Rainforest Sites of Significance (RSOS)

Logging in National RSOS breaches 1996 Code of Forest Practices

The 1996 Code of Forest Practices requires sub-catchment protection for National RSOS. Section 2.3.7, states:

"(iii) For stands containing nationally significant rainforest - the highest degree of protection, generally sub-catchment level, except where full protection can be provided by other measures, which are/will be outlined in approved plans."

Nationally significant rainforest can only be rainforest that has been identified by the governments own RSOS process. A National RSOS contains a core nationally significant rainforest within a sub-catchment boundary. Hence the 1996 Code is saying logging should not occur within a National RSOS.

However the Department of Sustainability & Environment(DSE) ignore these 1996 Code prescriptions. DSE have argued the 1996 Code is not specific about the RSOS process and there are no formal prescriptions to protect RSOS from logging.

As a result Illegal logging has occurred within rainforest National Sites of Significance(RSOS) which contain nationally significant rainforest. See more.

More Issues

RSOS Technical Reports not completed by Department

Call for independent assessment of RSOS management ignored.