Logging in forest earmarked for koala national park increasing under NSW Labor, analysis finds
Share:
More than 7,000 hectares logged in planned park area since Chris Minns won 2023 election with commitment to deliver new sanctuary, conservationists say. Logging of native forest in the proposed great koala national park (GKNP) in northern New South Wales has intensified since the Minns government took office, according to new analysis by conservation advocates.
![[Conservation group releases video showing logging near endangered greater gliders – video]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/0d7690263e439ef04267a7396a403bebfdd60d66/0_0_1920_1080/1920.jpg?width=465&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The report, which the state’s forestry corporation disputes, found 7,185 hectares (17,700 acres) were logged within the promised park in the 21 months since the March 2023 state election. Dailan Pugh, the president of the North East Forest Alliance, said this was about 8.4% of the area identified for potential logging and included habitat for endangered koalas and another 37 threatened species.
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email. The data has been released before a rally in Coffs Harbour planned for Monday by forest advocates demanding a halt to logging of native forest that could form part of the park. State and federal Greens MPs will also attend.
“They’re still logging areas they’ve identified as high density for koalas,” Pugh said. “We were promised a world-class national park. That’s been reiterated many times since. We just want that to be done and the degradation to stop.”. Conservationists have become frustrated by the time it is taking the Minns government to fulfil its election promise, finalise an assessment of the area and declare the park’s boundaries, given the government chose not to put a moratorium on logging during the assessment period.
