Thursday 20 September 2012

Natives Rule

Habitat and Ecology Destruction is alive and well in NSW.

Whilst I have never really considered myself an active environmentalist, my journey through the State Forests of the Hastings Valley yesterday was enough for me to consider making a stand on the destruction of our Native Forests.
It was a 5am start and I was participating in a film making project where I was to capture a day in a person's life. I had wanted to get some further experience, filming with the Canon 7D and this was a great opportunity to participate in a community based project.
While I was waiting for my companions for the day, I was recording some waking bird sounds in the adjacent forest, while Buster stood guard.
A key organisation in fighting to protect our forests from irreparable damage is nativesrule.
Please go to the following link for more information. http://www.nativesrule.org/
One of our first stops was a location recently harvested and awaiting burn off by NSW State Forests. A few trees remained in what appeared to be about 10 hectares of forest. The bulk of the remaining vegetation is Bangalow Palms and Tree Ferns from this Temperate Rainforest gully, now totally exposed to direct sunlight and wind. This Eco system has been irreparably altered and a huge loss of habitat for native wildlife. This is not selective clearing.
My companions observing and discussing the damage and the long term effects of this type of clearing. 
There appeared to be a similar recently worked site every couple of kilometres along the dirt roads we travelled. We came across one site where one group of foresters were currently working. To my surprise we were being watched with binoculars!
There are many truckloads of trees leaving the local forests each day with most processed as pulp and exported to places like China. Only Blackbutt Eucalyptus are encouraged to regrow as they are currently in demand for export markets.
Looking back over a site being cleared, you cannot help feeling betrayed and angry knowing that just a few kilometres away the same thing is happening.
 
My SLR Camera tip for today is expand your skills by experimenting with a broader range of photography subjects, including people and photojournalism. 

Fair Dinkum!!

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