Title: Uncovering a Government Agency’s Secret Deal: A Threat to a Rare Marsupial?
Introduction: In a shadowy realm where government agencies and commercial interests collide, whispers of a clandestine pact between a regulatory body and a logging group are sending shockwaves through conservation circles. As the delicate balance of nature hangs in the balance, questions loom large: could this covert agreement spell disaster for a rare marsupial teetering on the brink of extinction? Join us on a journey into the heart of secrecy and endangerment as we unravel the truth behind this ominous alliance.
Government Agency Accused of Backroom Deal with Loggers
Australia’s environmental community is in uproar over a controversial decision by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA). Environmental groups assert that the EPA has facilitated a “dodgy backroom deal” with the logging industry. This accusation follows an announcement permitting logging activities in forests that serve as sanctuaries for the endangered greater gliders.
Minimal Effort to Protect Nocturnal Species
The criticism stems from the revelation that the searches for the nocturnal marsupial’s den trees were conducted during the day. Given that greater gliders are active during the night, this oversight has cast serious doubt on the EPA’s commitment to protecting the species.
Numerous environment groups have labeled this strategy as a “road map to extinction” for the greater glider, which has been officially designated as endangered since 2022 due to several factors including logging and fire.
The Glider’s Habitat and Legal Failures
Greater gliders depend on hollows in old den trees to live and rear their young. While the state-run Forestry Corporation NSW (FCNSW) was previously required to conduct surveys to identify and protect these den trees, the law lacked specificity on how these surveys should be conducted.
In August 2023, a dead glider discovered at a logging site in Tallaganda State Forest led the EPA to issue immediate stop-work orders. Subsequent investigations revealed that 20 den trees were located in areas slated for logging, but daytime surveys missed crucial nocturnal signs.
Stop-Work Orders and Their Controversy
In response to the discovery, the EPA extended stop-work orders to other areas. However, these orders lapsed by the beginning of this year. The EPA’s executive director of operation indicated that crucial sap feed trees were present in logging areas, asserting that the FCNSW had failed to conduct thorough searches for den trees as required.
This failure to identify and protect these habitats compromises the safety and survival of the greater glider, making them more vulnerable to harm.
Claims of Collusion and Deceptive Practices
James Jooste, CEO of the Australian Forest Products Association NSW, argued that accusing the EPA, an independent environmental agency, and the state-owned FCNSW of collusion is “incredibly deceptive”. Yet, environmental groups remain steadfast in their claims, seeing the situation as evidence of deliberate negligence.
Procedural Changes and Further Accusations
In February, the EPA revised its rules to ensure surveys for den trees were conducted at night. Yet the watchdog later released amended rules, stating that only one search needed to begin within half an hour of sunset, while others could occur any time after dark.
Environment groups submitted complaints to the EPA citing breaches of these new rules, alleging that the FCNSW conducted 300 searches after sunset in violation of the guidelines. Meanwhile, the EPA clarified the changes were necessary to ensure FCNSW’s logging operations could continue–a move seen as prioritizing industry needs over environmental protection.
New Rules: Effective or Inadequate?
The EPA introduced a new rule requiring a 25-meter exclusion zone around any sighting of a greater glider. However, environmental groups deem this insufficient. Experts argue that the exclusion zones should be extended to 100 meters to adequately protect the species, citing that the gliders have home ranges of two to three hectares.
Ongoing Legal Battles
South East Forest Rescue is taking legal action against FCNSW, arguing the law mandates the competent identification of all greater glider den trees. The case is pending in the NSW Land and Environment Court.
As environmental groups, government agencies, and logging industries continue to clash, the future of the greater glider hangs in the balance. The controversy highlights the pressing need for transparent and robust regulatory measures to protect endangered species.
Source: www.abc.net.au