IMMEDIATELY to the Beekeepers publicity event last Sunday in the Southern Forest it became public knowledge through the media that the Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, Bryan Green MHA, had, through the Forests and Forest Industry Council, initiated a process whereby the Leatherwood rich forest coupes in the South of Tasmania, would be identified and then deferred from clearfelling.
This association congratulates the Minister on his timely action to avert a crisis for the Beekeeping and Pollination Industries in the South of Tasmania.
We will continue to monitor the situation using the recently completed and publicised resource research material prepared by the Southern Beekeepers and released to the media and other interested parties. We look forward to the creation of a constructive and cooperative environment in which the Beekeepers and Forestry Tasmania can work together for the benefit of all those whose livelihood depends on the Forest,and Leatherwood in particular.
Forestry Tasmania has since announced that aerial survey of the Southern Forests is to begin almost immediately to help identify the forest coupes rich in Leatherwood to permit deferral of clearfelling, at least for the balance of the current 3 year Harvesting Plan. If this process results in the deferral being implemented, then the Minister`s initiative will not only be congratulated but celebrated.
Background to new moratorium request: newcoupelist.pdf
Bob Davey
Eric Cave
Hedley Hoskinson
Save Your Leatherwood Honey Association
Earlier: The beekeeping crisis
