Ali Alishah Still Wild, Still Threatened MR, Mar 13 (Plus, Wilderness Society MR)
Contentious Florentine logging coupe 42F burnt as Forestry Tasmania begins burns season
The regeneration burn of logging coupe FO042F in the Upper Florentine Valley commenced on Wednesday the 11th of March and has now been completed. This is the first burn of this season in the Florentine Valley. Adjacent coupe FO042E is now being prepared for burning.
“Forestry Tasmania burns over 15,000 hectares of logged forest per annum which according to a Forestry Tasmania study in 2001 emits roughly more than 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. This is more than the combined emissions of all other sectors in Tasmania as calculated by the Australian Greenhouse Office,” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ali Alishah.
“CO2 emissions of this scale are directly responsible for driving climate change. Forestry Tasmania’s continued push to log and burn old growth forests which sequester and absorb CO2 from the atmosphere clearly shows their inadequacy at managing Tasmania’s carbon storage assets,” said Mr. Alishah.
“It also shows their blatant disregard of the Tasmanian community’s wellbeing. Tasmanians enjoy some of the cleanest air in the world on record and during the autumn burning season our quality of air falls below third world standards,” said Mr. Alishah.
“These two old growth coupes in the Upper Florentine valley should not have been logged and the minute pockets reserved within these coupes through the aggregated retention scheme, employed by Forestry Tasmania as an alternative to clearfelling, are in great danger of being incinerated. Aggregated retention, like any logging practice which upholds the wood chipping status quo, is destined to fail in protecting biodiversity and satisfying the Tasmanian public,” said Mr. Alishah.
Photographs of Regeneration burn in Coupe FO042F taken by Rob Blakers: [email protected]
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MEDIA RELEASE – 15th March 2009
CALL FOR EPA TO REPORT ON CARBON EMISSIONS FROM FORESTRY BURNS
Smoke issues only part of the problem
The Wilderness Society today called on Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and forestry companies to report on the amount of carbon pollution emitted in the annual forestry burns season, now underway.
A new Smoke Management Strategy aims to minimise smoke issues from forestry burns, but overlooks the broader issue of carbon emissions from Tasmanian logging and the contribution this makes to climate change.
“Managing the smoke from forestry burns could help alleviate some of the negative impacts burning has on public amenity, human health and Tasmania’s clean tourism reputation, but it totally ignores the carbon pollution from deliberate forestry burns,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society.
“Many millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide is released by logging and burning each year and currently, nobody in the government or forestry sector has the responsibility of measuring and reporting on these emissions. This lets native forest logging off scott free when it comes to carbon pollution accountability.
“This means the rest of society, including individuals, other industries and the agricultural sector, must bear more of the burden of any climate change response.
“Tasmania’s government, through the EPA must report on carbon pollution from native forest logging.
“By publishing the data the EPA can ensure Tasmanians are fully informed on the carbon pollution cost of logging, enabling them to contribute to the public policy changes needed to ensure a safe and prosperous future for coming generations.
“Logging and burning our forests is not only a dark stain on our skies and clean, clever brand, it is denying Tasmania the chance to benefit from emerging carbon markets and other new opportunities a shift in forest policy could bring,” concluded Mr Bayley.
Burning began in the oldgrowth forests of the Upper Florentine this week. Images of Coupe FO42F are attached, high res versions available.
Vica Bayley
Senior Forest Campaigner
The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc
130 Davey St, Hobart TAS 7000
Website: www.wilderness.org.au
