MEDIA UPDATE
14.4.10
Conservationists shut down logging operations in the Wedge Valley
Press conference 1pm, Parliament Lawns
Conservationists have shut down logging operations in the Wedge Valley this morning. A Conservationist is positioned 30m up a tree on a platform attached with rope to logging machinery, another has locked themselves to logging machinery forcing operations to a halt.
The logging coupe in the Wedge valley, 150kms west of Hobart, is a case study coupe that is examined a new report released today by Still Wild still Threatened. The report draws attention to areas of forest that are classified by the Tasmanian and Australian governments as ‘regrowth’ despite the fact they have never been logged and are of exceptionally high conservation value.
Police are in attendance at the protest site, there have been no arrests so far, it is not yet clear if police search and rescue will remove the protesters.
“The Regional Forest Agreement defines these wild forests as “regrowth”, despite the fact they have never been logged and contain trees that were fully mature hundreds of years before European settlement. We are advocating that these areas be defined as high conservation value, due to the role they fill as pristine ecosystems that provide habitat for rare and threatened wildlife, wilderness values, store massive amounts of carbon and are helping to keep our air and water clean.” Said Mr. Hill.
Mr Hill said old growth forests with high levels of biodiversity and some of the tallest hardwood trees on earth, have been defined by the government as regrowth, including ‘Centurion’, the tallest hardwood tree on earth, growing in the Arve Valley.
“It is absolutely absurd that the RFA defines the tallest hardwood tree on earth as regrowth, this proves the inadequacies of RFA old growth classification and has denied these supposed “regrowth” forests the recognition and protection they deserve.” Said Mr Hill.
Media contact: Ed Hill – 0414 199 645
High resolution digital stills from the protest site available later in the day, edited video footage of the protest available at the 1pm press conference, Parliament lawns.
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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.
www.stillwildstillthreatened.org
[email protected] www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004
Ed Hill, Still Wild Still Threatened
