World Heritage Area values threatened

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 9th April 2009

Forest Activists Expose Forest Destruction Adjacent to World Heritage Area, Release Crisis Report Internationally

This morning, forest activists have occupied forestry roading operations in old growth forest right next to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) in the Counsel area of the Upper Derwent valley, to the north of the Upper Florentine Valley, halting roading operations.

“Coupe CO2B in the Counsel contains spectacular examples of tall eucalypt forests. Last week  forest campaigners found a tree with a 17.5m girth. The area to be logged runs along the boundary of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and should be included in the protected area, not logged for woodchips” says Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson, Natalie Keene.

Still Wild Still Threatened has authored a new report, “Threatened Forests of the Derwent Region: Crisis Report” to inform the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Heritage Committee of immediate threats. The report was produced in response to recently increased roading and logging in old growth forest adjacent to the TWWHA.

“We are seeing a large increase in roading operations close to the World Heritage Area. These operations appear designed to  compromise the conservation values of these forests,” said Natalie Keene

“Counsel coupe CO2B is a perfect example of previously untouched old growth forest that must be protected not logged. Forestry Tasmania appears to be undertaking a smash and grab raid on these wilderness forests. In the midst of a woodchip downturn, Forestry Tas. is  spending taxpayer's funds on trashing wilderness values so that it can ensure these areas will not be protected in the future ,” said Natalie Keene.

In July 2008, the World Heritage Committee reiterated their concerns calling for consideration of an extension to the World Heritage area in Southern Tasmania, while the IUCN officially requested an immediate moratorium of logging in Tasmania's Southern Forests. 

“The Federal and Tasmanian State Governments choose to ignore the World Heritage Committee's  calls for more of Southern Tasmania's old growth tall eucalypt forests to be included in the World Heritage Area. Instead they cite a previous  report whose recommendations were largely ignored in th decision making forum of the World Heritage Committee” said Natalie Keene.

Shadows of the Forest Art Exhibition

An unusual exhibition has been set up in the Forestry Tasmania 'exclusion zone' of the Upper Florentine Valley to coincide with the Ten Days on the Island Festival.

Special Event – Exhibition Closing Picnic, Upper Florentine Valley Blockade

Sunday 5th from12 midday – all welcome

Rigged amongst the trees are a number of art works by Tasmanian artists who share a deep concern for the Tasmanian environment and wish to celebrate the extraordinary beauty of this pristine ancient forest.

The artists involved in the Shadows in the Forest project have created works to draw attention to issues that surround logging old growth forests in Tasmania. Artists included in the 2009 project are Jo Anglesey, Martin Cole and Kazz, Cecily Edwards, Ralf Haertel, and Vicki West.

“My work incorporates natural dyes collected from trees destroyed during construction of the new road into the Upper Florentine. It reflects on alternative, sustainable ways of utilising these resources, and pays homage to the dedicated forest activists of Still Wild Still Threatened who have fought so hard to protect this special place for future generations.” Says participating artist, Ralf Haertel.

This is the third environmental installations project shadowing 10 Days on the Island, with previous projects focusing on water catchment degradation in the North and South Esk rivers, and environmental concerns associated with the Tamar River pulp mill proposal.

The exhibition will run till Sunday 5th April, and provides 10 Days on the Island visitors and patrons with the opportunity to include a very special part of Tasmania on their itinerary, to come and see the magnificent old growth rain forests while experiencing a thought provoking and sensitive response to this threatened environment.

Media Release - Monday 23rd March 2009

Ula Majewski Commences Proceedings Against Workplace Standards Tasmania.

Ula Majewski today instigated proceedings against Workplace Standards Tasmania over its investigation into her role in December's peaceful direct action at Gunns Limited Triabunna woodchip mill. The Indonesian based Ms Majewski is claiming that Workplace Standards have exceeded their powers in their attempted investigation.

“ Workplace Standards have attempted to interrogate me by post when I understand they have no powers to do this. Workplace Standards have previously targeted forest activists, with the Director of Public Prosecutions finding that they had no powers to do so under the Workplace Health and Safety Act,” Ms Majewski said.

“ I do not take kindly to having a letter asking me, for example, why I used a credit card to hire a vehicle. My understanding is that Workplace Standards have gone a long way beyond their mandated role to protect the well being of Tasmania's workers,” Ms Majewski said.

“ This investigation is yet another example of the misuse of taxpayer funded services by the state government. Yesterday saw 150 people decrying the waste of police resources to intimidate people who attended rallies in the Upper Florentine, and we are seeing this same abuse in Workplace Standards investigation into the Triabunna protest. ,” Huon Valley Environment Centre Spokesperson Warrick Jordan said.

“ Gunns and Forestry Tasmania are already subsidised by the government, and now David Bartlett is happy to waste the resources of Workplace Standards and Tasmania Police in hounding activists on the behalf of the woodchippers,” Warrick Jordan said.

“ Ms Majewski's commencement of proceedings today, the Triabunna13's defense of Gunns' writ, the recent victory of the Wilderness Society in the Gunns20 case, and yesterdays community action in support of the Upper Florentine demonstrate that Tasmanians will not accept intimidation or suffer spurious legal challenges,” Warrick Jordan said.

Media Release - Sunday 22 March 2009

 150 Take Action in Support of Florentine Activists,
      30 Volunteer For Arrest.

Today in Franklin Square over 150 Tasmanians gathered in support of those being pursued by Tasmania Police for attending forest rallies in the Upper Florentine in January, with police taking the details of 30 people who volunteered to be arrested for attending the January rallies.

“ Today was a tremendous show of community support for those willing to put themselves on the line to protect ancient forests such as those of the Upper Florentine,” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Natalie Keene.

“Today confirmed that the state government is willing to waste the resources of the police in order to intimidate those Tasmanians who find the woodchip driven destruction of our last wild forests abhorrent. Anyone who attends a forest rally is apparently now fair game for Tasmania Police ” Natalie Keene said.

“ Tasmania Police should be allowed to get on with their job of keeping the community safe rather than being forced to do the bidding of Forestry Tasmania and Gunns. Today's action was an unequivocal message to the Premier Bartlett – taxpayers will not accept the use of police to support the destruction of forests such as the Weld and Upper Florentine,” Natalie Keene said.

“ Tasmanians from all walks of life have stood up for their forests today, and they will continue to reject the tax-payer funded destruction of our forests,” Natalie Keene said.

Public Event - Friday 20th March 2009

Community Takes Action in Support of Florentine Activists,

Rejects Waste of Police Resources to Intimidate Tasmanians.

At least 11 people have been questioned by Tasmania Police over their attendance at two peaceful forest rallies in the Upper Florentine in January. A number have been charged with trespass, and one has been threatened with the charge of 'inciting trespass'.

Members of the Tasmanian community approached Still Wild Still Threatened offering their support to those being targeted. As a result, a public event has been planned this Sunday at Franklin Square, followed by a march to Police Headquarters in Liverpool St. Some community members who attended the rallies in the Upper Florentine will attempt to hand themselves in to Tasmania Police.

Speakers include Peter Mcquillan, Pete Hay, Natalie Keene, Warrick Jordan.

Date: This Sunday, 22 March 2009

When: 11am Franklin Square for speeches

11.45am march to Police HQ

12.15pm several people hand themselves in to the Police.

Media Release - Friday 13th March 2009

Contentious Florentine logging coupe 42F burnt as Forestry Tasmania begins burns season

The regeneration burn of logging coupe FO042F in the Upper Florentine Valley commenced on Wednesday the 11^th of March and has now been completed. This is the first burn of this season in the Florentine Valley. Adjacent coupe FO042E is now being prepared for burning.

 

“Forestry Tasmania burns over 15,000 hectares of logged forest per annum which according to a Forestry Tasmania study in 2001 emits roughly more than 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. This is more than the combined emissions of all other sectors in Tasmania as calculated by the Australian Greenhouse Office,” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ali Alishah.

 

“CO₂ emissions of this scale are directly responsible for driving climate change. Forestry Tasmania’s continued push to log and burn old growth forests which sequester and absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere clearly shows their inadequacy at managing Tasmania’s carbon storage assets,” said Mr. Alishah.

 

“It also shows their blatant disregard of the Tasmanian community’s wellbeing. Tasmanians enjoy some of the cleanest air in the world on record and during the autumn burning season our quality of air falls below third world standards,” said Mr. Alishah.

 

“These two old growth coupes in the Upper Florentine valley should not have been logged and the minute pockets reserved within these coupes through the aggregated retention scheme, employed by Forestry Tasmania as an alternative to clearfelling, are in great danger of being incinerated. Aggregated retention, like any logging practice which upholds the wood chipping status quo, is destined to fail in protecting biodiversity and satisfying the Tasmanian public,” said Mr. Alishah.

Media Release - Tuesday 3rd March 2009

Forest defenders halt operations in the Styx River catchment 

Members of Still Wild Still Threatened and the broader community have walked in and halted forestry operations in logging coupe 14C in the Styx River catchment area. Coupe SX014C is a 54 hectare stand of old growth forest which has never been accessed before. It is adjacent to informal reserves which connect to the World Heritage Area. 

"Logging this pristine old growth forest which is a great portion of the Styx river's catchment area is an insane disregard for the denizens of the Derwent region,"said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Christo Mills.

 "Tampering with these forests will definitely have an adverse effect on the Styx River and consequently on the water for the entire region. Why does Forestry Tasmania insist on lowering the quality of life for Tasmanians?" Mr. Mills said

"In Victoria there is a significant conservation effort aimed at Melbourne's water catchment. Has Forestry Tasmania conducted any peer reviewed studies which show logging operations in water catchment areas do not adversely effect water quality and volumes?" asked Mr. Mills

"This portion of the forest is directly connected to informal reserves which lead to the World Heritage Area. How can we let this forestry operation go through when it will directly the integrity of those reserves?" asked Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ali Alishah.

"This is yet another example of Forestry Tasmania's blinkered approach to managing the future of Tasmania." said Mr. Alishah.