Bushfire smoke from burning forests kills and damages the economy

"Wildfire smoke is expected to kill as many as 1.4 million people globally each year by the end of the century if planet-heating emissions are not curbed, according to a study published on Thursday. Breathing in smoke from burning forests is thought to be about 10 times more toxic than inhaling other air pollution given off by the burning of fossil fuels, with scientists recently warning the impact of this pollution has been severely underestimated in terms of its impact upon our health."
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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/18/wildfire-smoke-global-deaths-2050

Wildfire smoke exposure and mortality burden in the US under climate change
"The mortality burden in the US due to wildfire smoke fine particulate matter (PM2.5) under climate change. When monetized, climate-driven smoke deaths result in economic damages that exceed existing estimates of climate-driven damages from all other causes combined in the US. Our research suggests that the health impacts of climate-driven wildfire smoke could be among the most important and costly consequences of a warming climate in the US."
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https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09611-w
#smoke #health #OneHealth #bushfires #pollution #costs #FossilFuels #climate #mortality #air #forests #fires #NSWLogging #LoggingImpacts #BellingenShire #FCNSW #plantations

Fragmentation increased in over half of global forests from 2000 to 2020

"Land conversion not only reduces the total habitat available to other species, but it also fragments habitat into smaller and less-connected patches, thus supporting smaller and less-connected populations." >>
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adr6450
#deforestation #biodiversity #wildlife #extinction #fragmentation #connectivity #forest #degradation #ClimateBreakdown #Loggingimpacts #plantations #TheGreatKoalaNationalPark #NSWLogging

Image: Customary pile burning to make a 'clean slate' for grazing ungulates, Bellingen

World Heritage boundaries — minus the plantations

"Research has shown there are more significant populations of koala, and more significant koala trees than the areas of native forest now under logging moratorium. This is particularly the case for the plantation habitat in Newry, Wild Cattle Creek, Pine Creek and Tuckers Nob State Forests. Tragically, this koala habitat will continue to be subjected to ongoing forestry operations — which threatens the viability of the population as a whole. With one-tenth of the population located in these forests, ongoing operations will result in a permanent cull."

"Suspending all operations in these areas pending a full review is essential to protect the integrity of the park’s natural values as a whole."
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https://medium.com/@timothymarkcadman/statement-on-gknp-41297fa24e65
#biodiversity #koalas #culling #TheGreatKoalaNationalPark #plantations #LoggingImpacts #NSWLogging #plantationocene

Will the 'koala tourist park' save the endangered species?

"Habitat loss and fragmentation is the number one threat to koalas. Others include climate change, bushfires, disease, vehicle strikes and dog attacks."

"The NSW government says logging must immediately cease in areas to be brought into the park’s boundary. However, logging pressures can remain, even after national parks are declared. Forestry activities must cease completely, and forever, if the park is to truly protect koalas."

"What’s more, recreational activities, if allowed in the national park, may negatively impact koalas. For example, cutting tracks or building tourist facilities may fragment koala habitat and disturb shy wildlife."
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https://theconversation.com/koalas-are-running-out-of-time-will-a-140-million-national-park-save-them-264789
#biodiversity #wildlife #conservation #HabitatDestruction #roads #dogs #pets #NSWLogging #LoggingImpacts #FossilFuels #MidNorthCoast #KoalaTouristPark #TheGreatKoalaNationalPark #encroachment #deforestation #nature #commodification #values #touristification #TouristPark

The destruction of koala habitat shows ‘total failure’ of nature laws

"More clearing of koala habitat has been approved under Australia’s nature laws in 2025 so far than in any other year since the marsupial was listed as a threatened species, according to an analysis by the Australian Conservation Foundation.The very law meant to protect nature is so poorly enforced that it has failed to stop nearly 2.3m hectares of likely koala habitat from being bulldozed and cut down."

"The analysis found native forest logging, particularly in NSW, was also contributing to koala habitat loss, with 391,170 ha of likely koala habitat destroyed by logging operations over the 12-year period."
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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/07/loss-of-koala-habitat-shows-total-failure-of-nature-laws-conservationists-say
#EPBCAct #biodiversity #nature #laws #governance #enforcement #failure #extinction #harm #NSWLogging #BellingenLogging #EndangeredSpecies #conservation #LandClearing #deforestation #koalas #decline #LoggingImpacts #TheGreatKoalaNationalPark

Logging NSW mid-north coast biodiversity in the plantationocene ( The Great Koala National Park )

'The NSW government has imposed a temporary moratorium on timber harvesting within the boundary from Monday, but harvesting in plantations will continue."

"Koalas on track to be extinct in the wild across NSW by 2050."
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-07/great-koala-national-park-to-go-ahead-on-nsw-mid-north-coast/105743430
#biodiversity #Plantationocene #TheGreatKoalaNationalPark #MidNorthCoast #LoggingImpacts #FCNSW #koalas #gliders #Gumbaynggirr #Dunghutti #NSWLogging #GaggingSci #plantations

Damaging the habitat of a threatened species

"Remember, it's taxpayers paying the fines."

"Conservationists have called for an end to native forest logging after crucial endangered Southern Greater Glider habitat was allegedly destroyed illegally.The case will be heard in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales in October. "
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-29/forestry-corporation-nsw-charged-by-epa-tallaganda-state-forest/105711516
#FCNSW #breaches #NSWLogging #biodiversity #gliders #harm #NSW #LoggingImpacts

The “final straw” for logging in NSW

"A timber harvesting company owned by an Australian state government is facing 29 charges in the Land and Environment Court. It's understood the matter relates in part to the death of an endangered greater glider at Tallaganda State Forest, near Canberra, which was found near a logging site in 2023."

“Australia is the only wealthy nation still cutting forests down at scale. Eastern Australia remains a global deforestation front, and much of that is driven by logging in NSW. Western Australia and Victoria shut down their native forest logging."
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https://au.news.yahoo.com/29-charges-laid-after-rotting-discovery-near-worksite-in-state-forest-070857344.html
#deforestation #LoggingImpacts #FCNSW #NSWLogging #BiodiversityCrisis #gliders #governance

Deforestation kills

"Deforestation is responsible for more than a third of the warming experienced by people living in the affected regions. Deforestation has killed more than half a million people in the tropics over the past two decades as a result of heat-related illness, a study has found."
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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/27/deforestation-has-killed-half-a-million-people-in-past-20-years-study-finds
#deforestation #LoggingAndLandclearing #LoggingImpacts #ExtremeHeat #HeatStress #mortality #BiodiversityCrisis #canopy #FossilFuels #ClimateDisruption #degradation #harm

Environmentalist Mark Graham barred from Forestry Corp offices after protest

"Justice Richard Weinstein granted bail on the condition that Mr Graham not travel within half a kilometre of the Forestry Corporation offices."

"Justice Weinstein remarked that a Forestry Corporation vehicle was akin to "a red flag to a bull" for the defendant. It's a very volatile situation up there."

"Mr Graham will return to Coffs Harbour Local Court on September 17."
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-20/environmentalist-mark-graham-bail-coffs-harbour/105587574
#LoggingAndLandclearing #NSWLogging #LoggingImpacts #biodiversity #CoffsHarbour #climatedisruption #ProtectProtest

Translocation experiment: Deaths of seven out of 13 koalas
More than half of koalas relocated to NSW forest died in failed government attempt at reintroduction

"Translocation and deaths of seven out of 13 koalas in April, with some showing signs of septicaemia, not made public by state government. An attempt by the New South Wales government to reintroduce koalas to a forest in the state’s far south has failed after more than half of the moved animals died, including two with signs of septicaemia, and the remaining marsupials were taken into care."
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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/14/more-than-half-of-koalas-relocated-to-nsw-forest-died-in-failed-government-attempt-at-reintroduction
#koalas #extinction #NSW #translocation #HabitatDestruction #NSWLogging #LoggingImpacts #biodiversity

"Wherever land isn’t protected, there are miners, drug traffickers, loggers, illegal fishers and hunters."
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https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/jul/05/we-dont-want-contact-because-you-are-bad-loggers-close-in-on-uncontacted-people-in-peruvian-amazon
#extractivism #LoggingImpacts #roads #IndigenousPeoples

The 'world's watching' koalas getting under Aussie wheels

They are begging motorists to slow down when driving through known koala habitats, but...

"Since European colonisation, koala habitat in Australia has been devastated, with approximately 29 million hectares (54 per cent) of forests and woodlands destroyed in NSW alone. Even in recent years, deforestation has continued at an alarming pace...Koalas are facing extinction in NSW by 2050."
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https://au.news.yahoo.com/drivers-warned-after-heartbreaking-find-next-to-road-at-aussie-tourist-town-230610115.html
#biodiversity #extinction #koalas #marsupials #roads #cars #Roadkill #RoadTrauma #NSW #MidNorthCoast #LoggingImpacts #NSWLogging #wildlife #deforestation

Forests, roads and mega fires
"More roads are associated with more fires"

"A problem arises when forest managers look at forests exclusively “through the lens of timber and dollar signs on trees."
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https://grist.org/wildfires/wildfire-prevention-roads-trump-repeal-roadless-rule-usda-forest-service/

Char Miller, "Burn Scars: A Documentary History of Fire Suppression, from Colonial Origins to the Resurgence of Cultural Burning" (Oregon State UP, 2024)
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https://osupress.oregonstate.edu/book/burn-scars
#LoggingImpacts #LoggingIndustry #NSWLogging #roads #bushfires #timber #extractivism #thinning #PrescribedBurns #FireSuppression #megafires #colonialism #CounterNarratives #IndigenousPeoples #CulturalBurning #ecology

Clear-felled forests on erosion-prone land are one bad rainstorm away from disaster.

Sash and sediment discharges. "We argue that the standards should set limits to the size and location of clear-felling areas on erosion-susceptible land." >>
https://theconversation.com/one-bad-rainstorm-away-from-disaster-why-proposed-changes-to-forestry-rules-wont-solve-the-slash-problem-258280
#erosion #LoggingImpacts #NSWLogging #regulation #forests #FCNSW #plantations #DIYDisasters #landslides

Degraded: Victoria's alpine and mountain ash forests

"Devastating fires, not logging as some claim, are to blame."

"'Woefully low' action from government."
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-22/alpine-forests-in-victoria-in-serious-trouble-scientists-warn/105432774
#forests #LoggingImpacts #fires #degradation #biodiversity #governance #LoggingIndustry

"The native forest logging division of the New South Wales government’s forestry agency has posted a half-yearly loss of almost $15m, prompting renewed questions about the industry’s economic viability."

“It makes no sense that taxpayers are subsidising a loss-making business that destroys precious habitat when we should be supporting local communities and viable industries that do have a future.”"
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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/16/nsw-native-forest-logging-division-half-year-report-2024-2025-losses
#LoggingImpacts #LoggingIndustry #FCNSW #NSWLogging #TheGreatKoalaNationalPark #biodiversity #wildlife #destruction

National Environmental Standards

Create new, legally enforceable national environmental standards to deliver better environmental protection or continue with the big quarry model this term?

"Nature doesn’t negotiate. Nature is a system of systems, and if we take too much from it those systems begin to break down – usually irreversibly."
>>
https://theconversation.com/its-a-hard-job-being-environment-minister-heres-an-insiders-view-of-the-key-challenges-facing-murray-watt-256465

Samuel Review
https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/epbc/epbc-act-reform/standards
#EPBCAct #BiodiversityCrisis #Biodiversity #Ecosystems #FirstNations #restoration #nature #extractivism #harm #LoggingImpacts #mining #water #extraction #FossilFuels #ClimateDisruption #destruction #governance

NSW forestry agency should be shut down for repeatedly breaking law, critics argue

"Professor David Heilpern, a former court magistrate, claims the NSW Forestry Corporation is no longer fit for purpose and should be disbanded. A former magistrate and one of Australia’s most experienced scientists have launched an extraordinary attack on the New South Wales government’s logging agency, describing it as effectively a “criminal organisation” that should be shut down after a string of court convictions."

"The corporation has been convicted of more than a dozen environmental offences, including a judgment in the land and environment court last year that found the agency was likely to reoffend and had poor prospects of rehabilitation.They get caught, investigated, prosecuted, a criminal conviction, a fine – which the public pays – and they carry on and do it all again."

“There is just no integrity, accountability or justice in this model of operation.”

“For the Forestry Corporation, breaking the law and harming the environment and wildlife has become like a game of charades played under the protection of the state."
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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/11/nsw-forestry-agency-called-criminal-organisation-by-critics
#LoggingImpacts #LoggingIndustry #NSWLogging #BellingenLogging #SaveTuckersNob #crime #harm #biodiversity #wildlife #conservation #TheGreatKoalaNationalPark #governance #accountability #extractivism

Koalas face death, attacks and mass starvation from monoculture plantations
Cost-effective management techniques for Australian wildlife

"...Displaced animals were sometimes still up in trees that were felled and ended up with broken bones, or were orphaned babies left behind. Others were attacked by cows or dogs."

"A 2023 study of reported wild koala deaths in south-east Queensland found vehicles were responsible for about half (1,431) of all fatalities."
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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/11/koalas-face-death-attacks-and-starvation-as-blue-gums-chopped-down-in-victoria
#biodiversity #wildlife #koalas #LoggingImpacts #LoggingIndustry #harm #pets #Livestock #roads #vehicles #RoadTrauma #KillingZones #plantations #monoculture #extractivism #governance #Australia #extinction