Jump quickly to our MembershipApplication/Renewal for 2022/23 form.

The Rubicon Forest Protection Group was formed in 2015 by a group of local residents who are concerned about unsustainable logging in the Rubicon forest. The Group's broad aim is to protect and promote the values of the Rubicon forest and to contribute to protecting the values of Victoria's native forests more widely.  Our action priorities include:

• stopping unsustainable logging in the Rubicon Forest and promoting forest conservation in the Central Highlands more generally;
• holding VicForests accountable for breaches of its own policies and guidelines and good forest practice generally; and 
• encouraging visitors to spend time in the Rubicon Forest, enjoy the beauty and join the campaign to halt unsustainable logging.

A full account of our policy position is here. Download RFPG brochure here. Review our Annual Report for 2019-20 and our Annual Report for 20/21 and Sept 2021 Newsletter.

The Rubicon Forest is a hot spot of extraordinarily rich biodiversity, devastated over the last two decades through a combination of mega-fire and intensive wide-scale logging.

Most of the Code of Practice for Timber Harvesting prescribes how the timber harvesting managers, and their contractors, should deal with individual coupes. However, the long-term planning provisions of the Code deal with a wider range of issues, including ecological diversity, cultural heritage, landscape, provision of recreation and educational opportunities. Cl 2.2.2 of the Code deals specifically with biodiversity conservation and includes a provision mandating the precautionary principle (which VicForests was found to have disregarded in the Possums Case).

RFPG has repeatedly reported breaches of the long-term planning provisions of the Code by VicForests to DELWP but DELWP has failed to uphold any of these breach reports. VicForests claims that these provisions do not apply to them and it appears that DELWP agrees with them.

However, in fact, S.37(3) of the Sustainable Forests Timber Act creates an unqualified obligation on VicForests to ensure that the Timber Release Plan (TRP) is consistent with the Code.

In its closing submission in the Possums Case, counsel for VicForests argued that cl 2.2.2.2 (regarding the precautionary principle), did not apply to the TRP. These arguments were rejected by the court.

Gifts to the RFPG are tax deductible. Our bank account details are:

Name: Rubicon Forest Protection Group Inc
BSB: 633000
Account number: 159830272

To donate or renew or join please complete the Join Renew Donate form (here) and send it to admin@rubiconforest.org. 

The RFPG Inc is an incorporated association under the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 and is registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria (A0097175V). The rules of RFPG Inc are here. We are registered on the Australian Business Register (ABN: 75 594 595 447) and with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. We are listed on the Register of Environmental Organisations (REO) and with the Australian Tax Office with Gift Deductible Recipient status.