Commercial logging

Question 1

Parties involved

Answer 1

Great forest national park working group, VNPA, Forestry Industry and some recreational interest groups

Question 2

Issue of commercial logging

Answer 2

Proposal to declare a national park of over 5000 square kilometres that incorporates existing
national parks, reserves and state forests

Question 3

Great forest national working industry and VNPA interaction

Answer 3

Campaigning for the creation of the GFNP that focuses on a balance of conservation management and broad recreational possibilities, and the
discontinuation of exploitive interactions

Question 4

Forest industry and some recreational interest groups interaction

Answer 4

Campaigning for timber harvesting and
exploitive recreational activities (e.g.
deer hunting)

Question 5

Great forest national park working group and VNPA position on issue

Answer 5

The creation of the Great Forest National Park would not only safeguard the habitats of endangered species and protect these critical forests, but also protect carbon stocks and water supplies, and lower the risk of bushfires. Adding a proposed 355000 hectares to the existing protected forests will combine a number of individual national parks to form the Great Forest National Park

Question 6

Forestry industry and some recreational interest groups position on issue

Answer 6

State forests should remain to enable continued primary industry, and the hunting of deer and other introduced species, as these provide better environmental management and the greatest benefit for the Victorian public

Question 7

Great forest national park working group and VNPA methods used to influence

Answer 7

• Direct action protests and blockade of logging sites (e.g. Toolangi State Forest)
• Website and multimedia campaign
• Organised petitions in support of GFNP

Question 8

Forest Industry and some recreational interest groups methods used to influence

Answer 8

• Launched Facebook page and
  campaign against GFNP
• Lobbied political parties to
  consider the opposing position on
  the GFNP
• Convened community meetings to
  provide information on potential
  local employment and economic
  impacts of GFNP

Question 9

Processes followed by decision makers

Answer 9

Community consultation – an advisory group was established to consult with community and other groups to investigate the potential social, economic and environmental
impacts and benefits of an issue or proposal. Recommendations to be provided to government.

Question 10

Resolution

Answer 10

The resolution of this conflict is not the fairy-tale ending for conservationists and nature lovers. While it has not yet ended (technically, the proposal is still active), it has failed to gain support from either major Victorian political party. The methods used by the forestry
industry to influence the government’s position focused on wealth creation – local jobs, timber products and the flow-on effects to communities – and this was a stronger motivation for the government than polls, petitions, letter writing or prominent people writing books in support of the creation of the park