The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC) is urging the NSW Government to take action and improve the state’s deforestation record. According to the recently released Trees Scorecard report by WWF Australia, NSW has been ranked at the bottom for forest protection and restoration.
The report calls for an end to native forest logging, tighter controls in land clearing laws, incorporating the benefit of forest retention in the NSW Net Zero Plan, and improving transparency.
“NSW is the only mainland state without a plan to end native forest logging. NSW are outliers in what is clearly the future of forestry – a transition to 100% plantation timber,” said NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford.
“Australia has some of the most iconic animals and pristine wilderness in the world, but we have a long way to go to truly value and protect our wildlife and forests,” said Ms Mumford.
“We’ve already destroyed far too much of the NSW bush. Only 36 per cent of forest and woodland in NSW remains intact. What’s left should be protected, not pulp. Our forests are worth more standing.”