Woodchipping in Australia’s Wombat State Forest has ended because of fears about the environmental effects of continued logging.
The Victorian state government has instead announced a trial community management scheme of the area, which used to see 50,000m3 of woodchips harvested a year.
Removal of sawlogs is banned for three months while the government draws up a sustainable logging plan. A limited amount of sawn timber logging will be allowed at the end of the period.
The company holding the Wombat timber licence, Midway, is to be offered other forestland in its place.