According to a new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change late last month, sequestering carbon dioxide is only one of the crucial climate-regulating attributes inherent to the world’s forests.
According to a new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change late last month, sequestering carbon dioxide is only one of the crucial climate-regulating attributes inherent to the world’s forests.
It’s not just those on the green side of the fence who are outraged about plans to whack in massive firebreaks through forests across the landscape. Even many fire experts are a little upset by the lack of thought and evidence that they will be effective. In many cases they could just be providing wind …
It’s been a huge bonanza for logging and earth-moving companies. Since last summer’s fires, reckless clearing of extremely large swathes of high-quality forest has continued under the guise of fire safety. Last April/May, the Bracks Government agreed to stop these monstrous “fire-breaks” until a public consultation process was put in place. But more and more …
Many astute observers are starting to question the fires that have enveloped Victoria’s east since 2003. This may sound like a conspiracy theory but the evidence seems to be mounting. Many of these areas were deliberately left to burn for a day or two before fire-fighters were sent to attack them or that the back …
The Victorian Government classifies logging the bejeezuz out of killed or semi-scorched ash forests recovering from fire as ‘bushfire recovery’. As part of its ‘Bushfire Recovery Package’, it has handed over $34 million of our taxes to help the logging and woodchipping industries fast track so-called ‘salvage’ logging of ash at ten times sustainable rates.
Let’s clear the smoke on the claim that fire is as damaging as logging. Carbon is stored both above and below ground. Forest parts above ground lose roughly 800 tonnes per ha when logged and burnt. Using figures both Federal and State governments have been quoting in parliament, the recent fires sent less than 40 …
These comments from the State of the Environment (SoE) report 2008 – Inappropriate fire regimes (too much or too little fire) threaten the persistence and condition of some species and ecosystems. Uncertainty exists over optimal levels of planned burning in Victoria for ecological benefits and protection from wildfire. Human sources of ignition account for at …
There were 233 bulldozers out there pushing our forests, streams and mountainsides around during the peak of last summer’s fires. The bulk of these massive clearing operations did naught to slow or stop the drought-fuelled fires, but it did give the impression that something important was being done by lots of blokes on big machines. …
Two hundred years ago the Sooty Owl was abundant and fed on 18 ground species of prey in Gippsland. Today they have two or three to choose from. Other wildlife’s ability to thrive is similarly threatened by decades of habitat change. The conversion of habitat to farmland, decades of mining, logging and grazing, as well …
At the time of going to print, there are FIVE CREWS working on a GOVT SANCTIONED 70 mts x 256 kms CLEARING that cuts across the Thomson catchment. The DSE claimed it learnt from the squandering of the Yalmy Road and the Snowy National Park in the 2003 fires. Now we understand how! The Minister …
Of the million-plus hectares of forest that burnt in last summer’s fires, DSE’s Chief Fire Officer, Ewan Waller, admitted they lit up 100,000 ha of that area in back burns. Many of which got away and threatened the towns of Bruthen, Tambo Crossing and Swifts Creek. This autumn, another 100,000 ha of forest that didn’t …
