State News - July 2007
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20/07/07 Murray tree study urges new national parks ABC On-line Murray Basin
Posted Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:24pm AEST , ABC On-line
A study of river red gum forests along the Murray River is recommending the creation of five new national parks, including two in north-west Victoria.
In a draft report, the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) says the forests are suffering from a dire lack of water.
It also found the forests need more protection from logging and stock grazing, but that this will potentially cost dozens of jobs.
Among the proposed new national parks are the Gunbower National Park, near Cohuna, and another park in the Loddon and Avoca River floodplains to the west and south of Kerang.
The report also proposes making the Barmah, Warby and Lower Goulburn forests national parks, as well as phasing out stock grazing and a reduction in timber harvesting.
VEAC chairman Duncan Malcolm says parts of the forests will die if action is not taken.
"We believe that if we don't put some of the areas into a higher level of protection and also get some extra water organised into them in the future that we will lose some really valuable biodiversity heritage," he said.
Tags:
national-parks, cohuna-3568, kerang-3579, mildura-3500, wodonga-3690