Small persistent humid forest clearings drive tropical forest biomass losses

"Tropical forests store about half of the global forest above ground carbon (AGC), yet extensive areas are affected by disturbances, such as deforestation from agricultural expansion and degradation from fires, selective logging, and edge effects...Findings highlight the disproportionate impact of small clearings on tropical carbon losses, suggesting the need to curb land-use changes and protect young and recovering forests."
>>
Xu, Y., Ciais, P., Santoro, M. et al. Small persistent humid forest clearings drive tropical forest biomass losses. Nature 649, 375–380 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09870-7 (paywall)
#Deforestation #Climate #LoggingImpacts #degradation #FCNSW #NSWLogging #PostHarvestBurn #DeliberatelyBurningAForest #EPA #MicroClimate #bushfires #NativeForests #AGC #BookkeepingApproach #ESA #TropicalForests #biodiversity

Large-scale mechanical thinning of biodiversity
Forests as machine-accessible landscapes

""Large-scale mechanical thinning operations are essentially a waste of money. At worst, they degrade forests, making them more flammable, eroding habitat, compromising water security and compacting soils."
>>
https://theconversation.com/victorias-mountain-ash-forests-naturally-thin-their-trees-so-why-do-it-with-machines-268201
#loggingImpacts #NSWLogging #thinning #Biodiversity #wildlife #machines #FossilFuel #climate #nativeforests #destruction #loggingIndustry #extractivism

The idea of the Great Koala National Park (GKNP) and ongoing clearfell logging of native forests

"Government GKNP proposal falls short according to Ashley Love...He says a recent environmental report, prepared on behalf of and with input from local environmentalists, indicates the current Government proposal is “grossly inadequate...It fails to adequately protect the largest coastal koala population in NSW, which occupies Bongil Bongil National Park, Pine Creek, Orara East and Tuckers Nob State Forests."

“The majority of plantation production is for pulpwood into a market that is now heavily oversupplied in South-east Asia or for burning as “biofuel” for electricity production.”
>>
https://coffscoast.newsofthearea.com.au/government-gknp-proposal-falls-short-according-to-ashley-love
#Biodiversity #wildlife #NSWLogging #governance #failure #thegreatkoalaNationalPark #ClearFelling #plantations #BellingenShire #TuckersNob #NSWForestry #extractivism

Traumatic landscapes of plastic, pollution and exploitation

The coastline of Spain is known as the ‘Sea of Plastic’ ("Mar de Plástico”) It is the world’s largest plastic greenhouse complex with 350 square km of fruit and vegetables grown by immigrant labour for the horticultural industry. >>
https://www.behance.net/gallery/22272681/Mar-del-Plastico#

Could we do the same thing to the coast of NSW?
NSW Greens to move bill to let councils better regulate berry industry as it continues rapid expansion

“People move into these beautiful valleys for the lifestyle and the environment but then wake up one day and within months they are looking at an industrial-scale blueberry farm."

"Faehrmann’s bill will call for mandated buffers between intensive horticulture farms and homes and waterways, as well as strict controls on spraying, runoff and irrigation and greater monitoring of produce for pesticides."

"Blueberry farming is rapidly expanding beyond Coffs Harbour, where it began several decades ago, into the Nambucca Valley and the Kempsey area to the south, and west toward Grafton and Bellingen."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/31/australia-berry-industry-bill-nsw-greens
#rivers #water #extractivism #pesticides #MidNorthCoast #ChinasOrchard #horticulturalIndustry #regulation #runoff #pollution #plastic #PALM #blueberries #SeaOfPlastics #TraumaticLandscapes #NSWCoast #NSW #CoffsHarbour #Nambucca #Kempsey #Grafton #Bellingen #residents #habitability #NSWLogging

"Bunnings sells timber sourced from NSW Forestry Corporation via a number of local suppliers."

"The state-owned forestry corporation has been convicted of more than a dozen environmental offences and is facing charges on dozens more. A judgment in the land and environment court last year found the agency was likely to reoffend and had poor prospects of rehabilitation."

"But The Wilderness Society (TWS) complaint raises concerns that the agency has retained this certification, despite its convictions for environmental offences."

"Prof David Heilpern, a former magistrate and the dean of law at Southern Cross University who has likened the NSW forestry agency to a “criminal organisation”, said he hoped the TWS complaint would be taken seriously."

“It arises from the unprecedented situation where a government supplier of a product has been convicted of a series of offences relating to illegal activities on public land."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/27/bunnings-accused-of-greenwashing-timber-amid-concerns-about-suppliers-logging
#FCNSW #NSWLogging #timber #greenwashing #certification #SupplyChain #crime #regulation #RacketTheory #governance #PublicLand #BellingenLogging

Roadless area conservation: No roads, no extractive activities

Trump pushes to allow new logging in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest
* "The move would affect more than half of the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest, opening it to potential logging, energy and mining projects. It would undercut a sweeping Clinton administration policy known as the “roadless rule,” which has survived a decades-long legal assault." >>
https://geosinstitute.org/past-initiative-forest-legacies/tongass/trump-pushes-to-allow-new-logging-in-alaska-s-tongass-national-forest/

* "Roadless area conservation is a conservation policy limiting road construction and the resulting environmental impact on designated areas of public land...In 'Industrial Tourism and the National Parks': Abbey describes road construction as "unnecessary or destructive development" and the loss of wilderness as a consequence of what he called "industrial tourism", where once-secluded natural areas become popularized and degraded." >>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadless_area_conservation

* What Is the Roadless Rule? "Enacted in 2001, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule (Roadless Rule) designated forests across the country as “inventoried roadless areas,” prohibiting the building of — you guessed it, new roads — but also logging and other harmful industries on these lands." >>
https://environmentamerica.org/articles/what-is-the-roadless-rule-and-why-should-you-care-about-it/
#forests #biodiversity #rainforest #roads #harm #extractivism #roadless #conservation #LoggingImpacts #mining #tourism #BellingenLogging #GlenifferRoad #NSWLogging #RoadlessRule

Koalas - endangered in parts but overabundant in others

"Koalas in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory have been listed as endangered by the Australian government since 2022. In these places, Crowther says, native populations have declined due to land-clearing, habitat fragmentation caused by urban development, disease, and death from vehicle strikes and dog attacks."

"Analysis has shown that nearly 2m hectares of forests suitable for koalas have been destroyed since the marsupial was declared a threatened species in 2011. Most of the clearing – 81% – occurred in Queensland."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/19/australias-koala-paradox-why-is-the-beloved-marsupial-endangered-in-parts-but-overabundant-in-others
#biodiversity #koalas #habitat #sprawl #cars #dogs #climate #NSWLogging #destruction

Logging breaches as a "business model” ?

"Former NSW Labor minister condemns Forestry Corporation after greater glider ‘den trees’ found at planned logging site."

"Bob Debus says operations at Glenbog state forest on south coast show native forest logging is untenable." “Forestry Corp is in breach of its own regulations so frequently that the practice is effectively part of its business model."

"A string of convictions recorded by the government-owned agency last year prompted a former magistrate to compare the forestry corporation to a “criminal organisation”, an accusation the NSWFC said at the time was “ridiculous”."

“Native forestry operations run at a permanent loss so in reality, taxpayers are paying the fines when they are prosecuted.”
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/15/nsw-logging-halted-greater-glider-den-trees-found
#biodiversity #NSWLogging #NSWFC #governance #business #NSW #law #ForestryCorporation #destruction #CitizenScience

Mutilation of the tree of life

"Tropical forest loss doubled in 2024, reaching the highest level recorded in two decades...Like tropical forests all over the world, it has been steadily shrinking, with at least 15% lost to logging, mining and cattle ranching in two decades."

"Low-cost tech and joined-up funding have reduced illegal logging, mining and poaching."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/25/they-are-scared-of-us-now-how-one-tropical-forest-turned-the-tide-on-loggers

Global Forest Watch >
https://www.globalforestwatch.org/

#biodiversity #deforestation #logging #mining #cattle #extractivism #plunder #ICT #TropicalForest #conservation #NSWlogging

Gentle logging certification

"Our analyses indicate that logging operations are compromising Australia's intention to meet its conservation goals...Our findings highlight the need for urgent reform in Australia's certification schemes and the importance of a significant expansion in protected areas." Professor David Lindenmayer

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01-05/sustainable-timber-certification-concerns/105904122
#biodiversity #logging #LoggingImpacts #conservation #climate #NSWLogging #plantations #expansion

An intact Great Koala National Park reduces fire risks

Some mainstream media, politicians and the logging industry see Australian flora and fauna as one big ' firebomb' that needs logging urgently.

"...A logged forest is at much greater risk of burning at higher severity than intact forests that have not been logged. Logged forests are at significantly greater risk of high-severity wildfire than intact (unlogged) forests." David Lindenmayer, Ecologist
>> (paywall)
https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-great-national-koala-park-is-not-a-firebomb-it-s-the-opposite-20251113-p5nf1u.html
#BushFires #deforestation #landclearing #biodiversity #ThegreatKoalaNationalPark #NSWLogging #LoggingImpacts #fires #VestedInterests #LoggingIndustry #BellingenLogging #BellingenShire #risks

The destruction of native forests

"The independent review of the EPBC Act, conducted by Graeme Samuel in 2020, described the exemption for RFAs from federal environment laws as an untenable "loophole". The Greens, who have been demanding a complete ban on native forest logging, want to end the exemption of RFAs from the EPBC Act immediately. Changes to the EPBC Act will be before the Senate on Wednesday..."
>>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-23/labor-greens-deal-on-environment-laws-native-forests/106040766
#biodiversity #EPBCAct #NativeForests #RFAs #degradation #FossilFuels #NSWLogging #BellingenLogging

"New data has pointed to the "systemic" under-reporting of greater glider dens within areas earmarked for logging in New South Wales, which scientists say could result in localised extinctions."

"Environment groups say the new rules have allowed Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW), a state government-owned logging company, to survey less of the forests they plan to log, which has resulted in the number of greater gliders being severely underestimated."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-21/environment-groups-decry-greater-glider-survey-results/106017274

Century-old trees critical to greater gliders >>
https://au.news.yahoo.com/late-night-discovery-in-bushland-sparks-fears-for-rare-aussie-animal-epic-failure-033852924.html
#biodiversity #gliders #nswLogging #LoggingImpacts #wildlife #extinction #FCNSW

“No other rich countries in the world destroy forests like Australia does." >>
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/19/australia-deforestation-hidden-official-figures-conservationists-report
#deforestation #degradation #biodiversity #NativeForests #glasgow #NSWLogging #Bellingen #Bellingenlogging #harm

NSW Forestry born-again as eco-forestry looking for new markets

"The forestry industry in northern NSW is considering new financial opportunities in eco-forestry and environmental markets."
>>
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-16/great-koala-national-park-forestry-future-carbon-market/105954932
#Biodiversity #wildlife #NSWLogging #TheGreatKoalaNationalPark #LoggingIndustry #MidNorthCoast #GKNP #KoalaTouristPark #firebreaks #LoggingAndLandclearing #extractivism #MinisterialDiscretion #EPBCAct

Image: The Bongil Bongil National Park has been included in the new Great Koala National Park, but the logging monster is always lurking... (Art by 'Danka')

Australia's new national environmental standards

"Former ACCC chair condemns proposed exemption allowing minister to approve projects that don’t comply with law. Samuel, who led a 2020 review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, also argued a loophole that effectively exempts native forest logging from the laws “shouldn’t be there”.

“Logging operations should be subject to the same rules as mining, agriculture, urban development and so on." >>
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/nov/14/graeme-samuel-calls-for-labor-to-ditch-national-interest-workaround-for-environment-laws

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act)
The problem of ministerial discretion and “national interest” exemptions. >>
https://mastodon.au/@Bellingen/115528660854362227

Authoritarianism—but make it look like the rule of law. >>
https://mastodon.au/@Bellingen/115528971744822369

#EPBCAct #biodiversity #NationalInterest #law #exemption #MinisterialDiscretion #FastTrackApprovals #VestedInterest #ParliamentaryScrutiny #EnvironmentalLaw #conservation #regulation #governance #democracy #NSWLogging #landclearing #DualState #lawlessness #authoritarianism #LawGuardrails #normalcy #EmergencyPowers #NationalInterest #legitimisation #exemption #constitution #state #governance #LoggingImpacts

Monitoring Australia’s tinderbox landscape
New interactive map shows how flammable your part of Australia is right now

"With every update, the tool provides a continent-wide snapshot of how flammable Australia’s vegetation is....The data are also being used in insurance and risk modelling for new developments to quantify the number of “flammable days” in a given region."
>>
https://theconversation.com/new-interactive-map-shows-how-flammable-your-part-of-australia-is-right-now-268289

MAPS >>
https://maps.dea.ga.gov.au/#share=s-bbkJz9vaB0EHQ0WEBGo99Fu4Gqn
#FossilFuels #deforestation #climate #NSWLogging #dryness #risks #FlammableDays #bushfires #heatwaves #storms #maps #CulturalBurning

In the wake of wildfires, toxic smoke is a lasting health concern >>
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2527308122
#bushfires #FossilFuels #fires #suburbia #UrbanWildfires #air #pollution #toxins #smoke #plastics #VOCs #AirPollution #ClimateChange #benzene #acetone #health #harm #NSWLogging #PublicHealth

Why roads are so dangerous
Avoid the first cut into a forest...

"The first road made into a wilderness area is often the most dangerous. Following the first cut, a host of changes often become unstoppable."
>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwwlxlMoVVQ

Conserving Tropical Forests in a Rapidly Changing World, Bill Laurance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFrSpk--QmU
#LoggingImpacts #NativeForests #deforestation #fragmentation #biodiversity #wildlife #NSWLogging #BellingenLogging #SaveTuckersNob #TheGreatKoalaNationalPark #roads #climate

Biodiversity is in catastrophic decline. Here are three ways to ensure Australia’s conservation law actually works

"The commonwealth bureaucracy has failed to enforce the existing laws."

"The exemption for native forest logging should have been phased out. Instead, it was extended."

"The highest priority for the reforms must be to ensure land-clearing is properly regulated."
>>
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/28/australia-conservation-law-biodiversity-decline
#biodiversity #NativeForests #NSWLogging #LoggingImpacts #EPBCAct #extractivism #deforestation #LandClearing #conservation #regulation