Logging Has Been Suspended Here, in Favor of Protecting Koalas

As the Australian government is looking into the establishment of a Great Koala National Park, logging has been suspended in the mid-north coast of New South Wales (NSW), a high-value koala habitat, a step in the right direction for the survival of the emblematic marsupial.

“The creation of the Great Koala National Park is essential to saving koalas from extinction in NSW,” states Environment Minister Penny Sharpe. “The government is taking serious steps towards its creation and will work closely with the community, Aboriginal organizations, and industry as the areas for inclusion in the park are assessed.”

The government reached an agreement with NSW Forestry Corporation, and consequently, as of 1 September, logging operations have been suspended in 106 “koala hubs” located in the Australian state of New South Wales. The hubs cover some 5% of the 176,000 hectares of forest that could potentially be protected within a Great Koala National Park. The process to establish the park should be completed by the final quarter of 2024 and will include an economic and social assessment, an expert environmental and cultural heritage assessment, and advisory panels made up of industry, Aboriginal, and community representatives. The government is looking to balance its commitment to protecting environmentally sensitive areas and the “development of a plan to sustain a viable timber industry and jobs.”