By JESSE GRAHAM
THE head of Zoos Victoria has spoken out publicly against VicForests’ logging operations in the Central Highlands, saying a new national park is the best way forward.
Zoos Victoria CEO Jenny Gray expressed a number of criticisms of the logging body in a letter on 21 January this year, released by the organisation earlier this month.
In the letter, which was a submission to VicForests’ Draft Forest Management Plan and Draft High Conservation Value Strategy, Ms Gray lists the body’s current forest management processes as “inadequate to protect the Leadbeater’s Possum from extinction.”
Underneath this, she wrote that the Great Forest National Park proposal is the “most important conservation action” for the possum, which was recently revised to critically endangered.
The letter also addresses the current state of the old growth forests in the Central Highlands, which she said only made up one per cent of the total forest area.
Ms Gray wrote that a “clear strategy” should be in place to expand old growth to 30 per cent of the forest in the future, among other suggestions.
In an interview with the Mail, Ms Gray said that VicForests requested input from Zoos Victoria on their draft documents, which led to her letter.
She said her opinion on the GFNP came from modelling from the Arthur Rylah Institute, undertaken as part of the Leadbeater’s Possum Advisory Group (LPAG) discussions last year.
Ms Gray said the modelling showed the GFNP as having “the greatest benefit” for the animal, but said even that would not guarantee protection from extinction.
She said, if Zoos Victoria was called to a round-table discussion such as those suggested by Environment Minister Lisa Neville, the group would have the position of “maximising return” for the possum.
“The terms of reference would be really important, and we would participate and look at what the science tells us against the terms of reference of the round table,” she said.
“We are always looking for what maximises the return for the animal … and the model indicated that (the GFNP) would give the best outcome to the animal.”
The Mail submitted a number of questions about Ms Gray’s concerns to VicForests, including whether her recommendations would be adopted by the organisation.
VicForests’ general manager of Stakeholders and Planning, Nathan Trushell, said Ms Gray’s letter was “one of many” submissions into the documents.
“We have acknowledged all submissions made and are still considering all feedback received,” Mr Trushell said.
“We plan to release the updated documents later this year.”
