Statement by the Tasmanian Division of the IFA
To the Tasmanian community
The Institute of Foresters of Australia (IFA) is an institution whose members are dedicated to improving the natural resources we manage. Many of our members work in natural resource management, forestry, public park organisations and for private land owners.
The IFA has been an advocate for improved management of natural resources for 75 years. Our members consider themselves passionate advocates for sustainable environment resource management.
Media reports on recent industry/Environmental Non-Government Organisation discussions in Tasmania indicate moves towards the creation of additional and substantial new forest reserves. Media reports also indicate that such an agreement could have devastating impacts on many smaller and regional communities and the people who rely on forestry for their employment.
The IFA considers that no agreement can be made until:
1. An independent and credible scientific assessment of the values within these proposed new reserves is undertaken;
2. An assessment of the social impacts arising from such an agreement is undertaken;
3. An assessment of the economic impacts from such an agreement is undertaken;
4. An assessment of the environmental impacts, including product and import replacement, is undertaken; and
5. The broader Tasmanian community has had an opportunity to participate.
The IFA call on all Tasmanian elected political members to reject any agreement until the above five criteria have been met.
Only when these five criteria have been met will a lasting agreement be possible.
This statement has been issued on behalf of the Tasmanian Division of The Institute of Foresters of Australia
Picton protest …
Leaked document showing that Gunns Ltd and Ta Ann are both sourcing logs from RFA defined old growth forests that were also part of the original Hartz Mountain national park:
