The evidence Condemns Forestry Victoria and the State Government for failing to protect RSOS

After 15 years (1987 - 2002) the State Government has failed to protect Otway rainforest.

Summary

· A review of rainforest reports generated by the State government reveals reports and maps contains critical information relating to RSOS management have not been made publicly available by the State Government.

· Critical forest management documents such as the Otway Forest Management Plan and West RFA did not provide maps to identify RSOS and did not provide prescriptions specifically designed to protect RSOS.

· No maps locating the 181 RSOS across Victoria are currently publicly available.

· An Action Statement as required by the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act for Cool Temperate Rainforest is now a decade overdue.

· Prescriptions required to protect Otway rainforest added to the revised 1996 Code of Forest Practices are totally ignored by Forestry Victoria. More info.

· There was a long time lag to get Human activity which results in artificially elevated or epidemic levels of Myrtle Wilt within Nothofagus-dominated Cool Temperate Rainforest listed as a threatening process within the Flora and Fauna Guarantee.

· The removal of the Land Conservation Council has stopped a formal public process to review and create reserves for RSOS. This is of great benefit to the Native Forest Logging Industry which continue to enjoy access to log areas that under State government policy and the Code of Forest Practices should not in fact be logged.

· There is an error or typo in a 1999 State-wide review of RSOS. The typo downgrades the Aire-Youngs Creek National RSOS to State Significance. This error is regarded by Forestry Victoria as an outcome of the review and used to justify continued logging in the Aire-Youngs creek national RSOS.

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