Report calls on NSW Government to protect the River Red Gums - 21 December 2009

Greens MP Ian Cohen is urging Premier Keneally to accept the Natural Resource Commission’s recommendation of reserving 106,561 hectares of River Red Gum Forests.

“Protecting the River Red Gums is a key piece of the conservation puzzle and essential for NSW to achieve a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of national parks. Former Premier Nathan Rees had committed to protecting this national treasure that is under significant ecological stress. I think it is important for Premier Keneally to acknowledge the fundamental importance of establishing a national park system to protect this area for future generations,” says Greens MP Ian Cohen.

“Implementing the Natural Resource Commission’s recommendations will require a multifaceted approach to delivering environmental water flows and ecologically effective conservation management. Increased environmental water flows down the Murray River to the tune of 1,200 GL per annum along side an end to unsustainable logging operations are central to the survival of the river red gums.”

“With the report come questions about Forests NSW’s management of River Red Gum State Forests. Contrary to claims of sustainable, world class logging operations by Minister Macdonald, the NRC found cut levels exceeding the sustainable harvest by 4 times.”

“The NRC’s Report is an unmistakeable vindication of allegations Minister Macdonald has supported illegal and unsustainable River Red Gum forestry operations. It paints comments by the NSW Department of Industry and Investment in September that ‘calls for national park tenure are based on pseudo science’ as nothing more than ideological bigotry.”

“While the recommendation of Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) are a good first step to enhancing cultural ties with country, the NSW Government needs to consider a range of joint or co-management options to ensure indigenous nations have a role in the regeneration of this important landscape. From my discussions with Yorta Yorta I know there is an eagerness and commitment for increased management involvement.”