Walking Against Woodchips; Cable logging

Walk through Deloraine

And, in the Styx …
WALK AGAINST WOODCHIPS

MEDIA ALERT

WEDNESDAY 26.11.2008

WHAT: Walk Through Deloraine’s main street and Community Picnic in Deloraine
WHEN: Wed 26/11. 3pm on Emu Bay Road and at 3:30pm on East Parade
WHERE: Walking along Emu Bay Road to Rotary Park on East Parade, DELORAINE

Keri James, and her home-schooled 6yr old daughter Clover, are continuing their epic journey from Canberra to the Tamar Valley, walking through Deloraine today. They have walked for nearly 3 months already, 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 that the woodchipping industry is having on communities all over south eastern Australia.

“The point of this walk is to send a strong message from our communities to our governments – the logging and woodchipping of Australia’s native forests must end immediately! The vast majority of wood taken from Tasmania’s native forests is woodchipped. This is unacceptable destruction of irreplaceable forests and wildlife habitat,” said Keri James.

“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 Against Woodchips organiser, Natalie Keene, of the Huon Valley.

“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,” said walker, Keri James.

“Tasmanian’s are calling on our government 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 and move to a plantation-based timber industry,” said Natalie Keene.

“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 this 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.

Other Events supporting the Walk Against Woodchips will be held in:
Launceston (Wednesday 3rd Dec. 12:30pm Princes Square);
Rowella (Sunday 7th Dec. 11:30am, Maluna Malaka Organic Walnut Farm, 11 Waterton Hall Road, Rowella)

In the Styx:
Media Release
Tuesday 25th November 2008

Activists halt cable logging in Styx and Wedge forests

Twenty five forest activists have halted cable logging operations in two areas of ancient forest in the Styx and Wedge Valleys, west of Maydena.

“Today’s actions are the first of the Gunns and Dozers Lose Your Exclusion 2 Tour. This week-long event focuses on the destruction of the precious remaining High Conservation Value forests of Southern Tasmania,” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Christo Mills.

“Daily destruction in the Southern forests is hidden from public view.
Locked gates and exclusion zones serve to prevent the people of Tasmania from seeing the real destruction wrought in our forests,”
Christo Mills said.

“Activists are occupying two coupes where ancient forest is being destroyed by cable logging operations. Cable logging operations often target steep slopes that have been previously untouched,” Christo Mills said.

“Still Wild Still Threatened reiterates its call for a ban on cable logging of high conservation value forests.”

“Peaceful direct action will continue this week as part of the Gunns and Dozers – Lose Your Exclusion 2 Tour,” Christo Mills said.

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Still Wild Still Threatened is a grassroots community organisation campaigning for the immediate protection of Tasmania’s ancient forests and the creation of an equitable and environmentally sustainable forestry industry in Tasmania.

stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004 New website coming soon!