Economy
Groups welcome Premier’s progress on Forest principles. Look for PM’s support
Environment groups welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s progress on developing a process for implementing the Forests Statement of Principles.
They called on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to take this unique opportunity and support the implementation of the peace agreement.
Dr Phill Pullinger, Director of Environment Tasmania said, “It’s great that the Premier and State government have nearly bedded down the process for implementing the Forest Statement of Principles. It’s also encouraging to see that the participation of environment groups and the broader community is seen as a critical part of the implementation process.
“The support of the Prime Minister and the Commonwealth government is now essential to use this opportunity to protect Tasmania’s globally unique forests, reform our timber industry and resolve the conflict,” he said.
Paul Oosting, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society added that “the ball is now in the Federal Government’s court. There is ongoing logging of high-conservation value forests around the state while timber contractors urgently need exit support and interim assistance.
“Now is the time for the Gillard government to urgently start the implementation process by protecting the high-conservation value forests and helping contractors and timber workers to exit the industry.’
“By implementing the forest principles, Prime Minister Gillard has a once in a generation opportunity to protect our special forests and secure a sustainable future for timber workers,” Mr Oosting concluded.
What Premier Bartlett says …
…
“We are here though to say there is absolute certainty for this factory, for this plant, for another 17 years at the very minimum and we are certain that these sorts of investments are the future of Tasmania’s forest industry.”
Tasmania’s Cabinet has signed off on a plan to implement the historic peace agreement.
Mr Bartlett says an independent panel will be appointed to govern its implementation.
The expert panel will consist of a chairman and two deputies who will liaise with the signatories to the statement of principles.
Mr Bartlett says there is still no timeline but the process is moving forward.
“We now have a proposal that we’re working with the 10 key signatories on, next week I will take it to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to consider,” he said.
“We want to sign up the Australian Government so we can get to work on providing certainty for timber communities.”
Read the ABC Online story HERE
Greens …
GREENS WELCOME PROPOSED FORESTRY PRINCIPLES GOVERNANCE MODEL
Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
Friday, 19 November 2010
The Tasmanian Greens today welcomed progress on a proposed governance structure which will ensure that moves forward on the Forestry Roundtable Principles of Agreement will be transparent and inclusive, as well as providing a clear mechanism of interaction with the Commonwealth.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP confirmed that he will be representing the Greens in the Government sub-committee, and said that he is excited by the challenges and opportunities ahead to forge an implementation plan to deliver on the Forestry Principles.
“The Forestry Roundtable Principles of Agreement was a clear milestone in resolving Tasmania’s forestry conflict, with the next stage being the development of an appropriate governance structure to work on the next stage, which is the implementation plan,” Mr McKim said.
“I am proud to confirm that the Greens have worked with Labor to develop a proposed governance model which will ensure the utilisation of expert advice, stakeholder community involvement, public transparency, and a clear and transparent decision making process.”
“As part of the proposed model, there will be a Cabinet sub-committee consisting of the Premier, the Forestry Minister and myself.”
“We now have a once in a generation opportunity to both protect our unique high conservation value forests and deliver a timber industry all Tasmanians can be proud of, and continue to diversify the state’s economy,” Mr McKim said.
Elsewhere …
What’s New: Genetically Engineered Trees
by Heleigh Bostwick Wednesday, 17 November 2010
First it was genetically engineered food crops, now it’s tree plantations. On May 12, 2010 the USDA issued a permit to ArboGen that authorizes the experimental planting and flowering of a new, genetically engineered hybrid on 28 secret sites across seven southern states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas– the first time genetically engineered trees would be allowed to produce flowers and seeds on the U.S. mainland.
What’s the motivation behind ArborGen’s proposal? Fuel. ArborGen hopes its GE “cold-tolerant” Eucalyptus will become widely planted for pulp and biomass. The company says that eucalyptus trees are better at making ethanol than corn is and that growing genetically engineered trees will produce more wood on less land and in less time, thereby protecting native forests and ecosystems. However, they forgot to mention that according to the U.S. Forest Service, GE Eucalyptus plantations in the southern United States would use more than twice the water of pine plantations in a region already suffering from a depleted water supply.
In July 2010, a lawsuit was filed against the USDA by an alliance of conservation organizations. Opponents are worried that the seeds from the eucalyptus, which is not native to the US and is considered invasive in California, will disperse and escape into native plant populations.
According to this press release from the Center for Biological Diversity, in addition to approving these test sites, Agriculture is also considering a “deregulation” petition submitted by ArborGen that would allow widespread commercial planting of GE Eucalyptus without any limits or regulation.
FRIENDS OF THE TAMAR VALLEY INC
INVITATION TO ‘NO PULP MILL’ PUBLIC MEETING
7.30pm, 1 December 2010
Friends of the Tamar Valley (FTV) invite the public and the media to a ‘No Pulp Mill’ Public Meeting to be held at the Tailrace Centre, Riverside on 1 December 2010
The proposed Tamar Valley Pulp Mill has been the most controversial and divisive public issue since the Franklin Dam and remains the elephant in the room in terms of future peace between the logging industry, the government and the people of Tasmania.
This meeting will focus on the risks to the health and wellbeing of the residents and businesses located in the Tamar Valley and outline in particular the major economic and environmental risks associated with the Pulp Mill project.
“Any resident of the Tamar Valley or business person concerned about the effect this Pulp Mill may have on their health, their business and our region cannot afford to miss this meeting” said spokesperson for FTV Anna Pilkington.
Dr Warwick Raverty is flying in from interstate specifically to outline why the Tamar Valley is the worst location for this Pulp Mill.
“Despite Gunns’ recent PR drive we believe most Tasmanians do not accept that a proposed plantation-based mill and a new CEO suddenly make the mill safe, ethical and of economic benefit to the community” said Ms Pilkington.
Speakers: Peter Cundall, Dr. Warwick Raverty (Former RPDC panelist & authority on pulp mill technology), Alderman Jeremy Ball (Launceston City Council), Jon Bryan (Underwater Photographer) & Vanessa Bleyer (Local resident, conservation lawyer)
There will be a short period for questions from the public after the Speakers.
Forest Education Act Team
November 18 2010
The Clock is Ticking For Our Ancient Forests
Tasmanian forest activists have painted a high-profile water tower on a major highway south of Hobart with the bold message ‘The clock is ticking for our ancient forests!’. The painting is a call-out reminding the community that some of our most precious forests are still being destroyed, while they sit on the waiting line for protection.
Following a landmark agreement between the logging industry and major environmental NGOs, real protection for Tassie’s High Conservation Forests (HCV) looks closer than ever. But today, across the island, priceless natural ecosystems, ancient old growth trees and habitat for endangered species are still being destroyed. Both industry and environmentalists have agreed to support a moratorium on the logging of HCV forests, leading to their eventual protection. But, to date, nothing has changed. Its business as usual in the bush. This means that iconic forests in the Weld Valley, Styx, Tarkine, North East and Far South are still being clearfelled and sent to the woodchipper.
In October this year, major logging industry and environmental groups signed a set of principles that chart a new future for Tasmania’s logging industry. The Agreement includes a committment to protect identified HCV forests and phase out native forest logging. A moratorium on logging in HCV forests, to be implemented over three months, was included in the Agreement. But, as the weeks pass, no forests have been removed from the logging schedule and new roads are being cut into prime areas of untouched forest.
In October 2010, two conservation groups, The Huon Valley Environment Centre and Still Wild Still Threatened released “They’re Still Falling”, a report detailing the continued destruction of Tasmania’s HCV forests, despite the new forest Agreement. Recent surveys by conservation volunteers in the Derwent and Huon Districts have revealed that large-scale industrial logging, including clearfelling of critical areas of high conservation value forest, continues, with new logging operations recently commencing in coupes with outstanding wilderness and other conservation values.You can download the report here:
http://www.stillwildstillthreatened.org/resources/they-are-still-falling-critical-time-tasmanias-high-conservation-value-forests
Tasmania can’t wait to have its forests protected
Forest activists are calling for an immediate moratorium on logging in the identified areas of HCV forest. It is crucial that these ares are protected from last-minute logging to maintain their ecological integrity. There are over 200 logging areas within the HCV forests scheduled for harvesting in the current Three Year Wood Production Plan. If these areas are logged, the value of new reserves will be severely diminished.
How you can help!
Write to Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard to tell them that the world can’t wait to see Tasmania’s precious forests get the protection they deserve.
David Bartlett feedback form: http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/contact
Julia Gillard feedback: http://www.pm.gov.au/PM_Connect/Email_your_PM
Media Release
Huon Valley Environment Centre
18th November 2010
Petition shows public concern over burning forests for power
The Huon Valley Environment Centre (HVEC) today welcomed Green Leader Nick McKim’s tabling of an e-petition opposing the burning of Tasmania’s native forests for power generation in Tasmania.
The petition, initiated by the HVEC, drew 1193 signatures. The petition called for a legislative ban on the burning of native forest and native ecosystems for power generation.
“The public response to this petition shows that Tasmanians are very concerned about proposals to burn native forest for power generation that are being touted by logging industry players. All the current proposals for ‘biomass’ power in Tasmania are based on the burning of hundreds of thousands of tonnes of native forest,” HVEC spokesperson Will Mooney said.
“A recent Agreement signed by Forestry Industry groups and Environmental NGOs rules out the ability of native forest wood burning to gain Renewable Energy Certificates. However, some sectors of the industry are still pushing to have these archaic power plants developed,” Will Mooney said.
“Recent research from the United States has highlighted the severe climate change, public health and biodiversity impacts of burning forests for power. Tasmania has the ability to chart a clean, green, renewable future without burning our native forests,” Mr Mooney said.
FORESTRY TASMANIA ACTING IN BAD FAITH AND MISREPRESENTING FORESTRY PRINCIPLES
Using Disingenuous Excuse to Justify Wrecking Behaviour in High Conservation Value Forests
Tim Morris MP
Greens Member for Lyons
The Tasmanian Greens today said they have serious concerns that Forestry Tasmania is misrepresenting the forestry principles in relation protection of High Conservation Value (HCV) forests, citing a written response provided by the Minister in relation to Forestry Tasmania’s planned logging of Styx Valley Coupe TN34B.
Greens Member for Lyons, Tim Morris MP, again called on Forestry Minister Bryan Green to step in and overrule Forestry Tasmania’s planned logging of this coupe, which contains tall Eucalyptus Regnans and Delagatensis forest and rainforest that has not previously been logged, and which obviously qualifies as High Conservation Value forest, after challenging details contained in a written response to a Greens’ question asked last week.
“Forestry Tasmania’s response raises serious concerns that either they do not understand the forest principles in relation to High Conservation Forest protection, or are deliberately misrepresenting them,” said Mr Morris.
“The forest principles clearly state that HCV coupes identified by environmental groups will be addressed within 30 days, and that ‘a full moratorium [on logging HCV forests] is to be completed within three months’.
This is in clear contradiction to Forestry Tasmania’s claim, provided to the Minister, that ‘…this coupe was not included on the wish list of high conservation value coupes provided by ENGOs during the forestry peace talks process’”.
Mr Morris also rejected Forestry Tasmania’s claim, contained in the Minister’s written response, that they are in fact “acting in good faith following the release of the statement of principles”.
“Forestry Tasmania’s justification for logging this HCV forest is utterly disingenuous and demonstrates that they are not acting in good faith with the forestry principles that have been signed by both the industry and environmental groups, and which clearly state that ‘a full moratorium’ on logging in all HCV forests is to be implemented ‘within three months’.”
“The continued logging of HCV forest coupes such as TN34B will completely undermine the agreed forestry principles, and the Minister needs to step in and stop this sabotage, or admit that he is responsible for a Government Business Enterprise that is obviously intent on wrecking any move towards a much-needed restructure of Tasmania’s forest industry.”
“Styx Valley Coupe TN34B contains tall mature Eucalyptus Delagatensis and Regnans forest and rainforest, has not been previously logged, and is obviously HCV forest, and I am calling on the Minister to step in and overrule Forestry Tasmania’s plans to log this coupe at this time, and instead consult with environmental groups before any more roading or logging occurs in these forests,” said Mr Morris.
Download: Minister Green’s response to Mr Morris’ question asked on Wednesday 10 November 2010:
Nov18_Ministers_Written_Response_on_Styx_Valley_Coupe_TN34B_ATTACH_T_Morris_MP.pdf