With the Victorian government’s announcement in June this year that logging would cease in Victoria’s native forests from January 2024, a new chapter begins. Where previous investigations were often characterised by fierce controversies between timber harvesting and nature conservation, for example in East Gippsland, the Grampians, the Alpine region and the forests around Melbourne, the focus now shifts to different challenges and opportunities, such as the increased recreational use of forests arising from the growing population and improved access, environmental impacts on ecosystems from climate change and other threats. It also offers opportunities for Aboriginal self-determination leading to direct management of forests by Traditional Owners.

The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council and its predecessors, the Land Conservation Council and the Environment Conservation Council, have played a major role in understanding and shaping forest management in Victoria for more than 50 years.

About the speaker:

Mellissa Wood has over 30 years’ experience in leading and providing scientific and strategic advice on sustainable development, conservation and environmental management and sustainable food systems. She has held Executive positions with the Australian Government and internationally, including UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and CGIAR. Her international expertise covers Sub-Saharan Africa, SE Asia, Europe and the Pacific.

Mellissa was General Manager, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and member of CGIAR’s System Council and System Management Board. Prior, she was Director of the Australian International Food Security Centre, worked at the UN FAO, Rome as a Director, Global Crop Diversity Trust and spent 15 years at the Bureau of Rural Sciences, Federal Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries providing scientific advice to support natural resource management decision-making, including representing Australia on international forest policy and technical processes with the UN FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment and Montreal Process. Mellissa is currently Chair, Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC), member of the Eminent Panel on Community Engagement for the Central Highlands state forests and Visiting Scientist, CSIRO. She holds a Master of Public Policy (Development Policy) from Crawford School of Public Policy and Bachelor of Science (Resource and Environmental Management) from the Australian National University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Produced by the Royal Society of Victoria for "The Future of Victoria's Native Forests: A Public Symposium" with the support of the Alluvium Foundation. The symposium was delivered in partnership with the Alluvium Foundation, Friends of the Earth Melbourne and the Victorian National Parks Association.