Conservationists Urge Transition to Plantation Logging
SYDNEY — Large portions of native forests in New South Wales are failing to regenerate after logging, according to conservation groups. Reports on NSW forest regeneration indicate that nearly 20% of these areas show no signs of recovery, posing a threat to local wildlife and biodiversity.
The World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia, along with Wilderness Australia and South East Forest Rescue, are calling for a shift from native forest logging to plantation alternatives. Conservation scientist Dr Kita Ashman from WWF-Australia stated, “No reasonable person would look at a barren patch of ground with a single seedling and think that’s forest regeneration.”
The federal government’s state of the forests report claims an 81% regeneration rate, meaning a significant 19% is not restoring. Forestry Corp NSW’s methods for assessing regeneration have been questioned, as they consider areas to be regenerating if even a single seedling is found in randomly sampled plots.
Impact on Wildlife and Financial Losses
In Tallaganda State Forest, conservationists observed logged areas with minimal vegetation and debris, contrasting sharply with the once thriving ecosystem hosting endangered species like the greater glider. Scott Daines from South East Forest Rescue noted that areas logged in 2017 still show no signs of recovery.
Financially, Forestry Corp’s hardwood division reported a $32 million loss for the 2024–25 financial year, accumulating $105 million in losses since 2020. Andrew Wong, Operations Manager at Wilderness Australia, criticised the logging practices, stating that the industry fails to deliver on its promises of regeneration and profitability.
Last year, the EPA filed 29 charges against Forestry Corp for alleged breaches of forest and biodiversity laws, which are currently being addressed in court. The push for transition to plantation logging aims to prevent further environmental degradation and financial losses.
Source: newshub.medianet.com.au
Last updated: 1 April 2026, 10:32 am
