Saving the Forest or Cutting It Down?

Living in the heart of Wombat State Forest, Wombat Action Group member Amy Calton’s life was once intertwined with the natural beauty surrounding her. A sprawling eucalyptus canopy plays venue to the rich sounds of wildlife that also call her neighbourhood home.

But now, the once dense forest she loves lies in ruins. As the shrill sound of machinery pierces the air, logs are loaded onto heavy trucks, leaving nothing but stumps and churned soil.

This is the aftermath of storm recovery operations done in the name of “fire management”.

In 2021, violent storms ravaged the Wombat State Forest, located about 80 km northwest of Melbourne. In an effort to clean up the debris, Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMV) began clearing fallen trees to “reduce future bushfire fuel” and “clear routes for locals and firefighters”.

FFMV plans to clear 1,600 hectares from the Wombat State Forest, equivalent to the size of 800 MCGs.

But, conservationists say these operations may be little more than a disguise for salvage logging—the extraction of timber from areas affected by natural disasters.

“We've had, very large questions about why certain areas have been targeted that aren't close to communities, assets or roads," said Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA) conservationist Ben Gill.

Australian Firefighters Climate Alliance representative Cam Walker said “​​There has been widespread criticism about FFMV’s overzealous removal of timber after storm and fire events."

FFMV classifies the forest’s windfallen trees as bushfire hazards, but ecological experts disagree.

Australian National University (ANU) forest ecologist Professor David Lindenmayer said FFMV’s fire management works are actually increasing bushfire risk.

“There is an extensive body of literature now that shows … forests become less flammable as they get older, and actions like logging, thinning, and sometimes prescribed burning actually makes them more flammable, not less,” Professor Lindenmayer said. 

He said FFMV are removing large trees but leaving fine fuels on the ground. According to FFMV’s own   Overall Fuel Hazard Assessment Guide , fine fuels are the small foliage and undergrowth that “contributes significantly to fire spread and fire height”. 

Professor Lindenmayer said the clearing underway in Wombat Forest risked a feedback loop of stronger wind speeds, bringing down more trees and creating an even higher bushfire risk.

“Under these kinds of forest conditions, there’s a very high risk that fires then become crown fires, which are very high intensity, creating a lot of radiative heat, which are the kinds of fires that kill firefighters”.

Professor Lindemayer said he’s made multiple requests to FFMV and its parent department, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) to see the evidence justifying its fire management works. So far, he’s been met with silence. 

“This is not good policy, it’s not based on good evidence," Professor Lindenmayer said. 

"It’s not a good outcome for the Wombat Forest and it’s not a good outcome for climate change, or for the people who are living near these forests.” 

Mary-Anne Thomas, MP for Macedon, defended the government's approach.  “The state government continues to work with DEECA, our Traditional Owners, local residents, and community environmental groups to ensure biodiversity surveys are undertaken with a focus on protecting threatened species,” Ms Thomas said.

But FFMV’s fire management works aren’t only disturbing the natural landscape, it's displacing endangered species such as the greater glider and the brush-tailed phascogale.

Special Protection Zones (SPZs) have been put in place throughout the forest to safeguard its fauna. But, FFMV doesn’t have to comply with state or federal ecological laws due to a clause in the   1958 Forests Act.  

It also falls outside the gaze Victoria’s regulator for fire prevention, use of public land, wildlife and biodiversity, the Office of the Conservation Regulator (OCR). This is due to both bodies residing in the same state government department. 

Mr Gill said this is what gives FFMV its power to clear land.

"So it's a bit of a perverse outcome, and VNPA have been advocating that the OCR be moved to the department of justice to be given true independence,” Mr Gill said.

FFMV's  Wombat State Forest storm recovery page  states these works are "not commercial timber harvesting operations".

But in a statement to The Westsider, its parent department DEECA said some native timber taken from Wombat Forest had been sold. 

“Removed timber and debris may be used for community purposes such as free firewood, or used for small-scale commercial purposes such as for firewood processors."

 Hansard records  reveal 12,644 tonnes of timber debris harvested in 2023-2024 was "provided to commercial timber customers", with 91 percent of the timber suitable for commercial use.

After state government forestry agency VicForests was shut down earlier in 2024, 80 roles were created within DEECA for its former employees to “contribute to the government’s expanded forest management activities”.   

Professor Lindenmayer said the new roles called FFMV’s motives into question. 

“There’s a large amount of vested interest in keeping the native forest logging industry going,” he said. 

The state government has committed to merging the Wombat Forest with the Lerderderg National Park by late 2024. Due to FFMV’s legislative exemptions, its fire management works will continue despite the change in status.

As more and more logs get taken away, some community members worry about the future. Gayle Osborne, convener of community group Wombat Forestcare, said the forest “[cannot be] easily restored”.

“It's quite distressing for all of us, for all the people who care about the forest, to see this destruction,” Ms Osborne said.

Ms Osborne has been campaigning with Wombat Forestcare for over 20 years and has been crucial in securing the upcoming Wombat State Forest’s merger with the Lerderderg National Park.

Ms Calton said the Wombat State Forest is an important place for many.

“Wombat Forest is very close to the hearts of a lot of Westsiders in Melbourne because we’re only an hour from the heart of the city … and the first really extensive forest you can get out to from Melbourne," she said.

FFMV’s fire management works span the entire state, including the Dandenong Ranges National Park, Silvan Reservoir, Mount Cole State Forest and Cobaw State Forest. Earlier this year in the Dandenong Ranges, a greater glider was found dead by members of the VNPA in an area where FFMV clearing works were in full swing.

FFMV’s fire management works are set to continue in the Wombat State Forest until June 2026, but without an independent conservation regulator, Amy said there’s concern work will continue unchecked.

“It’s really frightening to see Forest Fire Management Victoria acting in this way, " Ms Calton said.

“This is really new.”