VEAC has now received the formal request from Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio to undertake the first phase of the scientific assessment of the values of areas identified as Immediate Protection Areas (IPAs) in eastern Victorian forests and protected from timber harvesting since November 2019. Phase 1 will assess IPAs in the Strathbogie Ranges and Mirboo North.
The second phase is expected to commence in 2022 and will include IPAs in the forests of the Central Highlands and East Gippsland.