7th December 2009

The decision to protect NSW River Red Gums is in jeopardy! Just days
after the announcement of National Park protection for the globally
significant Millewa Forest and other key areas, new Premier Kristina
Keneally is being lobbied by the logging industry and conservative
elements of her own party to reverse the decision.

Last week, then Premier Nathan Rees announced the NSW Government would
create a 48,000ha national park to match Victoria’s effort to protect
the world’s largest red gum forest, Barmah-Millewa. He also committed
to creating additional reserves along the Murray, Lachlan and
Murrumbidgee rivers.

ABC News and the Sydney Morning Herald
have reported that Premier Keneally is considering reversing the
decision, so it is crucial that the Premier and her Minsiters receive a
flood of emails and phonecalls this week urging the Red Gum decision be
implemented.

This is the most important moment in the NSW Red Gum campaign.  We urgently need your helpby:

1. Emailing the Premier and Cabinet Ministers - click here to use our ready-made email in just two minutes

2. Phoning the Premier's office on 02 9228 5239. Below are some suggestions on points to make.

3. Encourage your friends, family and networks to take action - use the
"share" button to send a link to this page using email or your
favourite social networking site.

Key Things to tell Premier Keneally

• You applaud the NSW Government’s decision to protect River Red Gum forests.

• Creating
  Red Gum National Parks and Reserves is a visionary and historic step
  that will protect internationally recognised wetlands, nationally
  threatened species and help the regional economy.
• The red
  gum logging industry is already in great peril because of decades of
  overcutting. Even without National Parks, timber yields will need to be
  cut by at least 75% because the Red Gums are simply not growing back
  quickly enough.
• The $48 million logging industry restructure
  package announced last week will help support the regional economy to
  transition to a sustainable future. already in great peril.
• The Red Gum decision will also diversify the regional economy through the creation of National Parks.
• The
  Premier should consider Aboriginal Joint Management of new Parks to
  deliver socio-economic outcomes for local Aboriginal communities.
• No
  credible government could stand by when thousands of hectares of
  internationally recognised wetlands are dying. The Labor government has
  distinguished itself from the opposition on this issue, maintaining its
  strong environmental record.
• Urget the Premier to work
  with environment groups and Traditional Owners to finalise the reserve
  boundaries proposed by the Natural Resources Commission. Millewa Forest
  is an important icon, but ecological connectivity must be maintained
  along rivers such as the Murray, Edwards, Lachlan and Murrumbidgee.
• River
  Red Gum is the single most important nature conservation issue in NSW
  today. Creating Red Gum National Parks will leave a legacy your
  government will be remembered for.