The Supreme Court has found state-owned logging group VicForests broke the law by failing to protect endangered gliders when logging in Gippsland and Central Victoria.
Volunteer environment groups King Lake Friends of the Forest and Environment East Gippsland accused VicForests of failing to adequately identify and protect greater gliders and yellow-bellied gliders during its operations.
In her judgement on Friday, Justice Melinda Richards determined VicForests' methods for protecting gliders were "inadequate", likely to be ineffective and "not consistent with relevant scientific research".
"At present VicForests does not survey all of a coupe (a small area of forest) before harvesting, and so it plans and undertakes timber harvesting operations without knowing where gliders live … and which parts of the coupe should be retained for their habitat," the judgement said.
"The ecological evidence was clear — gliders that live in coupes that are harvested in accordance with VicForests' current practices will probably die as a result of the harvesting operations."
Greater gliders were recently listed as endangered after a significant decline in numbers.
Big win for environment groups
Environment East Gippsland coordinator Jill Redwood said court action was undertaken after significant habitat for gliders was lost in East Gippsland during the 2019-20 bushfires.
She said the judgement was a "huge win" for gliders.
"They've been getting away with destroying endangered species," Ms Redwood said.
"We are just overjoyed today with this ruling. Now let's hope that where there are refuges for our critically endangered animals … they are now properly protected into the future."
Victorian Forest Alliance campaign coordinator Chris Schuringa said it was the second win in as many weeks for environmental groups, after the court last week determined that VicForests must survey for and protect the tree geebung, a threatened plant species.
"It's pretty damning that small community groups are having to hold this government-run, taxpayer-funded logging group to the law," Ms Schuringa said.
VicForests 'considering options'
Justice Richards ordered VicForests pay costs to the two environmental groups.
She will make final orders at a future date.
A spokesperson for VicForests said it was disappointed by the court's decision.
"We are reviewing the decision and considering our options," the spokesperson said.
VicForests has 28 days to appeal the decision.
