Not your problem, someone else will do it

FOREST CAMPAIGN GROWING THROUGH LOCAL GROUP ACTION

"We have a beautiful mother. Her green lap immense,
her brown embrace eternal, her blue body everything we know"
-Alice Walker

The forests of north-east NSW continue to be as inspiring as ever. They draw people to their defence through the magic of nature which they manifest in so many unique and magnificent ways. Despite the hiatus of the assessment processes which diverted activist recources in the mid 1990's, the forest movement is now back, with a vengeance!

So far, 2002 has been a very exciting year. A dynamic forest campaign is on the go which is absolutely dependent on local conservation groups taking an active role to identify high priority areas and issues and to invite the local community to get involed. The North East Forest Alliance continues to provide support, strategy and coordination but it is the local groups which are critical to making it all happen.

A great example is the Friends of Pine Creek. Pine Creek State Forest contains one of the largest koala populations on the coast on NSW. It is part of a critical altitudinal corridor from the coast west to the New England Tableland. It was left out of the reserve system in 1998 simply because of the obstructive, anti-conservation ethos of SFNSW.

SFNSW planned to commence logging in the three highest quality koala compartments in Pine Creek in early April. Friends of Pine Creek went on the rampage, with help from lots of great people from elsewhere, and conducted a range of activities including banner hangs, highway stalls and media events and culminated with a community walk through Pine Creek which was attended by 85 people. They had the great joy of spotting a koala before they'd even got 50m. SFNSW have deferred logging.

Similarly, at the other end of the region, at Wyong on the central coast another local group is doing its thing for the forests. The Forest Activists Network and the Newcastle Wilderness Society have developed a detailed reserve proposal for Jilliby National Park. The proposed park encompasses parts of Wyong, Olney and Ourimbah State Forests.

The scientific data identifies this area as the foremost priority for reservation on public land between Sydney and Coffs Harbour. It is a highly diverse area which is very poorly represented in reserves and which supplies a large part of the water catchment for the Central Coast. Through active networking the Jilliby reserve proposal now has the support of more than 50 local groups on the Central Coast. A community walk is planned for the 27th April with 100 people expected to attend.

There are many forest areas in the Clarence which are a high priority for reservation and there is no doubt that the Clarence is one of the areas which suffered the most as a result of the 1998 forest decision. There are many treasures on your own doorstep which continue to be threatened with logging. These include the tall, near mythical oldgrowth forest of Chaelundi, the diverse dry woodlands and swamps of Bungawalbyn, and the very poorly represented tall spotted gum forests of the Clarence lowlands like Pine Brush and Gibberagee.

We have found that by taking a walk in the forest together we can help save forest, and we know that ultimately, it is the community stepping out and speaking out for forests that will secure new reserves. The next year is a critical time for local groups to get active. Please take that walk, write that letter, and most importantly, publicise what you find and how you feel. For all is not well, the last giants continue to fall and far too many species now stand on the precipice. NEFA is standing ready to provide any support, advice and information which you might want about your local forest areas and opportunities for local campaigns. If you're keen, ring Carmel on 02-6649-7690.

Click here to visit the Friends of PineCreek website.