GREAT KOALA NATIONAL PARK announced!
As most of you have probably heard, the GKNP has been announced by Chris Minns and Penny Sharpe. And they have announced the intention to protect the whole 176,000 ha!
What this announcement means for the proposed Pine Creek Forest Bridge–
We are happy and relieved that about 40% of the Forest Bridge will be conserved under the GKNP, however there is still work to be done to ensure the connectivity required for the koala populations in Pine Creek State Forest.
As many of you know PCSF is home to significant and healthy koala populations and connects the intergenerationally significant populations of Bongil Bongil and Bindarri National Parks. There are large swathes of established koala habitat within PCSF that will not fall under protection of the GKNP and we will continue to advocate for the establishment of the Forest Bridge to protect the future of these local koalas. Surveys have shown the importance of established habitat, to koalas and other threatened species, in compartments still ear-marked for logging , in particular Compartment 15-18.
Congratulations to our friends in other forests, who can now rest easy.
Friends of Orara East – who have stood up most recently to protect Mount Coramba. And though they have suffered some losses, the remaining areas are now protected!
Friends of Kalang Headwaters – you have been working to protect this precious area for years. Rest easy.
Blicks River Guardians – who have shown up for a roadside vigil for over 420 days! Enjoy your sleep ins.
And to all the other forests, who may have been subject to industrial logging in recent years, but can now be left to regenerate.
Thank You to Ashley Love for your vision, to National Parks Association for your tireless efforts in getting this across the line, and all the other amazing forest protectors who have worked alongside this proposal! We are breathing a collective sigh of relief for all the forests and their inhabitants who will be protected by the Labor Government's announced GKNP.
Let's take a moment to celebrate this monumental win!
Then, continue the work for Pine Creek and other forests including Tuckers Nob and Newry Bollanolla.
In celebration,
Friends of Pine Creek