National Trust Takes Positions to Protect our Forests

The National Trust (NSW) has developed two key position papers on Bushfire Hazard Reduction Burning and Deforestation. The organisation’s positions have responded to the urgent need for the protection of New South Wales’ built, cultural and natural heritage, all of which has been under threat as a result of prolonged drought and catastrophic bushfires in 2019 and early 2020.

The National Trust (NSW) has developed two new position papers that govern our Advocacy policy development, campaigns and conservation management practices. The two papers have been developed to outline our positions on protecting our natural heritage and environment, specifically on:

  • Bushfire Hazard Reduction Burning
  • Deforestation


Bushfire Hazard Reduction Burning

The National Trust’s position on bushfire hazard reduction (cool) burning in support of this practice as a key tool for reducing fire risks. The National Trust (NSW) acknowledges that there will always be a high residual risk in some areas on days of catastrophic fire weather and that prescribed burning only temporarily reduces fuel loads and works in conjunction with the Rural Fire Service to undertake bushfire hazard reduction on its own properties and in its Bush Management Service.

The National Trust (NSW) also supports Aboriginal cultural burning, (“fire-stick farming” or anthropogenic burning) as a practice, as it has been found to increase biodiversity and prevents habitat loss at the local scale. This practice does not eliminate mature habitat, but rather prevents its localised extinction from large-scale fires. We support increased training in this practice.

Our position on Bushfire Hazard Reduction Burning recognises that global climate change is increasing temperatures, reducing humidity and causing more extreme and more frequent days of catastrophic and extreme fire danger. Consequently, the National Trust (NSW) supports moves to reach a greenhouse gas pollution reduction target of at least 65% by 2030 and will take active steps to publicly support changes in policy, practice conservation to contribute to the achievement of this target.

Further information on the National Trust (NSW)’s position on Bushfire Hazard Reduction Burning can be sent to our Director, Conservation, Graham Quint at info@nationaltrust.com.au. Please place ‘Bushfire Hazard Reduction Burning’ in the subject line.

Deforestation

The 2018 Living Planet Report published by the World Wildlife Fund has reported that Australia is the only nation in the developed world to make the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) global list of deforestation hotspots.

The National Trust (NSW) supports the position taken by the Nature Conservation Council of NSW in calling on the NSW Government to:

  • Ensure no areas of forest currently protected will be opened up to logging.
  • End the remapping and rezoning of old-growth forest and rainforest on public and private land and
  • Conserve native forests to protect biodiversity, store carbon and provide new tourism and recreational opportunities.

The National Trust acknowledges the impact deforestation has on our Koala population and recently developed a policy for the protection of New South Wales’ koalas and their habitat. This video and the recent large-scale incineration of koalas across New South Wales in the 2019/20 bushfires demonstrates why.

Further information on the National Trust (NSW)’s position on Deforestation can be sent to our Director, Conservation, Graham Quint at info@nationaltrust.com.au. Please place ‘Deforestation’ in the subject line.