Victoria Updates

Historic Brown Mountain court battle begins - March 03, 2010

The legal battle to protect Brown Mountain's ancient forests has begun in the Sale Supreme Court this week, with the opening of the Environment East Gippsland vs VicForests court case.

Migrating oceanic sharks less protected than ever! - February 19, 2010

Populations of sharks are declining worldwide. Sharks continue to be at risk internationally from over-fishing, illegal trade (e.g. shark fins), habitat degradation, incidental bycatch as well as emerging threats such as climate change. Despite supporting their listings as internationally vulnerable on the IUCN red list and the Australian Government’s commitment to international shark protection and conservation, Environment Minister Peter Garrett suddenly changed his mind.

The Long-footed Potoroo - February 18, 2010

In 1967, an East Gippsland dog-trapper found a strange little mammal in one of his snares near Brown Mountain. The creature was transferred to Melbourne, but sadly didn’t make the trip. Zoologists recognised it as a potoroo - but knew it wasn’t the Long-nosed potoroo they’d met before.

Brown Mountain to stay green – for now - February 18, 2010

Brown Mountain, in Victoria’s East Gippsland, is home to magnificent old-growth trees as well as endangered species like the Orbost spiny crayfish and the Long-footed potoroo. But despite previous promises from the Victorian government to protect the last significant stands of old-growth forests in the state, Brown Mountain still has no protection against logging by VicForests.

End of the Gunns20 legal saga - February 02, 2010

More than five years after writs were first issued, the Gunns lawsuit saga has come to an end for all 20 defendants with the decision by Gunns to drop its remaining claims against four defenders of a small valley on the edge of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

River Red Gum National Parks a reality - January 11, 2010

Victoria’s much-loved magnificent River Red Gums along the Murray, Goulburn and Ovens rivers in northern Victoria were protected forever in National Parks in the lead up to Christmas late last year.

Lack of leadership breaks election promise to protect Victoria’s old-growth forests - November 12, 2009

The Wilderness Society expressed dismay at how the state government has not delivered on its 2006 state election promise to protect old-growth forests. After years of negotiation, the state government has capitulated to the logging industry over the interests of the public.

The Wilderness Society puts forest and indigenous peoples' rights protection on the table in Barcelona - November 06, 2009

In the final days of international climate negotiations in Barcelona, Spain, the Wilderness Society's Luke Chamberlain and Peg Putt joined with indigenous communities from around the globe to call for protection of the world's forests and indigenous people's rights.

VicForests' 2009 Annual Report reveals $5.1 million loss - October 22, 2009

In another blow to the Victorian taxpayer, VicForests' 2009 Annual Report has revealed losses of over $5.1 million.  Whilst taxpayers foot the bill, export woodchip and paper companies continue to bask in the supply of cheap pulplogs being logged from old growth forests and water catchments.

Taking our 350.org forest protection message to the world - October 20, 2009

Last weekend, the Wilderness Society took our forest protection message to the world by joining in with the lead up to 350.org's International Day of Action.  A giant spectacular message was stamped in a clearfelled forest of the Central Highlands of Victoria.