Old-growth trees logged at Brown Mountain over 500 years old

The Brumby government's 2006 policy to protect old-growth forests in East Gippsland has been put to shame by VicForests who has been caught out logging trees over 500 years old.

In a state first, radiocarbon dating has confirmed that a tree logged and killed at Brown Mountain began growing before Christopher Columbus 'discovered' the Americas.  The carbon sample shows that there is a 68% chance that the tree started growing between 1435 and 1490 AD, and it is believed that there are even older trees being logged.

In 2006, the ALP state government promised to protect the last significant stands of old growth forests.  In a move that can only be described as environmental and political vandalism, VicForests sent the bulldozers into the first of three logging coupes at Brown Mountain in October last year.

Recent flora and fauna surveys have revealed that Brown Mountain is extremely rich in arobreal species and contains endangered species such as the Orbost Spiny Crayfish and the Long-footed Potoroo.

However, VicForests continues to ignore community calls to end the logging at Brown Mountain and has refused to remove two more coupes planned to be logged any day now.

VicForests must be reigned in from destroying East Gippsland's last remaining unprotected old-growth forests.

Take Action!

Old growth giants logged at Brown Mountain. Photo: Jill Redwood

Write to Premier Brumby

Premier John Brumby

1 Treasury Place
Melbourne Victoria 3002

premier@dpc.vic.gov.au

Send copies of your letters and emails to:

• Gavin Jennings,
  Minister for Environment and Climate Change
  gavin.jennings@parliament.vic.gov.au


• John Lenders,
  Treasurer
  john.lenders@parliament.vic.gov.au


• Rob Hulls,
  Deputy Premier
  rob.hulls@parliament.vic.gov.au

Letters and emails don’t have to be long.

Two or three short paragraphs are fine (short letters are preferable). Introduce yourself and express your views strongly as to why it is important to you that these forests are protected. These are your forests. They do not belong to the woodchip or logging companies.

Ask the Premier/ Minister/ local MP what they are doing to protect these unique forests, and to let you know. Ask questions, create a sense of urgency, and let them know that you expect a reply. Ask how they are able to justify this continuing destruction, as it doesn’t make environmental or economic sense. Lastly, tell the Premier/Minister/ MP that you expect the ALP Government to keep its promise to immediately protect the last significant stands of Victoria’s old growth forest currently available for logging.

Meet with your local MP 

- Discuss the issue of logging old-growth forests and why it matters to you. Make this an issue any Victorian government cannot afford to ignore.