Rainforest buffers

For decades conservationists have been concerned about the impact clearfell logging practices have on rainforest communities.

A major issue has been the size of buffers. A buffer is the strip of un-logged forest left standing between a rainforest and the clearfell logged eucalypt forest.

When properly implemented, buffers of un-logged forests can act to protect rainforest from the effects of clearfell logging; including weed invasion, wind, sunlight and wildfire.

An example:
In the image below warm temperate rainforest is marked inside the green line. Clearfell logging has occurred up to the yellow line. The "buffer" to protect this rainforest is the retained eucalypt forest between these lines.


Example of clearfell logging next to rainforest in East Gippsland where a 20-40 metre buffer has been applied in accordance with the East Gippsland Forest Management Plan.

The next example shows where the Victorian Government has failed to apply its own government sanctioned buffers and has breached its own Code of Forest Practices and East Gippsland Forest Management Plan.

Where the green and yellow lines meet, no buffer has been applied to the rainforest. For the small rainforest patch on the right, this was not a breach of the forestry buffers rules as rainforest stands less than 0.4 ha are not recognised by the Victorian Government and hence do not receive any buffers (in some case they are also destroyed in the logging operation). The largest stand of rainforest (at the right) clearly required a buffer of at least 40 metres but at some points did not get any buffer. Where there was a buffer this was less than 40 metres at most other points.


Example of clearfell logging next to rainforest in East Gippsland. Where the green and yellow lines meet, no rainforest buffer has been applied.
This is an alledged breach of the Victorian Governments own rules.

Check rainforest buffers next to clearfell logged areas by using Google Earth. See for yourself if logging breached government rainforest buffer guidelines.

 

 

Also see for rainforest buffers:

Politics of rainforest buffers. The rules are bent to maximise the amount of forest that gets clearfell logged.

Check rainforest buffers next to clearfell logged areas by using Google Earth. See for yourself if logging breached government rainforest buffer guidelines.