Devil calls for end to logging

Today Still Wild Still Threatened released videos of endangered Tasmanian devils filmed in proposed logging coupes in the Upper Florentine valley. The films are being screened on Parliament lawns today from 10:30am, coinciding with the International Day for Biodiversity.

Conservation volunteers have been conducting fauna surveys of proposed logging coupes in the Upper Florentine valley. Over 200 videos of 12 different devils have been recorded in the last 10 weeks, using infra red sensor cameras.

The films show close up vision of devils in their natural habitat, Tasmania’s threatened forests.

The International Day for Biodiversity convinced one of the devils to make the trip into Hobart to raise awareness about the plight of Tasmania’s endangered species. Dazza the devil is in Hobart for the day and is hoping the government will protect his habitat.

“We’ve had a pretty rough trot recently, us devils. Our numbers have declined by 80% in the last 14 years from the facial tumour disease and the government is still logging our habitat.” Said Dazza Devil.

“Forestry Tasmania have no idea how many of us devils are in the southern forests, they don’t conduct surveys prior to logging, instead they asses special values during or post logging.”

“You wouldn’t demolish a Pharaoh’s tomb to assess the special values of its contents, so why would you rip apart an ancient forest to assess its special values.” Said Dazza Devil.

The International Day for Biodiversity also coincides with the one year anniversary of the devil’s addition to the national endangered species list.

“A year has passed since Peter Garrett listed us as endangered, and gave us protection under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. But the logging industry is exempt from the EPBC Act and threatened species legislation. The logging industry destroys endangered species habitat and gets away with it scot free.” Said Dazza Devil.

“I’m hopeful that the logging industry will realise they can’t go around trashing endangered species habitat or Tasmania could become the extinction state. I don’t want to end up like the Tassie tiger.” Said Dazza Devil.

“We can have a forest industry that doesn’t threaten biodiversity, ancient forests and endangered species. For too long the government and industry have twiddled their thumbs, while endangered species habitat is liquidated for wood chips. 2010 is the International Year for Biodiversity, its about time the Tasmanian government stopped the despicable practice of logging endangered species habitat.” Said Dazza Devil.

MEDIA UPDATE
SPOTTED TAILED QUOLLS CLIMB TREES ON PARLIAMENT LAWNS AS ENDANGERED DEVIL CALLS FOR AN END TO THE LOGGING OF TASMANIA’S ANCIENT FORESTS

Today, two spotted tailed quolls climbed trees at Hobart’s Parliament Lawns as Dazza the Tasmanian devil held a press conference calling for an end to the logging of threatened species habitat in Tasmania’s ancient forests. The threatened animals travelled into Hobart from the Upper Florentine valley for the International Day of Biodiversity, which coincided with the release of new videos by conservationists from Still Wild Still Threatened.

The videos (which can be viewed at www.youtube.com/tassieforests) depict a number of endangered Tasmanian devils which have been filmed in proposed logging coupes in the Upper Florentine valley. The videos were viewed by community members from all over Australia at Salamanca this afternoon.

Dazza the devil and the spotted tailed quolls made the trip into Hobart today to raise awareness about the plight of Tasmania’s endangered species and to call on the Tasmanian Government to take immediate action to protect their habitat.

“We are hopeful that Premier Bartlett will realise that he must immediately stop the destruction of our homes. Tasmania is well on the way to becoming the extinction state, and everyone knows that extinction is forever” said Dazza Devil.

NEW VIDEO AVAILABLE ONLINE AT www.youtube.com/tassieforests

PHOTOS BY EMMA CAPP.

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
stillwildstillthreatened@gmail.com
www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
www.youtube.com/tassieforests
PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004