We, the children of Elands and surrounding communities, strongly oppose the logging of Bulga Forest, and any future logging plans in the area. We oppose ALL native forest logging in NSW.
The plants and animals of our forests are some of the most diverse on the planet, and right in your own council area. They were hit hard by the severe bushfires in the summer of 2019/2020 and our community came together and fought hard to protect them. We are still fighting hard to protect them. We must protect what is left. Once they are gone we can not simply put them back. Forests take a long time to grow. Any trees replanted in the Bulga today will still be fairly young trees by the end of our human lifetimes. Forests are ecosystems that support life beyond the plants and animals that exist within them. The current practice of clear fell logging destroys these ecosystems. We all know trees give us oxygen and clean air but forests also filter our water. Forests create clouds and make it rain. Clean and plentiful water is essential to our future. When older trees are lost through fire and logging, any trees that regrow in their place need much more water and the quality of the runoff is affected. This has a trickle down effect on catchments below. On the crops and animals we farm and the quality of the water we all drink.
Logging our native forests will bring many of our iconic and unique species, both plants and animals, even closer to extinction. Once these plants and animals are lost they can not be brought back. They are gone from the earth forever. They each have a special place in the ecosystem. When one is lost all the others are affected. We are all affected by their loss.
Forest-dwelling species make up 80% of all threatened and endangered species in Australia. Old trees provide habitat that is vital to their survival. Koalas are now listed as endangered. We must all act NOW to protect them and the remaining pockets of their forest homes.
Scientific data tells us that logging reduces carbon storage and increases fire hazard. South eastern Australia is home to the most carbon dense forests in the world. Old trees store large amounts of carbon in the leaves and soil. This carbon returns quickly to the atmosphere when the forest is logged. Large, old trees absorb more carbon than younger, growing trees.
Our forests are much more valuable standing than they are logged, chipped and turned into toilet paper and cardboard or burned to make electricity. In fact logging of our native forests has been at a massive loss over the past 2 years. There are opportunities for jobs in our forests beyond logging. Eco tourism, conservation and health and wellbeing are the kind of jobs we would like from our forests in the future.
Forests provide homes for wildlife, store carbon, make rain, purify water, provide multiple benefits for indigenous communities, support nature based businesses, attract tourists and benefit our physical and mental health.
Everyday science brings us new evidence of the importance of these forests in halting the climate emergency we are facing. Article 6 of the UN convention on the rights of the child states that : Children have the right to live a full life. Governments should ensure that children survive and develop healthily. In tact forests are vital to a healthy future. Article 12 states that: Children have the right to say what they think should happen when adults are making decisions that affect them and to have their opinions taken into account.
We, the children of Elands and surrounding communities call on you to support the motion put before you today. Be our voice, be our hope. Our forests are worth more standing for our future. Let their protection be your legacy. #nswvotes #SaveBulgaForest #StandUp4Forests #climatechange #childrenforabetterworld