The Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI) has welcomed the announcement by the Victorian Government that a $1.86 million project is being undertaken to collect new information on threatened species.
VAFI CEO Lisa Marty said the industry was focused on the sustainable management of the State’s forests for environmental, social and economic values, and these surveys would help the industry and community better find this balance.
“Conservation of biodiversity and in particular threatened species is vital for sustainable forest management,” Mrs Marty said.
“It is important that the regulatory framework for timber harvesting is clear, efficient and science-based, to maintain environmental values and provide certainty for the timber industry and other public land users.”
“Investing in threatened species surveys and research on distribution and habitat is crucial not only to effective regulation of timber harvesting but good management of the entire forest landscape to support biodiversity conservation.”
“This project will provide a better understanding of the health of these species and the areas they inhabit.”
Approximately 60 percent, or 4.8 million hectares, of public native forest is managed as Victoria’s National Parks and other formal conservation reserves.
The species being surveyed include the Smoky Mouse, Long-footed Potoroo, Leadbeater’s Possum, Powerful Owl, Sooty Owl, Masked Owl and Galaxias.
VAFI is the peak body for the Victorian forest and wood products industry, which directly employs 24,000 people and indirectly supports a further 42,000 to 52,000 jobs throughout the State. The Victorian timber industry generates $1.5 billion of economic activity annually.
Timber harvesting only occurs on less than one percent of Victoria’s public native forest estate annually.
