More than half NSW forests lost since 1750 and logging ‘locking in’ species extinction, study finds

Exclusive: Report says 435,000 hectares have been degraded through logging since 2000, affecting 244 threatened species

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More than half of the forests and woodland in New South Wales that existed before European invasion are now gone and more than a third of what’s left is degraded, according to new research.

Despite the loss of 29m hectares of forest since 1750 – an area larger than New Zealand – continued logging since 2000 had likely affected about 244 threatened species.

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