Goongerah Environment Centre GECO in Goongerah, Victoria | Non-profit organisation

Goongerah Environment Centre GECO

Locality: Goongerah, Victoria

Phone: +61 418 912 625

Address: [email protected] 3888 Goongerah, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.geco.org.au/

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• Environmental conservation organisation

25.01.2022 State-owned VicForests has failed to achieve even the lowest bar of FSC certification, and theyve refused to release the audit results from last year instead opting to blame the board of FSC (who has nothing to do with the audit process), rather than accept they cant meet the standards, let alone follow the law. "Amelia Young, the national campaigns manager with the Wilderness Society, said the court action and the FSC certification failures should send a message to the st...ate governments that own and back the agencies." That message is: get real. Its 2020. Why are you still logging old-growth and threatened species habitat? she said. The auditors are alive to it, the courts are alive to it, the marketplace is alive to it. The Australian public dont want to see old-growth forests logged and threatened species sent to extinction.

25.01.2022 Our good mates at Fauna and Flora Research Collective are back in court in less than 2 weeks to defend East Gippslands precious old growth forests from logging! Despite the governments supposed ban on old growth logging, old growth is still getting the chop under a new definition. The case is the only thing keeping the government accountable to protect these forests. They need to raise 20 grand in just a couple weeks. Please give generously to FFRCs legal defence fund so they have the best chance of fighting for these forests in the Supreme Court.

25.01.2022 Incredible forests in the Cottonwoods in East Gippsland that escape the bushfires. This area is so important for the survival of the Greater Glider as critical climate refuges and unburnt forests which have never been logged. This area is still scheduled for logging when it should be protected. You'd think after the fires the Dan Andrews government would be protecting these forests but instead they're trying to weaken the laws which govern logging and are scheduling more are...as to get the chop. Outraged? So are we! You can take action by emailing these decision makers: Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes https://www.geco.org.au/email_symes Environment Minister Lily D'Ambrosio MP https://www.geco.org.au/email_minister_dambrosio

24.01.2022 Supreme court has granted an interim injunction for 3 weeks. But Djab Wurrung mob are still barred from being on their own country by police and private security. Details to support here

24.01.2022 Now that Bunnings have taken the lead to remove all products illegally sourced from Victorias native forests from their supply chain, the spotlight is on paper and packaging giant Opal owned by Nippon Paper group to boycott ties with government owned logging agency VicForests. Today folks from the Friends of the Earth Melbourne Forest Collective hand delivered a letter to Opals Melbourne office signed by GECO and more than 20 other environment groups from across the countr...y calling on them to stop sourcing their products from Victorias forests following the impacts of the horrific fires, and in light of the damning federal court judgement. The letter states: "Nippon Paper Group is a major driver of the crisis facing Australias native forests, wildlife and communities affected by catastrophic bushfires. Nippon Paper Group is complicit with the breaches of Australias Illegal Logging Prohibition Act (2012) and must take swift action to address the association of its products with the destruction of Australias native forests and extinction of our unique wildlife."

24.01.2022 Over 100 scientists have written to the Dan Andrews government backing world renowned ecologist David Lindenmayer. Earlier this year we received an outrageous letter from the CEO of government-owned VicForests which stated they dont accept his academic "opinions" as fact. The Environment Minister Lily DAmbrosio MP claims theyre working with scientists to protect the environment, but have made plans to log thousands of hectares of recovering forests, even adding 59 new areas to the schedule, all of which contain threatened species. This anti-science approach from the government will continue to fuel the devastating decline of bushfire affected threatened species when they urgently need protection. The government must abandon their plans to salvage log and move to rapidly transition out of this unsustainable industry.

24.01.2022 Another community group Kinglake Friends of the Forest Inc have taken government owned logging agency VicForests to court over failure to comply with the law! That brings the number of community led legal actions to 5! Our good friends from the Fauna and Flora Research Collective are also still taking on the governments Environment Department who are supposed to be regulating logging. The Dan Andrews government is acting unlawfully, now is the time to bring about an urgent transition out of this industry, and Bunnings Warehouse Australia and Officeworks need to ditch VicForests as suppliers or they risk selling illegally sourced products Victorias native forests.

22.01.2022 "Today myself and a bunch of locals have come up to Mt Jersey to highlight something that the Victorian Government doesn't want you to see. And it is that old growth forests are still being logged and destroyed in Victoria." "Large old trees and old growth forests are important for capturing and storing carbon. Logging forests is heavily subsidised by our tax payer dollars. Those dollars could be better spent mitigating bushfire.... As we face this climate crisis our forests ...are worth far more standing than on the back of a truck. We've had enough. No more logging of native forests." Powerful words from East Gippsland community members who survived the worst bushfires in living memory. Now watching recovering forests on the doorstep of their town get logged by the state government. Please stand with these folks and take action by emailing these decision makers, there is absolutely no justification for logging to continue in Victoria. Minister Jaclyn Symes: https://www.geco.org.au/email_symes Minister Lily D'Ambrosio: https://www.geco.org.au/email_minister_dambrosio Premier Dan Andrews: https://www.geco.org.au/email_premier_andrews

22.01.2022 Incredible effort from front-line activists from Forest Conservation Victoria who have halted logging in two coupes in the Central Highlands for a week! Send them a personal message if youd like to join the blockades. The importance of protecting these forests which provide critical habitat for the threatened Greater Glider cannot be overstated.

22.01.2022 More excellent news!! The final orders from the Friends of Leadbeaters Possum court case were handed down this morning resulting in protection of 66 coupes in the Central Highlands! Congrats Friends of Leadbeaters Possum Inc. and Environmental Justice Australia for your incredible work and on your epic win! "Friends of Leadbeaters Possum are very happy with todays orders, following the decisive success of our case announced by the Court in the judgment handed down in May.... These orders build on that judgment and provide protection on the ground of precious forests that are the homes of Leadbeaters Possums and Greater Gliders." This is a gratifying close to the roller-coaster ride that this case has been over the past three years. Our evidence and arguments have been resoundingly vindicated and we hope this result will have a real impact to relieve the threat of extinction for these very special endangered Australians and to protect the forests in which they live. Steve Meacher, President of FLBP

22.01.2022 Logging is ramping up again in East Gippsland despite having just gone through the worst bushfires in living memory. This forest is outside the fire extent, and has Long-footed Potoroo, Powerful Owl, and Yellow-bellied Gliders recorded. The Long-footed Potoroo lost over 90% of its habitat in the fires. The Dan Andrews government is also locking in more logging in and outside the fire zone, at a time when really vulnerable wildlife needs the most protection. Over 100 new coupes are being added to the East Gippsland schedule, and theres no sign the government will keep their promise to put in new protections for species that desperately need to be kept safe from logging.

20.01.2022 If this was the health minister who had overseen the botched implementation and enforcement of health and safety regulations, they and the head of their department would get the sack. The environment should be no different. There is a culture of failed state and federal environmental regulation which needs a complete overhaul. In Vic over a year ago a scathing independent report revealed that our state environment department is neither respected or effective, but we still havent seen any meaningful change in the status quo even after the devastating summer bushfires.

19.01.2022 New study by David Lindenmayer highlights the importance of protecting the next generation of old growth forests. In the meantime, old growth forests are still being logged after the supposed ban from November last year. The Environment Department have released the final version of their dodgy old growth tool which declassifies old growth and leaves VicForests in charge of finding and protecting it. "Although disturbance is a critical part of a forests life cycle, it is the... scale and increased frequency of fires that warrants concern, says Professor Lindenmayer, who will publish the peer-reviewed study with co-author Dr Chris Taylor in Pacific Conservation Biology, a CSIRO publication. We know the amount of fire in the landscape is now way higher than it has ever been and we know the number of times the system is being burnt is more than it should be, says Professor Lindenmayer."

19.01.2022 Logging in fire-affected forests out in far East Gippsland right upstream from very recent Giant Burrowing Frog records. Some of our most precious and endangered animals are still being logged by the Dan Andrews government. Its been nearly a year since the catastrophic fires and nothing has been doing to stop the destruction of forests. The government hasn't fulfilled any of their promises to put in better protections for wildlife and forests post-fires.

18.01.2022 In an outrageous move from the Andrews government, Ministers Jaclyn Symes and Lily DAmbrosio MP announced plans for new changes to the Code this week which are aim to WEAKEN environmental protections and stop legal cases against the governments logging agency, who were found to be breaking the law by the Federal Court. Read the statement here: https://twitter.com/VicGovtNews/status/1287615074866040833 This is just another sign that the logging industry cannot be sustained ...through to 2030 without illegally logging. Instead of strengthening laws for threatened species, which urgently need protection following the fires and years of destructive over-logging, theyve chosen to gut environment laws to meet unsustainable wood chip quotas and throw Victorias unique and threatened forests and wildlife under the bus. We are outraged by this decision, and we know you will be too. Now we have to turn our rage into action. Stay tuned.

17.01.2022 "Growing up here, I remember walking the plateau and I know how beautiful it is. I want other people to experience it, the lyrebirds, the possums, the flora, the fauna. Others might not get to experience this and it’s a shame." Photographer Rachel Mounsey from The Guardian visited Camp Errinundra to capture and share stories of people on the frontline fighting for protection of forests on the Errinundra Plateau, still up for logging. Between bushfires and logging, many species won’t return, like the owls we saw the other night. They rely on hollows that you only get in the old trees. There are less and less patches of suitable forest left and the idea that they [will be] logged is devastating.

16.01.2022 Come to East Gippsland on the weekend of the 4th of December for a few days of film screenings, music, direct action training, and wildlife surveying. With the government approving more logging across Victoria, the campaign to protect forests is more important than ever! RSVP on our website here for more details and to get involved: https://www.geco.org.au/forest_defenders_camp_out

16.01.2022 "Weve had enough of standing by watching this constant destruction of our country and the decimation of our native forests and native animals that belong to these areas," Ms Thorpe said. Traditional Owners, community groups, conservationists, scientists, and the Federal Court. Native forest logging is not sustainable, and the Dan Andrews government is not above the law. We need a moratorium and transition now.

16.01.2022 Update on missing protester Chris Fowell. Local residents and people at camp are still assisting with the search. Folks have asked for more support, get in touch if you can assist. Thanks for all the messages of support

15.01.2022 59 new coupes are being added to the logging schedule, all are forests recovering from this Summers bushfires, and all contain bushfire-affected threatened species. The legality of this sort of logging is also under scrutiny following the federal court judgement. Take action here against salvage logging >>>> https://www.geco.org.au/email_the_premier_no_more_native_fo

15.01.2022 Massive old Cut-tail Ash, one of the biggest we've ever seen with a whopping 12m circumference on Sellers Road in unburnt forests scheduled for logging in the Goonmirk area, East Gippsland. In the evening we spotted a Greater Glider in this ancient tree. Its some of the last unlogged forest on this track where GECO was blockading back in 1995. 25 years later its still set to be logged. Its becoming more and more rare to see these ancient forests. With the threat of future bu...shfires, the government needs to bring forward the transition out of logging. Its been nearly a year since the bushfires, and instead of protecting remaining forests and wildlife the Dan Andrews government is scheduling MORE logging. Take action and email decision makers here: https://www.geco.org.au/email_symes https://www.geco.org.au/email_minister_dambrosio

14.01.2022 In the wake of the most horrific bushfires in history, and under the cover of Covid-19, the Dan Andrews government has started logging fire-damaged forests, and precious areas outside the fire extent in East Gippsland. Forests that are recovering, and some of the last remaining habitat for threatened species like the Long-footed Potoroo, Powerful Owl, and Yellow-bellied Glider are being logged right now. Last Friday government owned VicForests announced plans to add over 100... coupes to their logging schedule. Were going to keep fighting for the protection of these forests, the government cant go on acting like the bushfires didnt happen. Please join us in calling for an end to native forest logging: https://www.geco.org.au/email_the_premier_no_more_native_fo

14.01.2022 Warburton Environment Inc. are hosting an online festival this Sunday to bring together First Nations forest protectors, scientists, musicians and artists to celebrate the tall Mountain Ash trees of the Central Highlands, and raise funds for their ongoing legal case against VicForests. With an epic line up and all proceeds going to an amazing cause this is one not to be missed!

14.01.2022 Interview with field ecologist Rena Gabarov chatting about the endangered Large Brown Tree Frog, recently split into a new species. The frog was thought to be extinct in Victoria for over 20 years until it was rediscovered by Rena 5 years ago in East Gippsland. Citizen scientists surveying for wildlife fills a huge gap left by the government who often don't survey or fail find threatened species in areas scheduled to be logged. Get in touch if you want to get involved and come to East Gippsland to help with some of this critical forest monitoring work.

13.01.2022 The bushfires wiped out more than 25% of the Greater Gliders habitat, yet glider hotspots in East Gippsland and other parts of Victoria are still scheduled to be logged despite the known impacts and threats to this incredibly unique and threatened species. Not only this, but the government wants set aside additional areas of logging within the fire extent. These sensitive areas must be given a chance to recover. Salvage logging can halt the recovery of forests for up to 200 years. Its just not feasible to be logging for another decade. Dan Andrews must bring forward the transition.

13.01.2022 We've seen news that a legal injunction is stopping the Dan Andrews government from continuing work out at Djab Wurrung until there's a directions hearing in the Supreme Court. We can still keep the pressure up! Check out this event for detailed info about actions we can take Also follow Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy for updates.

12.01.2022 BREAKING! A leaked Bunnings newsletter has revealed the company wont be sourcing any products from state-owned logging company VicForests following a federal court ruling which found they have illegally logged over 25 areas of native forest home to threatened and critically endangered wildlife. Environment groups have been leading campaigns to pressure companies to rule out any products sourced from Victorias native forests for over a decade. This is a massive win after years of hard work, and Bunnings are to be congratulated for taking the first step to ensure Victorians can be assured they will not be buying any products which come from illegally logged forests. Now Nippon Paper group need to follow their lead. Selling, sourcing or buying any products which come from Victorias native forests is not only unethical, but unlawful.

12.01.2022 GECO is saddened to announce that a protester is still currently missing from the Errinundra Forest protection camp. Chris joined the Errinundra camp on 24 March. He is a veteran of the Errinundra and Daintree forest blockades of the 1980’s and very skilled and experienced at bush living. Since joining the camp, he tended the fire, played guitar and sang, and was an easy going friendly camp member. He is always very eager to volunteer for direct action, and locked on to a log...ging machine for 8 hours to prevent logging. Chris was last seen at approx. 3 pm on Saturday afternoon. Camp members and Goongerah local volunteers commenced searching for Chris when it became evident that he was not in camp. We contacted Chris’ family and passed on their details to the police. The crew at camp spent Sunday, Sunday night and Monday scouring the forest, driving the tracks, beeping horns and calling out late into the night. The security guards who have been hired to guard the logging machinery and one of the loggers have been searching with people at camp in a co-operative effort. Local police were in attendance on Sunday. Chris’ daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter have come to help with the search and are staying nearby, folks out at camp were still searching in the early hours of the morning with no luck. Camp crew are very shaken. We really appreciate messages of support we have been receiving. Goongerah locals and folks at camp are doing everything they can to search for Chris. People who are there on the ground have asked for more support at camp, please get in touch if you can make it. We'll post any updates as they come.

12.01.2022 Forest Conservation Victoria are still halting logging out in Cambarville and Noojee. In Cambarville, two threatened Greater Gliders have been seen by the tree-sitter in neighbouring trees. The Gliders would have perished if it werent for the brave actions of everyday folks, while the government is failing to protect wildlife seriously threatened with extinction. Two conservationists have spent 3 days perched high in the canopy occupying tree-sits to stop the government ag...ency VicForests logging these two incredible areas of forest. The recent federal court judgment has found that this state-sanctioned logging is in breach of state and federal environment laws. This logging is criminal. But authorities could arrive in the coming days to arrest the protesters, instead of stopping this unlawful destruction. Please take action today. Its been left up to everyday citizens to hold the government accountable to the law. Call and email decision makers. Moratorium on this illegal logging now. Premier: Dan Andrews Ph: (03) 9651 5000 Email: [email protected] Environment Minister: Lily DAmbrosio MP Ph: (03) 9422 5171 Email: [email protected] Agriculture Minister: Jaclyn Symes Ph: (03) 5783 2000 Email: [email protected]

11.01.2022 Snap action for forests! Next Monday at 10am join us out the front of the Environment Department office to protest continued logging of native forests! https://www.facebook.com/events/2007839259357310 An absurd amount of resources are going into the continued destruction of our precious forests. Security guards have been hired in Errinundra to intimidate protesters who have stopped logging for over 2 months. The government's logging agency is sinking thousands of dollars int...o court cases to defend their illegal logging. Meanwhile the Environment Department acts as more security for the logging industry, stalling on reviews and protections for species after the worst bushfires in living memory! It's got to stop. Join us on outside the Environment Department's office to protest the Andrew government's logging! Support is also still needed at Camp Errinundra to keep taking action! Head to geco.org.au/save_errinundra if you can make it out!

11.01.2022 Award winning photographer Doug Gimesy Photography documents the recovery of Martins Creek in East Gippsland 5 months after this Summers horrific bushfires. These precious forests will take hundreds of years to recover, and with the real threat of more frequent and severe fires, the importance of protecting forests cannot be overstated. Join us in taking urgent action for forests that are still being logged: https://www.geco.org.au/email_gov_action_for_wildlife

11.01.2022 Any customers of Opal paper and packaging giant (owned by Nippon Paper) need to ditch ties with the company that are still selling and sourcing products on the global market illegally logged by Victorian government agency VicForests. VicForests has recently been found in breach of state and federal environment laws by the Australian Federal Court, said Wilderness Society markets campaign manager Peter Cooper. The court also ruled that VicForests operations are directly contributing to the decline of threatened species, the Leadbeaters possum and the greater glider animals found nowhere else on Earth."

10.01.2022 At 2:30 this arvo we are hosting an online webinar with some campaign updates and ways to get involved. With logging ramping up in East Gippsland after the devastating bushfires there's never been a more important time to protect forests. Check out the event page here, we'll post up the link later this arvo. Catch you soon! https://www.facebook.com/events/1227406050993692/

10.01.2022 Our mates from Wildlife of the Central Highlands - WOTCH have successfully applied to have another 5 coupes added to their court case! These community legal actions are the only thing holding the government accountable to the law. WOTCH are in the running for the Ethical Super Grant, please vote for them so they have a chance to secure much needed funds to keep up their epic surveying and legal work (theyre the first option when you scroll down to vote) https://www.australianethical.com.au//fo/community-grants/

10.01.2022 The Sydney Morning Herald coverage of the final judgement handed down this morning by the Federal Court. Massive congratulations to Friends of Leadies and their amazing legal team with EJA. "Environmental Justice Australia, which represented Friends of Leadbeaters Possum in court, said the orders concluded a landmark legal precedent. "This is the first time the Federal Court has granted a final injunction to prevent logging of threatened wildlife habitat, said EJA senior lawyer Danya Jacobs."

08.01.2022 "Australia has the worlds highest rate of mammalian extinction. Reporting by Guardian Australia has found the government has failed to implement or track measures for species known to be at risk, stopped listing major threats to species, and not registered a single piece of critical habitat for 15 years." We need an overhaul of these archaic laws which have failed to protect threatened species and still dont consider the impacts of climate change on vulnerable flora and fauna, or stop major threats (like logging) to important habitat.

08.01.2022 The CFMEU have launched a campaign to bully Bunnings for their decision to stop selling illegally sourced products from Victorias native forests, rather than dealing with the real issue. Government owned VicForests broke the law. The government knows logging isnt sustainable. They know its not legal, or ethical. Dan Andrews (and the unions) should be backing workers by providing an exit from this destructive and unsustainable industry, and pushing for long-term, secure em...ployment for workers. Bunnings are on the right side of history, please show your support by calling and messaging them and encourage them to also rule out products from Tassie & NSW forests. (03) 8831 9777 https://www.bunnings.com.au/contact-us

08.01.2022 Whatever happened to the governments promise to put in interim protections for all listed threatened species by October this year? They haven't fulfilled their promise, and have been destroying forests home to bushfire affected wildlife in the meantime! All spin and no action from the Victorian Labor government when its comes to protecting wildlife from logging. Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes is one of the blockers for an end to native forest logging and better protectio...ns for forests. She's the minister in charge of VicForests, and she's pushing for laws to be changed to give VicForests a free pass for their criminal logging. Take action and email her here: https://www.geco.org.au/email_symes

07.01.2022 "The state Labor government took advantage of the last days of COVID-19 restrictions still being in place to desecrate this sacred DjabWurrung site, removing our spiritual ancestor tree. I am heartbroken, I am absolutely devastated, and I can feel the pain of my ancestors. I am so disappointed that a government who promised a treaty with my people has undermined us and done something as malicious and calculated as this to our community. It’s very difficult to presume anything... other than this strategy being well thought out and opportunistic. This is not the treaty that I and my people are pursuing. Tokenistic gestures from state and territory governments in the name of treaty clearly demonstrate that these governments have no idea what treaty really is. You cannot desecrate, sell off, destroy, open up, frack, and log country and then want to sit with this nation’s first people and talk about treaty. There is absolutely no good faith from the outset, at least show us some respect and goodwill." - Senator Lidia Thorpe Right now there's a directions hearing in the Supreme Court. We'll pass along an update from Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy once we hear the news. There is still one brave person up the sacred grandfather tree, they have been denied food and water. Its so important we continue to call relevant Ministers and the Premier. Here are the contact details: Police Minister Neville: (03) 9637 9654 Daniel Andrews: (03) 9651 5000 Planning Minister Richard Wynne: (03) 8683 0964 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Gabrielle Williams: (03) 9096 8587 Transport Minister Jacinta Allen: (03) 8392 6100

06.01.2022 Incredible news from Tassie that the Bob Brown Foundation will be launching a legal battle in the Federal court against the federal government, state government, and the state-owned logging company Sustainable Timbers Tas! "According to the foundation, the agreement under which Tasmanian logging is conducted lacks proper enforcement mechanisms, Sustainable Timber Tasmanias practices are not sustainable, and the state and federal governments are failing to properly enforce environmental standards."

06.01.2022 There are greater gliders here and if we dont make a stand to save them, then theyll be gone. When a totem dies, a part of us dies.... We cant maintain our survival as the First People of these lands if our country and everything that belongs to the country is being killed off. Its like killing us off." Lidia Thorpe. An important piece which lays bare the impacts of logging on First Nations peoples, and the cultural and spiritual significance of forests. There is no consent from Traditional Owners to log native forests. We must listen to First Nations voices. The Dan Andrews government is destroying forests on stolen land, Country must be returned to the traditional custodians who have been looking after these places for thousands of years.

05.01.2022 Coverage of the protests out the front of Opal this week, owned by corporate giant Nippon Paper Group. With Bunnings giving VicForests the flick after the Federal Court finding, other companies must now follow their lead to boycott highly unethical and illegally sourced products from native forests. "We are asking for a transition out of pulping native forests for inputs for paper production at Maryvale and other sites across Australia." "We need to make sure they use good,... renewable material from Victorian plantations and recycled materials as a base, and we want the transition to be brought forward so it can start now." Take action here>>> https://act.ran.org/page/20324/petition/1

05.01.2022 Because of climate change we're seeing more extreme bushfire events, more often. There aren't many areas left in Victoria that haven't been affected by fire, and its so important now to protect what's left. State and federal governments need to take strong action on climate change and protect forests and critical wildlife habitat. But since the bushfires we're seeing business as usual on the ground with logging still going ahead in and outside the fire extent. Governments a...re responding by stalling on better protections for species (like with the EPBC act) and weakening Victorian laws (like the Andrews government's plans to gut the rules which govern logging). These are huge steps backwards, when we need strong and progressive action. Minister Symes (in charge of government owned VicForests) is one of the people pushing for our environment laws to be weakened. You can send an email to her here: https://www.geco.org.au/email_symes Minister D'Ambrosio's Environment Department is supposed to regulate logging in Victoria, but they consistently put the interests of the logging industry, ahead of conservation. You can email her here, she needs to get her Department to actually do their job: https://www.geco.org.au/email_minister_dambrosio

05.01.2022 This morning we gathered out the front of Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to say no native forest logging! The Environment Department work with the government's loggers, forests across Victoria home to our precious native wildlife are still being flattened for cheap paper and cardboard products. After the devastating fires these forests need to be protected!

04.01.2022 Rogue logging company VicForests is appealing the Federal Court judgement which found their past, current and future logging plans were in breach of state and federal environment laws. Instead of making sure their logging agency follows the rules, the Dan Andrews government has announced plans to make changes to the Code to stop community groups from taking legal action against VicForests.

03.01.2022 We caught up with Dirt Radio on 3CR Community Radio for National Tree Day with an update from the forests. From court cases, to Bunnings, to salvage logging, theres a lot happening in the forest space at the moment! Listen here: https://www.3cr.org.au//e/national-tree-day-forest-update

03.01.2022 These threatened Glossy Black Cockatoos were spotted a few months ago in an area of old growth forest in far East Gippsland scheduled for logging by the Dan Andrews government. Glossy Blacks lost over half of their habitat in Eastern Victoria in the recent bushfires. Despite the government promising all old growth logging would end, old growth forests like this, which provide homes for Victorias unique and special wildlife, are still under threat from logging. But theres... hope for these beautiful birds and the forests they call home. Fauna and Flora Research Collective represented by Environmental Justice Australia are fighting for the protection of old growth forests in the Supreme Court, and you can help. Please donate to their fundraise to cover the court costs and finally see these ancient forests protected: https://chuffed.org//old-growth-forest-legal-defence-fund-

03.01.2022 The Victorian governments logging agency announced last week theyre adding NEW areas onto the logging schedule, all of them are recovering burnt forests in East Gippsland. While VicForests is up to its neck in court cases for not complying with the law, theyre planning on bringing heavy machinery into fire-impacted forests which urgently need the chance to recover. This is an appalling response to the bushfires. Science says logging in burnt forests is the most damaging form of logging. How long will the government stick its head in the sand and ignore the science. We need an urgent transition out of this destructive industry now. https://www.geco.org.au/email_the_premier_no_more_native_fo

03.01.2022 This Saturday catch up with GECO campaigners, ecologists and East Gippsland locals to get an update on what's happening on the ground in East Gippsland's forests and how you can get involved. We're gearing up for heaps of citizen science and actions out in the forest, come along to our online webinar to hear more.

03.01.2022 BOOM! Bunnings dumps VicForests and their illegal logging of Victorias precious native forests! After last summers devastating bushfires and the Federal Court judgement that found logging has been illegally destroying endangered wildlife habitat, we urgently need the government to intervene and bring forward change. Dan Andrews must fast track the plan to transition the unsustainable logging industry out of native forests, protect what remains and provide support for workers.

03.01.2022 Greater Gliders just got even more rare! The distribution of P. volans (found in Victoria) is now even smaller. "Owing to the recent widespread fires and the history of unresolved population declines, the conservation status of the currently recognised single species, P. volans, is being reconsidered. The division of the greater glider into multiple species would have substantial conservation implications. In particular, population declines and recent fire impacts, which are ...mostly associated with populations south of Queensland, may extend across a much greater proportion of the distribution of P. volans than previously thought, and have a more substantial combined effect." (from the introduction of the paper) Despite the sharp decline of gliders from logging, bushfires and climate change, the Victorian government's Action Statement for the species weakened East Gippsland protections and allows logging where they're found.

02.01.2022 "Australian scientists say they are prevented from speaking openly about their work and their advice is being suppressed by government and industry when it comes to the impact of logging, mining, land-clearing and the climate crisis, new research suggests." Not only are prominent scientists gagged by government and industry from exposing the impacts of environmentally destructive industries, weve seen their findings frequently ignored when it comes to; impacts of logging on threatened species, devastating effects of salvage logging, and the clear links between logging and increased risk and severity of bushfires. Ignoring the science will only further push vulnerable forest ecosystems and wildlife to collapse.

02.01.2022 GECO citizen scientists have discovered the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has failed to put in proper buffers for an area of cool-temperate rainforest on Mt Jersey in East Gippsland currently being logged. VicForests has already logged within the area which should have been protected by law. Its been over 12 months since the Department was subject to a damning independent review after they failed to prosecute VicForests for rainforest breaches reported ...by GECO and Fauna Flora Research Collective. The review found they're neither respected or effective as a regulator. Over a year later nothing has changed. No charges have ever been laid against VicForests despite a Federal court finding that they had breached state and federal environment laws, and numerous breach reports from community groups. Community groups are sick of the excuses and inaction from government and the Department. You can take action and contact the Minister here: https://www.geco.org.au/email_minister_dambrosio We're also hosting an online webinar to chat about campaign updates and what we're getting up to and how you can get involved: https://www.geco.org.au/2020_campaign_update

02.01.2022 Despite the catastrophic destruction of threatened species habitat and the death of millions of animals they are extinguishing their last refuges. It’s like the fires never happened Critical refuges for wildlife which escaped the devastating fires being torched by the Dan Andrews government.

02.01.2022 Government agency VicForests has given up on getting Forest Stewardship Council certification, likely because they failed their audit last year. Incredibly, VicForests are blaming the FSC board members, even though they have no say whatsoever as to whether VF pass the audit or not. "Wilderness Society spokesperson Amelia Young said VicForests had launched an extraordinary attack on the FSC and its independence. From blaming the Leadbeaters possum, to bushfires ... to now blaming the FSC system itself... How long are they going to continue with this game without recognising the problem is their logging?

02.01.2022 Want to know more about the governments plans to log over 100 new coupes in East Gippsland and changes to the Code? Read our latest blog post here where we dive into some of the details. If you want to keep updated with whats going on in the forest space you can subscribe to our emails. Theres been some pretty bad news for forests over the last few weeks, but heres an old story that might lift your mood. ... https://www.theage.com.au//court-halts-logging-in-unburnt- Our mates at Wildlife of the Central Highlands - WOTCH are still fighting in the courts to have key unburnt areas of bushfire affected threatened species habitat protected. Theyve stopped logging in over 20 coupes and counting.

02.01.2022 Great news from our friends at Wildlife of the Central Highlands - WOTCH! Logging halted in another area of forest home to several threatened Greater Gliders. The gliders lost over 30% of their habitat in the bushfires, but their habitat is still threatened by government logging. Thanks to the hard working incredible folks at WOTCH keeping the spotlight on Victorias precious wildlife, these gliders are safe for now!

01.01.2022 Today is National Threatened Species Day, and Victorias unique and precious wildlife needs better protections now more than ever to get them off the path to extinction. But critical threatened species habitat is still being logged daily by the Victorian State Government. The Glossy Black Cockatoo lost over half of its habitat in East Gippsland in last Summers devastating bushfires. These incredible birds were spotted just a few months ago in an area of old growth forest in... far East Gippsland scheduled for logging. But theres hope for these forests. Fauna and Flora Research Collective are fighting for the protection of old growth in the Supreme Court, you can help defend precious threatened species habitat by donating to their legal defence fund here: https://chuffed.org//old-growth-forest-legal-defence-fund- #ThreatenedSpeciesDay #ExtinctionIsForever

01.01.2022 Together with over 40 environment groups we called for Nippon Paper group to ditch all ties with state-owned logging company VicForests. Logging is geared to supply Nippon with woodchips till 2030 under the wood pulp agreement, fuelling the extinction crisis in Victoria and decimating forests and wildlife with little environmental regulation and oversight. Due to the unprecedented and catastrophic fires, native flora and fauna, and forest ecosystems are under immense stress, and many animals have been pushed closer to extinction as a result of the fires.

01.01.2022 The Parliamentary Inquiry into ecosystem decline wants to hear from you. With just less than 2 weeks to make a submission, its so important that we use this opportunity to tell the government we expect them to: Put in better protections for threatened plants and animals Make stronger environment laws, and actually make sure theyre a) effective, and b) regulated!... Listen to Traditional Owners, acknowledge the cultural and spiritual significance of Victorias rich and diverse ecosystems and actually protect them! Take strong action on climate change Stop one of the key drivers of ecosystem decline; logging! Submissions dont have to be long or super complicated, and making it personal will give it impact. Check out our guide to help have your say.