Ending native forest logging in Victoria is long overdue. Australia must protect its precious trees | David Lindenmayer and Chris Taylor

The state's native forest industry will stop by the end of the year - six years ahead of scheduleFollow our Australia news live blog for the latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastBy the end of the year, Victoria's trouble-plagued native forest industry will end - six years ahead of schedule. The state's iconic mountain ash forests and endangered wildlife will at last be safe from chainsaws. And there will be no shortage of wood - there's more than enough plantation timber to fill the gap.Yesterday's announcement by Premier Daniel Andrews is excellent news for forests, the state's economy and its threatened species. We congratulate the Victorian government for this decision.Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundupDavid Lindenmayer is a professor at Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University. Chris Taylor is a research fellow at Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University. This article was originally published in The Conversation Continue reading...