The North Coast Environment Council expects to have proof that local native forests are being logged unsustainably after the state’s Administrative Decisions Tribunal ordered Forests NSW to reveal details about wood-supply agreements in the region. Source: ABC News
The council’s Susie Russell said that this will show if there’s any way the government can alter contracts that promise more timber than it can safely supply.
“Compensation provisions, whether there’s any flexibility in there for supplying smaller sized logs, whether the contracts are specific in terms of the species of timber,” she said.
“There are a whole lot of details there which perhaps give more flexibility to those contracts and how they can be altered in order to look after the better interests of the forests.
“We’ve had a report from the Auditor-General from I think 2009 that said the forests were being cut faster than they were regrowing.
“So it’s only a matter of time, obviously if you’re cutting something harder than it regrows, before you can no longer supply the timber volumes.”
Forests NSW says it’s examining the decision and will fully comply with the order.
