The end of native forest logging in Victoria would prevent further habitat disturbance for 34 threatened species, including the critically endangered Baw Baw frog and Leadbeater's possum, a new research paper has found.
Published in the PLOS ONE journal, the Victorian study is the first to quantify the benefits of ceasing native forest logging in Victoria.
The research looked at the overlap between areas approved for logging in Victoria's 2021-2026 Timber Release Plan and mapped habitat of nationally listed threatened species.
It found 99 per cent of the areas approved for logging overlapped with the habitats of threatened species.
For five species found only in Victoria, the 2021-2026 Timber Release Plan approved logging over substantial amounts of their habitat.
Found only on the Baw Baw Plateau, the Baw Baw frog had 6.2 per cent of its remaining habitat approved for logging
The Leadbeater's possum had 6.1 per cent of its remaining habitat approved for logging and a rare small scaleless freshwater fish named the barred galaxias had 5.6 per cent approved.
Two scarce plants, the Tall astelia and the Colquhoun grevillea would also be impacted, with 5.4 per cent and 5 per cent of their habitats approved for logging.
Dr Kita Ashman, the lead author of the study and a conservation scientist with the World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia said the science had "never been clearer on the benefits of ending native forest logging."
"Our research reveals ceasing this destructive practice benefits more than 30 species," Dr Ashman said.
"The final timber plan approved logging over nearly 5000 hectares of the Baw Baw frog's last remaining habitat and more than 26,000 hectares of the last areas of forest where Leadbeater's possums are found.
"These two critically endangered species are hanging on by a thread. To log their habitat is the very definition of death by 1000 cuts."