Protect Victoria’s Forests for Good

Victoria’s forests, particularly in the eastern part of the state, are the most carbon-dense on the planet. They’re home to the world’s tallest flowering tree, the magnificent mountain ash, and endangered wildlife found nowhere else on Earth, like the warnda / greater glider and wollert / Leadbeater's possum.

These forests are beloved by locals and visitors alike who bike and hike amongst the tree ferns and forest giants. The area is culturally significant for the Traditional Custodians of these lands. They also provide Melbourne with its famously clean water supply.

Sadly, decades of over-logging and wildfires have ...

Victoria’s forests, particularly in the eastern part of the state, are the most carbon-dense on the planet. They’re home to the world’s tallest flowering tree, the magnificent mountain ash, and endangered wildlife found nowhere else on Earth, like the warnda / greater glider and wollert / Leadbeater's possum.

These forests are beloved by locals and visitors alike who bike and hike amongst the tree ferns and forest giants. The area is culturally significant for the Traditional Custodians of these lands. They also provide Melbourne with its famously clean water supply.

Sadly, decades of over-logging and wildfires have driven these iconic forests to the verge of collapse and the threatened species that call them home to the brink of extinction.

It’s time they were protected for good. Please send an email today calling on your parliamentary representative to speak up in parliament for legislated, permanent protection for Victoria's eastern tall forests through initiatives like the Great Forest National Park and Emerald Link.

These new parks and reserves will prevent future threats to the forests, provide a sanctuary for threatened wildlife, safeguard supplies of clean drinking water, and support regional communities by enabling diverse tourism opportunities together with safe and secure jobs.

Image: Corinne Border

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Email your local MP

Send an email to your local state MP to permanently protect Victoria’s forests and threatened species by creating a network of protected forest sanctuaries like the Great Forest National Park.

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Subject:

In 2019, the current government promised the largest expansion to Victoria’s forest reserve system in our state’s history [1] - but six years later this has still not occurred.

Meantime, operational budgets and personnel for land management authorities, such as the national park service have been severely cut, to the point where Victorian environmental protection funds will decrease by nearly 20% in the next 12 months.

The time is now for Victoria’s spectacular tall forests to have permanent protections that prevent their destruction and support their effective care and management. They are the most carbon dense forests in the world, permanently protecting them is vital for meaningful climate action.

Creating a network of protected forest sanctuaries across this special landscape will help prevent the extinction of the warnda / greater glider and wollert / Leadbeater's possum.

Living, breathing, intact forests are the best safeguard for Melbourne’s world renowned water supply. These special places support the health and wellbeing of all Victorians. Protecting these biodiversity rich forests, which are so close to Naarm / Melbourne, will ensure that they can be enjoyed by all, for generations to come.

The Victorian parliament can protect these high conservation value forests through initiatives like the Great Forest National Park and Emerald Link, which safeguard forests, prevent wildlife extinctions, activate visitor-based economic opportunities as well as provide for a range of outdoor recreation activities while respecting natural and cultural values.

The protection and management of these forests needs to be adequately funded. Investing in nature is an investment in the Victorian economy. Well funded and well managed high conservation forests will activate tourism, support regional communities and enrich the health and wellbeing benefits for visitors.

Traditional Owners must be at the centre of decision making for forest Country. Acknowledging that Victoria is a cultural landscape for Traditional Owners and their ongoing connection to Country and culture, there is a need for future management decisions to be made in partnership with Traditional Owners in a culturally safe and shared manner.

Therefore, I call on you to show your support for Victoria’s special forests by:

1. Enthusiastically supporting the Great Forest National Park and Emerald Link initiatives, to support regional communities and permanently protect eastern Victoria’s forests,

2. Supporting the passage of legislation for the permanent protection of high conservation forests,

3. Ensuring that the Parliament legislates the Wombat-Lerderderg, Mount Buangor and Pyrenees national parks as was promised in 2021, without further delay, and

4. Securing adequate funding for the conservation and effective management of forest Country in the vicinity of 1% of the state budget and equal to double the current level of funding.

If you would like more information go to https://wilderness.org.au/victallforests

[1] Minister D'Ambrosio, Media Release, PROTECTING VICTORIA’S FORESTS AND THREATENED SPECIES, 7 Nov, 2019.

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