMENTS 15-18

NSW State Forest Compartments essential to the koala populations of Pine Creek and the wildlife corridor proposed in the Forest Bridge (see below), are under imminent threat. These compartments are listed as plantation forest by Forestry Corporation of NSW but contain intact sections of mixed native trees, including koala feed and home tree species. These are not mono-culture plantations, they are thriving ecosystems that provide a home to koalas and many other native species. In November 2023 Compartment 14 (an OEH koala hub) was clear-felled, displacing koalas, and compartments 15 -18 (containing koala hubs and large sections of native forest) are proposed for clear-felling in June 2024. Ecological and citizen science surveys conducted in 2023, showed these compartments contain healthy koala populations.

Koalas in NSW are listed as ‘endangered’ under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), with their biggest threats coming from climate change, habitat loss (land clearing) and disease. The destruction of vital habitat through clear-fell logging is an unacceptable risk to the survival of our iconic species, already enduring the effects of catastrophic bushfires.

 

 

The Friends of Pine Creek (FOPC) are committed to ensuring that the koala population of Pine Creek SF survives into the future through the protection of their home ranges and habitat by implementing the ‘Forest Bridge’ proposal (read on to find out more). Please help us save Pine Creek’s koala habitat by signing this petition to say NO to clear-fell logging in Pine Creek SF and YES to the Forest Bridge proposal.

SUPPORT THE FOREST BRIDGE PROPOSAL.

The Forest Bridge proposal seeks to permanently conserve a critical area of public State Forest as a wildlife corridor south of Coffs Harbour on the Mid North coast of NSW, linking the coastal Bongil Bongil National Park to the western tablelands of Dorrigo World Heritage National Park and beyond. Currently there is a gap between Bongil Bongil NP and Bindarri NP that is occupied by small sections of Pine Creek and Tucker’s Nob State Forests. In 2021, both Bongil Bongil National Park and Bindarri National Park were listed as Assets of Intergenerational Significance for koalas by the Minister for Energy and Environment, warranting them special protection. This places Pine Creek SF as one of the most important state forests in NSW for koala conservation. The ‘Forest Bridge’ proposal adds the missing section to this nationally important wildlife habitat continuum of permanently conserved public forest, requiring only approx. 1650 hectares to complete. It will secure a permanently protected land bridge for native terrestrial and arboreal wildlife to safely move east to west, from sea level on the Pacific Coast to over 1500m altitude in the magnificent World Heritage areas of New England and Dorrigo National Parks. This corridor will become very important in mitigating the effects of a warming climate. Please sign this petition to support the Forest Bridge Proposal and stop the logging of Pine Creek koala habitat. To find out more visit www.friendsofpinecreek.com

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WAYS YOU CAN HELP 

The Great Koala National Park consultation process is currently underway, but essential habitat is due to be logged before this process can be completed. In addition to signing this petition, please consider emailing the ministers to demand the protection of Pine Creek koala habitat and to support the Forest Bridge proposal.

 

1 Smith, A. P. (2004). Koala conservation and habitat requirements in a timber production forest in north-east New South Wales. Conservation of Australia’s Forest Fauna, 2(1), 591-611.

2 Richards, P (2023) Field Survey in parts of Pine Creek State Forest compartments 15, 16, 17 and 18. Submitted for publication.