The Wilderness Society backs community action on illegal landclearing in NSW

The Wilderness Society (Sydney) Inc
Media Release
17 February 2008

The Wilderness Society is supporting local community action in Tocumwal to protest against the clearing of River Red Gum trees along the Murray river.

“This clearing of a large area of Red Gum woodland right alongside the Murray river again highlights the Premier’s failure to deliver on his commitments to end broad-scale landclearing in NSW” says Timothy King, NSW Campaigns Manager from The Wilderness Society.

”Landclearing continues to be a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and is a threat to the future health of our rural communities, our rivers, and our wildlife.”

“The local people in Riverina are quite right to be enraged by this large clearing of River Red Gums which was spotted by a local canoeist from the Murray River. People living along the Murray realise these forests form part of a unique and threatened ecosystem which deserves to be protected.”

“The Wilderness Society is pleased to be able to offer its support for local community action in this case and will be assisting the community to press its concerns with the Premier and relevant government departments”.