Protecting hollowing bearing trees in Victorian State Forests and National Parks- “The Hollows Case”

https://warburtonenvironment.org/

On the 28 May 2024 Warburton Environment Inc.(WE) lodged a case in the Federal Court against the Victorian Government. WE are seeking a court injunction to stop logging being conducted by Victorian state government department Forest Fire Management (FFMV), after citizen scientists found an endangered greater glider crushed at the base of a logged tree in the Yarra Ranges National Park. WE allege the Victorian Government ignored warnings it was breaching federal environment laws by logging large hollow bearing trees (HBT) home to vulnerable yellow bellied gliders, endangered Southern greater gliders and critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possums. Citizen science groups had reported the presence of a number of greater gliders, living in trees which were then cut down by FFMV. Court documents WE filed allege the logging of HBT by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action is a federal offence under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). One tree cut down on Friday 24 May measures almost 9.5 metres in circumference, meaning it should have been protected according to state prescriptions to preserve large trees with a diameter over 2.5 metres. WE are seeking final court orders prohibiting the logging of habitat trees/HBT in all Victorian state forests and National Parks within the home ranges of yellow bellied gliders, endangered Southern greater gliders and critically endangered Leadbeater’s Possums.