coolbrisbane.org

Here in Queensland we have about than 35% of our original bushland remaining.

We continue to log old-growth forests in many of our water catchments. Research into the efficiency in catchments implicates this logging in the reduced water flow to our dams by up to 50% – thirsty saplings soak up far more water than established forests.

When Queensland’s old growth forests are logged they will take up to 1000 years to return to their original state.

The total removal of all trees in old growth forests (our current practice) pushes more species closer to extinction.

Chopping down the old growth forest changes the forest from being wet and fire resistant into a dry and fire prone.

Old growth forests filter rainfall on its way to our water catchments and underground water reserves (aquifers). This pure water alone is far more valuable to us that the wood chips from the trees that can be grown in plantations.

Tourism is also hurt as tourists do not pay to go and see vast areas of cleared land and small trees – they want to see the big trees, hear the bird life and breathe the pure moist air that old growth forests provide.

Old growth forests provide the most valuable carbon storage in Queensland. They store up to 1500 tonnes of carbon for every hectare. The continued logging of our old-growth forests represents a massive 25% of Queensland’s total pollution emissions.

Hollows in eucalypt trees take around 100 years to form. These hollows take around 100 years to form and will provide nesting opportunities for native birds and mammals.

In Queensland mammals faced with extinction as a direct result of this logging include the Cascade treefrog (below left), the Cassawory (below centre) and the Mahogany glider (below right).