Natalie Keene
Events supporting the Walk Against Woodchips will be held in:
WALK AGAINST WOODCHIPS
MEDIA RELEASE
Sunday 23.11.2008
WALK AGAINST WOODCHIPS ARRIVES IN TASMANIA
Keri James, and her home-schooled 6yr old daughter Clover, are continuing their epic journey from Canberra
to the Tamar Valley, arriving in Devonport on the Spirit of Tasmania this morning at 7 o’clock. They will be
walking for the next two weeks, accompanied by members of the local community, ending the walk in the
Tamar Valley on Sunday 7th December.
Keri and Clover have walked through south eastern NSW and Victoria’s East Gippsland en route to Tasmania,
witnessing first hand the impacts the woodchipping industry is having on communities all over south eastern
Australia.
” We are witnessing the same situation in many areas – large scale woodchipping of native forests has
impacted on the environment and communities of rural New South Wales and Victoria. In many cases much of
the old growth forest has been removed in these areas,” Keri James said.
“In Tasmania there is a great opportunity to learn from mistakes in other parts of the country. Tasmania can
follow the lead of states such as Western Australia and Queensland, and stop the large scale woodchipping of
native forests,” Keri James said.
” Forestry Tasmania’s annual reports show that around 85% of native forest timber harvested ends up as
woodchips, with about 4% ending up as sawn timber,” said Tasmanian Walk Aganist Woodchips organiser,
Natalie Keene.
”
The community has been aware for decades that something is wrong with this situation. If a woodchipping
dominated forestry industry continues to be accepted as some kind of natural, unchangeable law then the
chances of establishing a truly environmentally sustainable industry are non-existent
,” Keri James said.
“The continued government supported destruction of ancient forests across south eastern Australia has
impacted massively on the health of our water catchments, ecosystems, threatened species, local
communities, and taxpayers wallets. After a half century of ecological devastation, and with the knowledge
that the logging of old growth forest releases large volumes of carbon, it is imperative that this travesty ends
immediately,” Keri James said.
Events supporting the Walk Against Woodchips will be held in:
Deloraine ( Wednesday 26 Nov. 3:30pm, Rotary Park);
Launceston (Wednesday 3rd Dec. 12:30pm, Princes Square);
Rowella ( Sunday 7th Dec. 11:30am, Maluna Malaka a.k.a. Organic Walnut Farm, 11 Waterton Hall Road)
