Note: this announcement relates to the fourth member of this group to be arrested.

SOUTH EAST FOREST RESCUE

MEDIA RELEASE: 24/09/2009

A leading forest campaigner was arrested this morning, ten days after conducting an inspection of critical Koala habitat in Compartment 2002 of Bermagui State Forest.

The Forests NSW logging operation is not more than fifty metres from the shores of Black Lagoon, a Sanctuary zone and part of Wallaga Lake/Batemans Marine Park.  Recommendations from expert consultants, local residents and green groups are that forests in the area should be expertly managed for koalas and the community.

"Destroying Koala habitat on the only soil landscape known to support koalas is unacceptable," said Mr. Robert Bertram, local Friends of Five Forests member.  "Particularly when the NSW government cannot prove their claims that koalas can be found anywhere in the south east."

"Until such time as fundamental issues of population size and distribution, factors influencing tree selection and the conservation status of koala populations in the south-east forests generally is better understood, we stress the need to adopt a minimal disturbance approach to management of these forests," said Ms Lisa Stone, spokesperson for South East Forest Rescue.

“We urge Premier Rees and the newly appointed Minister for the Environment, Mr John Robertson, to step in on behalf of the native forests and their dependents and place a Stop on the logging of Bermagui until meaningful, data-driven management guidelines for such areas and the surrounding landscape have been developed."

The current government policy of destroying habitat to satisfy ‘wood supply agreements’ is robbing from the future generations their chance of survival.

The campaigner was travelling to Canberra when arrested.

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