OREN has developed overlays for use with Google Earth to expose the impacts of native logging across southern Australia. More infoSee map of new Great Otway National Park. |
This website is being converted into a dedicated historic overview of the campaign that stopped clearfell logging and woodchipping of the Otway native forests. It is hoped that the lessons learned in the Otways may be of some assistance to others campaigning to protect forests from clearfell logging in other parts of Australia or around the world. See "Overview OREN/Otway forest campaign (1995-2008)". Introduction to the Otway forests
The Cumberland River catchment pictured above is the last truly wild river in the Otways. It is a fully forested catchment (approximately 3,750 ha) on public land. Within its catchment there is no agricultural or urban development. The Cumberland has magnificent forested catchments and clear pure rivers. Its catchment was only fully protected within the new Great Otway National Park as recently as 2005. It is unbelievable that the natural landscape values that produce this pure clear natural river water were until recently, nearly ruined by human exploitation. Clearfell logging for woodchips was planned to occur in the headwaters of this catchment under a Regional Forest Agreement until at least the year 2020. Fortunately such management was challenged by the community. Inspired local residents and conservationists from all over Australia campaigned against clearfell logging so the nature conservation values of the Otways could be preserved for all time. They succeeded in 2002. Read more New Management Plans for the OtwaysThe State government is going to develop new management plans for the Otways to accommodate the land use changes that have occurred with the creation of the Great Otway National Park(103,000 ha) and Otway Forest Park(39,000 ha). The community will be invited to comment on draft management plans soon to be released. OREN will take an active role in the process and provide information on this website when it comes available.
Featured sections of OREN websiteFire and Logging No logging in the Otway forest Forestry fails in the Otways BOOK AN OREN SPEAKER Looking around the OREN websiteThe menu bar above has the four categories: OREN - all about the Otway Ranges Environment Network, including latest news, events, membership, donations and helping out. Forest Issues - all about the issues of the Otway Forests, including how water is lost through logging, endangered species, biodiversity, forest tourism, forest management and forest fires. Logging - all about native forest logging in the Otways. Including why logging loses money for the public, what is clearfell logging, where the logging is, who logs the forest, and an explanation of how much of the forest is woodchipped. Campaigns - all about the various parts of the campaign to stop clearfell logging in the Otways. Includes an explanation of values of particular areas, the political situation, ending logging, and what you can do. Other - what's new, links to other sites, photos and maps of the Otways, a page for students, and a glossary of terms.
OREN would like to thank the Conservation Alliance for their support. The Conservation Alliance is an alliance of fifteen outdoor companies which contribute a portion of their turnover to support conservation projects. hosting by Internet Guru - Cheap Web Hosting - Melbourne, Australia |
News Saturday 3 May 2008 Summer 07/08 25th Nov 2006
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