Petition signatories wanted.

A petition has been put together, what the heck... get behind it, print it out, enlist friends and family and post it on back! The link is provided below.

http://www.scribd.com/Old-Growth-Petition-1/d/30691007

Letters to Mr Appleford

Australia is one of the many countries now signed onto the United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing countries (REDD+). Contributions from the countries have agreed to contribute 3.5 Billion dollars (as confirmed by Penny Wong). I have asked Mr Appleford to provide the estimate of figures to be distributed to the Victorian state under this agreement.

I think it will be interesting to see how this money will be spent across the state, if provided at all...to be continued.

Forests could become another victim of the Black Saturday Fires

Click the link below, post to your facebook profile and/or email to your networks!

Public consultation is now in full swing until April 8. Make your voice heard.

Forests could become another victim of the Black Saturday Fires

Watch out! VicForest TRP Amendments

Check out link attached below for the proposed Timber Release Plan (TRP) amendments. VicForests are calling for public consultation until 8th of April 2010.

The proposed amendments plan to add "...242 new areas of native forest (coupes) and roadlines, and modify 56 coupes and roadlines already on TRP's..." across the state to meet projected VicForest annual report targets (VicForests website, 2010 see link below)

Currently, in the process of setting up an online petition site to increase public awareness of these amendments and the destruction of areas of old growth forest included in the plans.

Stay posted...

http://www.vicforests.com.au/proposed-trp-amendments.htm

Facebook exceeds 500 members!

Well, its been only a couple of weeks since its conception and the 'GECO Facebook fan page' has grown to over 500 members. It has become a successful forum for like-minded individuals from all over Australia and the globe to connect and/or become informed on issues concerning Victoria's forests.

Members are actively involved in contributing to the page and proliferating discussion on topics, which are often 'swept under the rug'. The open two-way communication on the site empowers individuals to share their insights and become a part of a broader forest protection community.

To become a fan click on the link (attached to the blog*)

FYI *Non-facebook members can also visit and view all it has to offer however, will be unable to make contributions without setting up a profile.

What a joke- forgotten forests

Australia's association with the Copenhagen accord negotiations for emissions targets bottom line is currently at 5% provided a global agreement is made to stabilise levels of green house gases. "Quantified economy-wide emissions targets for 2020 5% up to 15% or 25%" provided greenhouse gases are at "450ppm CO2 or lower" See http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/application/pdf/australiacphaccord_app1.pdf for more details.

Australia is included in the many countries with no clear accounting rules for Land use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) with no stipulation, these agreements are piecemeal setting easily achievable targets will make little difference, leaving the future of our forests totally uncertain.

Action you can take:

Write to Penny Wong and place pressure on the government to stipulate their Land use, Land use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) agreements in the Copenhagen accord.

Simple feedback form link to Penny Wong

http://www.aph.gov.au/SEnate/senators/homepages/contact.asp?id=00AOU

River alert fails to halt logging in burnt bush, The Age reports.

Melbourne's water supply is being jeopardised by logging around the water catchment worsened by the char of the Black Saturday fires. A warning was issued on  July 24 last year. Kerr reports "... this practice has been common in Victoria since the 1939 fires but has been questioned recently by scientists because of the environmental damage it causes" (Kerr, 2009 The Age). They fear other impacts from the logging include habitat reduction, impairment of forest regeneration, erosion, sediment input and loss of some fish species. 

The article states "Removal of standing and fallen logs from burnt areas represents a particularly large treath because if left (in place) these logs would trap sediment and limit the amount of material entering tributary streams and ultimately the Yarra" (Kerr, 2009 The Age).

Circulate amongst your networks, for a link to the article http://www.theage.com.au/national/river-alert-fails-to-halt-logging-in-burnt-bush-20100205-niq3.html