Forests on national agenda as government wants to lock in more logging

As federal policymakers advance measures that would entrench ongoing native forest logging, a growing chorus from communities and conservation advocates warns that Australia risks sacrificing irreplaceable biodiversity and vital carbon stores. The push to cement logging has collided with mounting evidence that our remaining native forests are critical infrastructure for climate resilience, clean water, and the survival of species teetering on the brink.

Policy on the move, protections lagging behind

Proposed changes to environmental laws, driven through at speed, have alarmed ecologists who say Australia’s old-growth and mature regrowth forests remain largely unprotected from industrial felling. Critics argue that without explicit, durable safeguards for native forests, any new framework will fail to stem extinction risks or meet climate commitments. They note that recent overtures described as a “lifeline” to the logging sector ignore the economic and ecological case for reorienting toward plantation timber and genuine restoration.

At the heart of the debate is a simple proposition: stop cutting down ecosystems that do far more for the nation standing than felled. Mature forests store substantial carbon, buffer against floods and heat, and knit together habitats across landscapes—invaluable services that are largely lost when forests are reduced to short-rotation regrowth.

Species at the brink

On the ground, the picture is stark. Field observations in New South Wales have documented endangered greater gliders foraging in logging coupes, their survival tied to the very hollow-bearing trees that are routinely removed. Across Bass Strait, the critically endangered swift parrot is attempting to breed in Tasmanian forests now marked for continued harvest. Each day of cutting erases nesting and feeding sites, further fragmenting the remnant habitat these species require.

Conservationists say the scientific verdict is clear: avoiding deforestation is one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to protect biodiversity and reduce emissions. They argue that intact native forests should be ring-fenced from industrial logging, with a rapid transition plan to plantations and value-added wood products, coupled with support for workers and regional communities.

High country under pressure

In the Central Highlands of lutruwita/Tasmania—Country known as Wakaywirinu—logging has accelerated in slow-growing, high-altitude forests that take centuries to mature. Observers report that these subalpine ecosystems are being replaced by simplified regrowth, a trajectory that can lock landscapes into repeated disturbance and diminished ecological function.

Today, community members and forest defenders said they temporarily halted operations on a logging road leading to a coupe designated BD052A by the state forest agency. Their aim: buy time for the forest and draw national attention to the pace of clearing. Among them was a local raised near Ouse, who described witnessing the transformation of once-wild country into a patchwork of cutovers. He argued that native forest logging is a fading business model, with the future pointing squarely toward well-managed plantations and forest protection.

Communities caring for people and place

While the nation debates the fate of its forests, communities are rallying around the next generation. In Mullumbimby, a lively trivia night brought around 90 locals into the high school hall to raise funds for the school’s wellbeing hub, Garhim. It was a reminder that the health of people and the health of landscapes are intertwined: community cohesion, education, and vibrant natural places all contribute to wellbeing.

Many who attended said they want decision-makers to consider the long view—prioritising sustainable regional economies, safeguarding water catchments, and keeping biodiverse forests intact so young people can inherit a stable climate and a living natural heritage.

From conflict to transition

The path forward, say environmental planners, hinges on three commitments:

• Immediate protection for remaining native forests of high conservation value, including key habitat for threatened species and climate refuges.
• A just transition that supports workers and towns to shift from native forest logging to plantations, restoration, and forest-friendly enterprises like cultural burning, eco-tourism, and non-timber forest products.
• Strong, enforceable national laws that prevent backsliding and ensure transparent monitoring of forest condition, carbon stocks, and species recovery.

Australia has the chance to align its forest policy with its climate goals and biodiversity obligations. Locking in more native forest logging would move the country in the opposite direction, eroding natural capital that cannot be quickly or cheaply rebuilt. As the debate reaches Parliament and the street, one choice stands out: protect the living systems that protect us.