Environmental groups are launching a fierce campaign for the outright abolition of a state-owned logging giant, following damning allegations that it has pushed endangered species closer to extinction.
The Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) stands accused of a litany of failures, including systematically breaching its own environmental protections and failing to conduct crucial pre-logging surveys for vulnerable animals. This has led to a chorus of demands from conservationists for the government to dismantle the corporation entirely.
A Catalogue of Alleged Failures
The controversy stems from a formal complaint submitted to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) by a coalition of environmental organisations. The complaint presents what they describe as overwhelming evidence of misconduct.
The allegations include:
- Failure to protect habitat trees: FCNSW is accused of routinely ignoring rules mandating the protection of hollow-bearing trees, which are critical nesting sites for species like the endangered greater glider and powerful owl.
- Skipping mandatory surveys: The groups allege the corporation has frequently logged areas without first conducting required spotlight surveys to identify and protect populations of threatened species.
- Non-compliance with conditions: Evidence suggests widespread breaches of the rules set out in the corporation's own approval documents, undermining the integrity of environmental safeguards.
Species on the Brink
Conservationists argue that these practices have had a devastating real-world impact. They point to the alarming decline of species such as the koala and the greater glider in state forests where intensive logging operations have been conducted.
"The evidence is clear and damning," stated a spokesperson for the environmental coalition. "The Forestry Corporation has been acting as if it is above the law, treating environmental conditions as optional. This has to stop before we lose these precious species forever."
Calls for Drastic Action
In response to these allegations, the groups are not merely calling for fines or stricter oversight. They are demanding the most severe punishment: the complete abolition of the Forestry Corporation's native forest logging operations.
They argue that the corporation has proven itself incapable of balancing its commercial interests with its environmental obligations and that public native forests should be managed for conservation and climate mitigation, not timber production.
The NSW EPA has confirmed it is assessing the detailed complaint. The outcome of this investigation could determine the future of public forestry in the state and mark a pivotal moment for Australia's endangered wildlife.
