Is Forestry pulling the wool over our eyes

Will Mooney

LAST WEEK’S attack on non-violent activists by Forestry Tasmania highlights the organisation’s obsession with demonising environmentalists using a deceitful web of spin, tailored by international PR advisers.

After establishing a blockade in the threatened Weld Valley, Huon Valley Environment Centre activists were able to successfully highlight Forestry Tasmania’s perverse plans to build a new bridge over the Weld River and bulldoze into a remote tract of rainforest beneath the World Heritage Snowy Range. Forestry was caught out. With media across the country reporting on their scheme to trash yet another pocket of wilderness, they needed a comeback. So, rather than discussing the actual issue or justifying their plans for this sensitive area, Forestry Tasmania launched a carefully constructed media attack aimed at distracting the public, scare-mongering and distorting the facts beyond recognition. The aim: bury the activist’s message with an exaggerated and erroneous account of on-the-ground tactics.

With their new “corporate relations” adviser – on loan from the Canadian Forestry Service- pulling the punches, FT peddled a tantalising selection of spin and innuendo. Their claims, and a response from the HVEC, is provided below.

Activists were “masked” and wore balaclavas to intimidate workers and hide their identity

A few activists wore balaclavas. Most of the others present did not. Balaclavas were NOT worn to intimidate, threaten or frighten workers, police or the public. Activists only wore balaclavas because, under Forestry legislation, any individual present in an “exclusion zone” is deemed a “trespasser” and is liable to be charged and summonsed after a statutory declaration by Forestry Tasmania workers. A simple claim by forestry workers that they saw an individual present in the forest is enough to get you charged and fined for trespass. It should be remembered that the forests in question are public forests, owned by Tasmanian taxpayers. Obviously, some activists did not want to be charged with trespass. By wearing balaclavas they were simply attempting to avoid being identified and hence summonsed. Trespass charges often result in people being barred from certain forest areas, which would make it difficult for activists to continue their work. Nothing more. Note: at least one of the balaclavas was hand knitted!

They threatened that chemicals would be released if lock-ons were cut

Activists were shocked by this blatantly unsubstantiated claim. We can only assume it was an off the cuff slip-up from Forestry because it can not be found in writing in any of their media releases. They have since qualified the statement with a reference to unnamed “substances”, rather than “chemicals”.

They cut down trees for their tripods

Three young eucalypts were cut to construct a tripod over the road. This was a responsible use of a miniscule volume of low-value timber. Activists are not opposed to all harvesting or removal of trees. The timber used in the tripods is returned to the forest once the structure is dismantled, hence there is no removal of carbon, nutrients or biomass from the forest ecosystem. This is in stark contrast to the vast removal of millions of tonnes of trees, including old growth giants, from forestry coupes across the state. It is ridiculous to compare the vast industrial logging practices of Forestry Tasmania with this puny impact.

They lit a fire in peak fire season.

Activists had a small campfire built on the road for cooking, as their gas bottle had run out. There was no fire ban in place on the day and camp fires are allowed in state forest. Hence, activists were acting within the prescribed fire regulations. The fire was attended at all times and put out when not needed.

Forestry Tasmania attempts to negotiate with activists, but activists refuse to speak

The HVEC has maintained regular contact and dialogue with local Forestry officers. Unfortunately Forestry staff regularly refuse to answer questions or provide information about their logging plans. At a recent meeting, activists who asked about the plans for the new Weld River bridge were told that “we cannot answer any of your questions about that.” It is unfortunate that the only way members of the community can find out the truth about logging plans is from FT’s corporate relations staff commenting to the media after being “flushed out” by a direct action protest.

Protests endanger workers, police and protesters.

No protester, forestry worker, police officer or contractor has ever been hurt or injured as a result of actions undertaken by the Huon Valley Environment Centre. This fact speaks for itself. Activists are well trained and prepared. Qualified riggers and arborists participate in actions. This is in stark contrast to the risky, dangerous and sometimes violent actions undertaken by Forestry and contractors. For example, Forestry workers wasted tax payers money and risked safety buzzing tree-sitters with helicopters. They would be only too aware of the dangers associated with helicopters, the high winds generated and the danger to individuals in trees. Branches or protester’s equipment could easily have been dislodged posing a major safety risk. The question is: why did Forestry send the helicopter in? FT Bob Gordon claims that “police are often required to abseil from helicopters into tree sits to remove the activists.” In reality, this dangerous practice has occurred only once, to remove activist Peter Firth from a 52 day tree sit vigil in the Styx Valley. Activists condemned this hazardous practice and will continue to do so.

The Huon Valley Environment Centre will continue to stand up and speak out against the cruel and careless treatment of our unique forest ecosystems. Tasmania is benighted with a ruthless industry generating vast personal profits by liquidating the rich and diverse abundance of our forest heritage. Our wild places are “managed” by a clique of foresters with an institutionalised blindness towards the beauty, magic and mystery of our ancient environment. Bob Ellis has described Forestry Tasmania’s practices as a kind of “ecological totalitarianism.” And, when brutality is policy, resistance is duty!

Will Mooney
(Huon Valley Environment Centre)