Bob Davey, Hedley Hoskinson, Eic Cave Press Release
Disappointingly, the Premier`s response to an earlier submission has been to claim that large areas of leatherweood rich state forest in the Huon district are reserved from harvesting and therefore the future of the beekeeping industry is “assured”. This is contrary to what is known by both Forestry Tasmania and the Southern beekeepers, to be the case. The source of the Premier`s information is not known.
The dialogue between beekeepers and Forestry Tasmania is currently as positive as it has ever been. We call on the Premier to build on that by ensuring the code is changed and thereby entrenching the now emerging cooperative approach, into law.
ONE coupe in the Hon destrict, ar034c, recently harvested, is an example of how careful planning by Forestry Tasmania can preserve the leatherwood resource.
Some parts of the coupe remain to be harvested in the future. According to advice from forestry tasmania, this further harvesting will take into account the remaining leatherwood content of the coupe.
This example sets a precedent for all other coupes in the current 3 year forest harvesting plan, and future plans, which contain leatherwood.
The southern beekeepers and Forestry Tasmania are scheduled to meet early in the new year to review the forest coupes in the remaining 2 years of the plan and it is hoped that the harvesting methodology used in coupe ar034c will continue to be applied.
While this development is promising it would make much more sense if the coupes were planned to take account of the leatherwood content when the plans are first drawn.
Tt is this concept which forms the basis of the submission to the Forest Practices Authority, for an amendment to the Forest Practices Code. This amendment would see the leatherwood content of each coupe on a harvesting plan assessed at the outset and the leatherwood content substantially preserved. The code is scheduled for review in 2007.
An amendment to the code which provided a regime capable of giving certainty to all those who rely on the forest resource for a living, (not just the timber industry), would be a win-win result for all those involved.
The beekeepers have a further submission to the Premier asking that the government use its powers to ensure that the amendments are accepted. We wait for a reply with great anticipation.
Disappointingly, the Premier`s response to an earlier submission has been to claim that large areas of leatherweood rich state forest in the Huon district are reserved from harvesting and therefore the future of the beekeeping industry is “ assured “. This is contrary to what is known by both Forestry Tasmania and the Southern beekeepers, to be the case. The source of the Premier`s information is not known.
The dialogue between beekeepers and Forestry Tasmania is currently as positive as it has ever been. We call on the Premier to build on that by ensuring the code is changed and thereby entrenching the now emerging cooperative approach, into law.
Bob Davey ( president ),
Hedley Hoskinson ( vice president),
Eric Cave ( secretary).
saveyourleatherwoodhoney association
