Brown Mountain –irreplaceable old-growth forest being logged

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A few weeks ago in late October, VicForests sent logging contractors into significant stands of old-growth forest on Brown Mountain in far East Gippsland.

The walk that was... Brown Mountain contains giant old-growth trees, which have been identified and mapped as part of a community-supported “Valley of the Giants” walking track.

The forests of this area – the Errinundra Plateau – are renowned for their grandeur and unparalleled botanic diversity. Brown Mountain itself forms the only forested link between the Snowy River and Errinundra National Parks.

Brown Mountain is the headwaters of the Bonang River. It contains giant old-growth trees, which have been identified and mapped as part of a community-supported “Valley of the Giants” walking track. Many of you will have walked parts of Brown Mountain and know these trees yourselves.

Brown Mountain forests also provide habitat for threatened species such as the Powerful Owl, the Spotted-tail Quoll, mainland Australia's largest marsupial carnivore, and the Long-footed Potoroo, Victoria's rarest marsupial.

Brown Mountain was listed as a National Estate area by the Commonwealth Heritage Commission in the 1980s, meaning it has long been assessed as being of equal value as those forest landscapes gazetted in National Parks.

Many longer-term Wilderness Society members may recall the summer of 1989-90 which saw strong protest at the logging of Brown Mountain. There has been much community interest in these easily accessible old-growth forests ever since.

Unprotected old-growth Mountain Ash at Brown Mountain. Brown Mountain forests also provide habitat for threatened species such as the Powerful Owl, the Spotted-tail Quoll, mainland Australia's largest marsupial carnivore, and the Long-footed Potoroo, Victoria's rarest marsupial.

During the 2006 Victorian State election the ALP pledged that:
In addition to the Goolengook Block, a Labor Government will immediately protect remaining significant stands of old-growth forest currently available for timber harvesting by including them in the National Parks and reserves system.

The Brumby Government has broken this promise. Not only have iconic areas like Survey Road been heavily logged in the two years since this election commitment was made, Brown Mountain is now also falling to the chainsaws and bulldozers.

If the Brumby government wishes to claim it is delivering a 5,000 ha link between the Snowy and Errinundra National Parks (also part of the 2006 election commitment), then the inclusion of Brown Mountain as part of this link is vital.

The area contains 3 highly contentious coupes (840-502-0015, 840-502-0019, 840-502-0020) that were only added to the logging schedule in July 2007.  Logging of these coupes clearly contravenes the government’s commitment to protecting the last stands of old-growth forests in Victoria. Coupe 840-502-0020 is the one currently being logged.

Take Action:

We are asking that you all call, email or write to the Premier John Brumby and Environment Minister Gavin Jennings demanding that the loggers be pulled out of Brown Mountain immediately, and that all significant stands of old-growth forest remaining in East Gippsland be protected as safe and secure carbon stores.

Say whatever the heart says. You could mention East Gippsland’s forests role as critical carbon banks, biodiversity hot spots, water makers, and their huge tourism potential.

These forests must be protected for our benefit and inspiration, as well as for the benefit and inspiration of future generations.

John Brumby – Premier of Victoria
Department of Premier & Cabinet
1 Treasury Place
Melbourne Victoria 3002
john.brumby@parliament.vic.gov.au
Ministerial Phone (03) 9651 5000; Electorate Office Phone (03) 9300 3851

Gavin Jennings – Minister for Environment and Climate Change
gavin.jennings@parliament.vic.gov.au
Ministerial Phone (03) 9096 8830; Electorate Office Phone (03) 9888 1910

CC your emails to John Lenders, Treasurer john.lenders@parliament.vic.gov.au ; and to Rob Hulls, Deputy Premier rob.hulls@parliament.vic.gov.au

Visit Brown Mountain

Come and see this spectacular forest for yourself before it’s too late.

Be awed by the venerable giants, follow the old-growth forest walk already marked out by Goongerah community and conservationists, see for yourself the impact of the clearfell logging on this magnificent, old-growth forest – which is becoming rarer and rarer in this state. Come and stand in some of the safest and richest forest carbon stores on Earth, and question for yourself the insanity of continuing to log them for woodchips.

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