WWF Urges NSW Premier to Save Red Gum Forests
09 Dec 2009
WWF-Australia today appealed to NSW Premier Kristina Keneally to uphold her government's commitment to protect the precious Murray River Red Gum forests in the proposed new Millewa National Park.
"NSW should move forward immediately with its promise to protect the Red Gum forests," WWF-Australia Protected Areas spokesperson Dr Martin Taylor said.
"WWF supports the decision to transition logging out of sensitive native forests. This will be a long-term win-win for the environment and for the timber industry."
One of the final decisions made by former Premier Nathan Rees last week was to announce the creation of a new 42,000 hectare national park, near Deniliquin in south-west NSW.
The new park is proposed to protect the majestic Red Gum forests that run along the Murray and Murrumbidgee river systems.
"Premier Keneally must stand firm against opposition to the park," Dr Taylor said.
"The River Red Gum wetland forests on the Murray and Murrumbidgee rivers in south-western NSW are unique and provide an irreplaceable refuge for plants and animals in one of the most heavily disturbed and poorly protected landscapes in Australia.
"The forests contain habitat for about 70 plants and animals threatened with extinction such as the Southern Bell Frog which has less than 10 per cent of its known range protected."
Dr Taylor said NSW had made significant progress in meeting its National Reserve System commitments and the proposed Red Gums initiative represented a major new step forward in the growth of this all-important network.
"The Red Gum forests are highly threatened by water removal for irrigation, logging and livestock," he said.
"Protecting natural treasures like the Red Gums delivers many times more economic return than traditional extractive uses in terms of cultural value, tourism and ecological services.
"These forests must be protected if they are to survive the growing stress of climate change."
More information
Dr Martin Taylor, WWF-Australia Protected Areas Policy Manager
Mobile: 0406 384 289
Nikki Todd, WWF-Australia Media Officer
Mobile: 0408 011 204
Email: ntodd@wwf.org.au
