Great Forest National Park, Proposed national park in Central Highlands, Victoria
The Great Forest National Park is a proposed conservation area covering about 525,000 hectares northeast of Melbourne in Victoria's Central Highlands. Mountain Ash trees dominate the landscape, growing to heights around 100 meters and creating a connected forest ecosystem.
The proposal originated from community groups and forest ecologists at Australian National University working to protect the region from logging. Their initiative aims to create a unified conservation area across the Central Highlands.
The Gunaikurnai, Taungurung, and Wurundjeri peoples have ancestral ties to these lands and continue to advocate for protecting their traditional forests. Visitors can see how these connections shape efforts to preserve the region today.
The proposal includes existing protected areas between Kinglake National Park, Baw Baw National Park, Lake Eildon National Park, and Bunyip State Park. Be aware that some areas may still have limited access or varying conditions as the park concept is still being developed.
The forests here store carbon worth roughly 50 million dollars annually, showing their global importance for climate protection. These tall trees also provide shelter for the critically endangered Leadbeater's possum.
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