At the weekend we went up to Toolangi, to witness the shameful logging that has been ripping right through the heart of this gorgeous wet rainforest. Some of the brave folk who have been risking their lives to stop the logging going on briefed us on the woeful situation. Toolangi, which missed the brunt of the Black Saturday fires by a hairs breadth, forms some of the only remaining habitat for the now critically endangered Leadbeater's possum. Volunteer surveyors have found two live leadbeaters nests within the coupes, but due to the absurdity of the Government's guidelines it is their habitat which is protected, not the actual possums themselves. And "habitat" according to government guidelines must cover an area at least 3 hectares - the coupes conveniently cover only 2.
The situation is made all the more upsetting for those who braved the fires two years ago, because once the forest is logged it will be replanted with highly flammable eucalypt saplings, increasing fire risk in the future.
When the next fire comes, we'll know who to blame.
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