Leatherwood crisis eases

THE Forests & Forest Industry Council has announced that Forestry Tasmania is to defer 2 coupes in the Huon district and 16 coupes in the Wedge valley from harvesting during the current 3 year harvesting plan. Most of these coupes were those requested to be deferred in the beekeepers submission to the minister for a moratorium, in January 2006.

The deferrals are only until a decision is made as to whether the coupes can be harvested using aggregated retention techniques which would permit the harvesting of all timber except commercial Leatherwood stands.

This is a significant breakthrough for Southern Beekepeers, some of whom now, and for the time being, have greatly improved resource security.

Many other beekeepers still remain under immediate threat from the clearfelling of remaining leatherwood rich coupes in the Southern Forests, that is those not yet deferred.

With the advent of these concessions, and recognising the actions of Forestry Tasmania and the Forests & Forest Industry Council, the Southern Tasmanian Beekeepers are making a submission to the Minister in charge of Resources in the new ministry, for the retention of the remaining leatherwood rich coupes in the Huon and Derwent ( Wedge ), districts.

There is now clear evidence that the Leatherwood resource crisis in the South of Tasmania is recognised by the Government and The Forests & Forest Industries Council, with steps being taken to find a solution.

While that process is continuing the deferral of harvesting in all Leatherwood rich coupes must occur.

A substantial stand of Leatherwood rich forest in the Arve valley in the vicinity of the “Big Tree”, is being prepared for cable logging. The hardwood content of that area is poor compared with the Leatherwood. It is a prime example of a coupe ( s ), where the only use for the timber content is pulp production. The Beekeepers argue that in these circumstances in particular, the retention of the beekeeping resource should be paramount. The minister is being urged to take action to see that this area is deferred.

Unfortunately,a recent aerial audit of the Southern Forests has revealed little useful Leatherwood resource not currently used by the beekeepers. Similarly, promises of the availability of many leatherwood rich coupes in the Murchison district, are of no use to the Southern Beekeepers due the distance of the resource from the major sites and business premises used by the Southern Beekeepers.

We appeal to the minister to continue to use his influence and ensure that the job of securing the Leatherwood resource in the South of Tasmania, having been started, is completed, with the deferral of the remaining Leatherwood rich coupes in the Huon and the Wedge.

Bob Davey

The Southern Branch of the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association.

SaveYourLeatherwoodHoney Association.

Earlier on TT: Forestry Practices; Failure (2)