Today conservationists from Still Wild Still Threatened have halted logging operations that are occurring within the World Heritage nominated forests of Butlers Gorge. There are 15 people on the logging road that leads to at least 3 current logging coupes. There is currently a structure blocking the road and two dedicated conservationist have put themselves in positions which may possibly lead to arrest, in order to halt logging.
“Today’s peaceful action is taking place to halt the destruction that the Australian Government should have stopped themselves upon nominating these forests for World Heritage to the IUCN. The government’s nomination is recognition of the outstanding ecological values of these forests, despite this they are neglecting their responsibility to protect the area. These forests are not safe” said Miranda Gibson, spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened.
“Right now logging is occurring in three separate coupes in Butlers Gorge. This logging must immediately stop. The damage being done in this globally significant forest is an international shame. To have the very heart ripped out of one of Tasmania’s most significant tracts of wilderness and tall eucalyptus forests, only months before a potential World Heritage listing is a tragedy” said Ms Gibson.
” There has been a global outcry resulting from the documentation of the ongoing logging. Since we released a report in conjunction with the Huon Valley Environment Center and Markets for Change last week, thousands of people have signed an online petition calling for an end to the destruction of these World Heritage nominated forests” said Ms Gibson.
“The Federal Government has the responsibility, as commanded by Article 4 of the World Heritage Convention (1972) that Australia is a signatory to, to identify, protect, conserve, present and transmit to future generations these globally significant forests” said Ms Gibson.
“It is blatant hypocrisy to nominate forests for World Heritage one week and log the same forests the next week.” said Ms Gibson.
“Still Wild Still Threatened will continue to stand up for the threatened forests of Butlers Gorge and other World Heritage nominated forests until they are securely protected. We are calling on the Australian Government to immediately end logging and ensure no new coupes are started within the nominated forests” said Ms Gibson.
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.
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• Greens secure sawmillers access to special species logs
• UPDATE: Conservationists continue protest and call on Burke to protect Tasmania’s forests
Today conservationists from Still Wild Still Threatened successfully halted logging operations for the day in the Butlers Gorge forests. One conservationist remains locked onto the gate, blocking access to the logging road that leads to three separate logging coupes in the area. Another protester remains in a tree sit.
“Today’s peaceful action has not only held off logging, giving reprieve for the forests of Butlers Gorge, it has highlighted the complete hypocrisy of the Australian Government who are allowing logging to continue in areas they have nominated for World Heritage protection” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson, Miranda Gibson.
“Tony Burke is failing Tasmania’s forests. The nomination made by the Australian Government to protect these world-class forests could have been something to be proud of. Instead it is now tainted with the ongoing destruction of some of Tasmania’s most spectacular wilderness areas” said Ms Gibson.
“Tony Burke’s recent assertions that the forest wars are almost over is ignorant of the reality faced by these forests everyday, which is an onslaught of logging in some of Tasmania’s most contentious forests. Tasmania’s forests are not at peace; they are being decimated by the logging that Burke is allowing to continue unabated in areas he has nominated for World Heritage. It is absurd and unacceptable” said Ms Gibson
“Despite Burke’s clear failure to protect the values that his government has recognised in these forests, he has the gall to claim that the Greens are not standing up for the environment. While the Burke has been turning a blind eye to the logging going on in the forests he nominated to the IUCN for their World Heritage values, Christine Milne the Leader of the Greens was here with me, in the Observer Tree, seeing first hand the values of these irreplaceable forests. I would like to invite Tony Burke to do the same” said Ms Gibson.
“We are calling on the Australian Government to immediately withdraw all logging operations from Butlers Gorge and to ensure no new logging coupes are started within the World Heritage nominated forests” said Ms Gibson.
• UPDATE: Police arrest protester at Butlers Gorge
One conservationist has been arrested and a further arrest is likely this afternoon, at the protest taking place in Butlers Gorge. Approximately 11 police arrived at the protest just after 3:30pm today. One person who was locked onto the gate was removed and arrested. All other protesters left the area, except the tree-sitter, who remained in the tree. Police Search and Rescue are attempting to remove the tree-sitter.
“Dedicated conservationists have today put themselves in a position risking arrest in order to stand up for the World Heritage nominated forests of Butlers Gorge. These forests are being logged at an alarming rate, despite the Australian Government’s recent nomination to have them listed as World Heritage” said Miranda Gibson, spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened.
“The protection of these forests of outstanding universal value is supported by people around the world. Over 40,000 protest emails have been sent in the past few days targeting Burke and Gillard and calling for an end to this destruction” said Ms Gibson.
“Despite today’s arrests, Still Wild Still Threatened will continue to take action to bring an end to the logging of these globally significant forests” said Ms Gibson.
• UPDATE, Thursday A second day of protest halts logging at World Heritage nominated Butlers Gorge.
Today Still Wild Still Threatened has taken action at Butlers Gorge for the second day in a row. Yesterday protesters successfully halted logging operations in three separate logging coupes. Police arrested one protester yesterday afternoon and dismantled structures that blocked access to the logging road. This morning the logging is halted once again by a structure attached to a tree sit. One person is in the tree sit and 15 others are on the logging road.
“Conservationists are stopping logging for a second day today, because it is absolutely critical that the chainsaws stop in these World Heritage nominated forests” said Miranda Gibson, spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened.
“Three weeks ago when Minister Burke announced the outstanding universal values of these forests were worthy of World Heritage protection there should have been an immediate cessation of logging. This did not happen” said Ms Gibson.
“Stopping logging in World Heritage nominated forests should not be left up to the community. But unfortunately in the wake of Tony Burke’s deplorable neglect of these forests, conservationists have had to step in and hold the chainsaws at bay in order to try and protect very values for which these areas have been nominated” said Ms Gibson.
“As a conservationists, members of Still Wild Still Threatened cannot stand by and watch some of Tasmania’s most precious forests carted away on the back of log trucks at a time when they should have been safe. We will continue to take action to end the destruction in these World Heritage nominated forests” said Ms Gibson.
“The message is clear: Tony Burke, enough is enough. You’ve nominated these forests, now protect them” said Ms Gibson.
