Human Impact
How could continued use of the ecosystem by humans impact the species present?
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If logging is to continue in the Toolangi State Forest, it will become more and more harmful to the organisms living in the area. The Toolangi State Forest is the prime habitat for the endangered species of Leadbeater Possums and cutting down trees is definitely not going to save the Leadbeater Possum from extinction. Research by the Wilderness Society has proven that the Leadbeater Possum does live in the Toolangi State Forest. This means that it is illegal to log the forest because this is the prime habitat for an endangered species. VicForests, the company responsible for the logging holds the results of the survey and yet they have chosen to ignore the results and continue logging. If nothing changes, then there is no doubt that the Leadbeater Possum will be on the edge of extinction. It is not only the Leadbeater Possum that is affected by logging of the forest, every organism is affected by the destruction of their habitat. As deforestation continues in Toolangi, the climate will begin to change which means that we will receive less rain which will affect the plants and trees that help to keep the air clean. If more and more forests continue to be cut down around the world, then that means that the earth will get warmer and in the worst case scenario, it will cause ice caps to melt which will make sea levels higher.
There are many people protesting against this decision as they know what the consequences of the decision are. Lauren, a spokesperson for the 'Friends of Earth' says “As it stands current industrial scale clearfelling will see our wildlife emblem managed into extinction’,” "Real and urgent action must be taken to protect the Leadbeater’s Possum and its forest habitat from logging.”
Kevi Sanyu, the Wilderness Society Community Campaigner says;
“The science shows 177,000 hectares of unlogged forest is required to ensure the adult population of female Leadbeater’s Possum has a less than 10 per cent chance of falling below 200 females,”.
There are many people protesting against this decision as they know what the consequences of the decision are. Lauren, a spokesperson for the 'Friends of Earth' says “As it stands current industrial scale clearfelling will see our wildlife emblem managed into extinction’,” "Real and urgent action must be taken to protect the Leadbeater’s Possum and its forest habitat from logging.”
Kevi Sanyu, the Wilderness Society Community Campaigner says;
“The science shows 177,000 hectares of unlogged forest is required to ensure the adult population of female Leadbeater’s Possum has a less than 10 per cent chance of falling below 200 females,”.