Environment
Giant tree find prompts forest protection call
Phill Pullinger Environment Tasmania MR
Conservationists are delighted by the news – but also point to the fact that it highlights the failure of current forest policy, and the tragedy of what all Australians are losing with the destruction of Tasmania’s Native forests.
GIANT TREE FIND PROMPTS OLD-GROWTH PROTECTION CALL
With the finding of the world’s second biggest tree in a threatened Old-growth forest that had been scheduled for logging in South-West Tasmania, conservationists have called on the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and the Premier, David Bartlett to intervene to save Tasmania’s Old-growth forests. The tree find, announced yesterday, put’s the 101 metre swamp gum in as the second tallest tree on the planet.
Conservationists are delighted by the news – but also point to the fact that it highlights the failure of current forest policy, and the tragedy of what all Australians are losing with the destruction of Tasmania’s Native forests.
“The finding of the world’s second tallest tree again highlights just how special Tasmania’s ancient forests are – on a world scale these places are every bit if not more iconic than the Californian redwoods,” said Dr Phill Pullinger, spokesperson for Environment Tasmania.
“These forests are of recognised World Heritage significance, and should be protected in National parks so our kids and our grand-kids can enjoy these extraordinary places. However, this tree was found in an area that was slated for logging and burning, and every year more than ten thousand football fields of Tasmania’s Native Forests are logged. Whilst it is absolutely fantastic that this one extraordinary tree has been saved – surely it highlights why we need to now fully protect Tasmania’s Old-growth forests?” he continued,
“Now is the time for some environmental stewardship and leadership – and we call on Tasmania’s Premier, David Bartlett, and the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to intervene to save what’s left of Tasmania’s Old-growth forests, for all people, for all time,” he concluded.
Environment Tasmania is a peak body that represents more than 20 Tasmanian conservation and environment groups, collectively representing more than 5000 Tasmanians.
And
The Wilderness Society concurs with the Huon Valley Environment Centre about the danger to 101-metre-tall Centurion from adjacent logging and burning operations.
Especially given the fate of El Grande in 2003.
Geoff Law
10 October 08
Media Release
Tasmania’s Forest Giant should be protected by a National Park
“Huon Valley Environment Centre celebrates the discovery of the World’s Tallest Hardwood Tree in the Tasmania’s Southern Forests. Huon Valley Environment Centre consistently calls for the protection of high conservation value forests in the Southern Forests, such as those with tall eucalyptus trees,” Huon Valley Environment Centre Jenny Weber said.
“Magnificent Giant Trees such as the recently found 400 year old ancient should not be put in a Forestry Tasmania Big Tree Reserve, it should be protected and looked after by National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Forestry Tasmania can not be trusted to look after Giant Trees, they have a record of logging reserved forest and killing Giant Trees. In recent times, Forestry Tasmania have proven themselves negligible in looking after Tasmania’s ancient assets,” Jenny Weber said.
“Logging a reserve in the Arve Valley, an escaped Regeneration Burn burning the Giant El Maestro in the Arve Valley, and the death of El Grande in the Florentine Valley due to Forestry Tasmania’s negligence are all examples of why Forestry Tasmania should not be left to manage Tasmania’s natural assets,” Jenny Weber said.