Victoria’s mountain ash forests are some of the most carbon-dense forests on the planet. The Victorian government must bring forward the date to end native forest logging to the end of 2023. At a time when we need to reduce emissions urgently and increase the tree canopy to draw down and sequester carbon, logging our native forests makes no sense. The logging of our native forests:

• Reduces water volumes and water quality in Melbourne’s water catchments
• Contributes to the extinction of endangered wildlife, most notably the Greater Glider which live in the hollows of trees over 80 years old
• Magnifies the severity of bushfires - the severity and devastation of the Black Summer and Black Saturday bushfires has been scientifically linked to this logging
• Removes the most carbon-dense forests on the planet
• Will cost the Victorian taxpayers an estimated $192 million between now and 2030

The Labor government’s plan is to end native forest logging in 2030, but it is not legislated. We must legislate an end to native forest logging and bring this date forward to the end of 2023.

In conjunction with key stakeholders, we must develop a forestry industry transition program, aimed at reskilling workers as they move out of native forest logging. Here this program will aim to offset the job losses brought on by the cessation of native logging as workers are transitioned into plantation timber harvesting, eco-tourism, habitat regeneration and other sustainable roles.