Victoria's native forests in crisis

An extinction crisis and a jobs crisis looms for Victoria's native forests as the state government tries to continue with business as usual.Victoria’s native forests are facing a crisis like never before. With species critically endangered and on the brink of extinction, and a logging industry staring down major closures. As the state-owned logging company Vic Forests is unable to keep up the supply of native timber to the Heyfield mill.But how did it get to this point?Twenty years ago, State and Federal governments created the Regional Forest Agreements, or RFAs. To give, what they said was certainty to the logging industry. Twenty years later, there is anything but certainty, and our native forests, and the species that depend on them, are in crisis.On this week's show we speak with Ed Hill, from the Goongerah Environment Centre, about the RFAs and the campaign to save what remains of Victoria’s native forests.Guests: Ed Hill (GECO); Cam Walker and Michelle Van Gerrevink at the Goolengook blockade (archival audio from 1997); and the W Tree Promotion and Progress Association.Links:Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO)Wildlife of the Central Highlands (WOTCH)Petition to save Basin Creek Rainforest ComplexGoolengook forest campaign 1996-2009Earth Matters #1076 was produced by Teishan Ahearne.