SYDNEY — Australia halted logging in a large stretch of woodland on the country’s eastern coast Sunday to create a retreat for koalas and save the local population from extinction.

The New South Wales (NSW) government imposed a ban effective from Monday on logging across 176,000 hectares of forest on the state’s north coast for a Great Koala National Park, hitting six timber mills and about 300 workers.

Without action, it warned that koalas in Australia’s most populous state could die off by 2050.

Environmentalists said koala numbers in New South Wales have suffered a dramatic decline in recent decades due to deforestation, drought and bushfires.

“Koalas are at risk of extinction in the wild in NSW — that’s unthinkable. The Great Koala National Park is about turning that around,” said New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.

“We’ve listened carefully and we’re making sure workers, businesses and communities are supported every step of the way.”

State officials contacted each affected mill, the government said in a statement, vowing to provide payments to cover workers’ salaries and business costs while offering free access to training, financial, health and legal services., This news data comes from:http://xpebjhl.771bg.com

The state government first announced the planned koala haven in 2023 but it only stopped logging in 8,400 hectares of forest. The plan was also criticized for not protecting trees immediately.

Australia halts logging for koala haven on eastern coast

The Great Koala National Park will provide a refuge to more than 12,000 koalas, 36,000 greater gliders — nocturnal marsupials with a membrane that lets them glide — and more than 100 other threatened species, officials said.

Turn this tragedy around

It also boosted funding to create the park by Aus million — in addition to Aus million announced in 2023.

“This park will ensure future generations will be able to see koalas, greater gliders and other threatened species in the wild for many years to come,” said Gary Dunnett, chief executive of the state’s National Parks Association.

“The permanent protection of this magnificent area will also safeguard critical water catchments for the people of the Coffs Coast, protect sacred Indigenous sites and open up huge economic opportunities for regional green tourism. It is truly a win-win for the people of NSW and nature.”

Australia halts logging for koala haven on eastern coast

When connected with existing national parks, the koala haven would create a 476,000-hectare reserve, the state government said.