The Federal Government recently announced that they would review the 2013 170,000 ha WHA extension, looking to revise the 2013 extension downward by 74,000 ha.
The Tasmanian and Federal Greens have been vocal in their opposition to this move claiming that not only were they completely opposed to harvesting any timber from the removed area but also that any timber harvested from revised areas would be tainted and not be able to sold anywhere.
At a community debate between Paul Harriss and Nick McKim in Huonville last night it was revealed that current Greens Forest Policy actually advocates timber harvesting in many areas the 2013 WHA extension and also provides Greens support for FSC Certification for such timber. Mr McKim cast doubt on the age of the policy but Mr Harriss produced an email from Greens forestry spokesman Kim Booth dated 25th February 2014 advising that it was in fact current policy.
TSTA Spokesman Andrew Denman said “This is completely hypocritical of the Greens. On one hand their policy document advocates harvesting of special timbers from areas of recently nominated WHA but publicly, they are vocal in their opposition to re-opening some areas of the 2013 extension to special timber selective harvesting.”
The Greens current forest policy identifies new Specialty Timber Zones in the South, North East and North West of the state. In explaining the rationale for choosing these areas the policy states;
“Such a move would give resource security to the specialty timbers sector outside areas earmarked for reservation”.
However, satellite imagery shows that many of the identified Special Timber Zones are now contained either in the 2013 WHA extension or in Tasmanian Forest Agreement Reserves.
The policy which states “It is important to be able to hold a $4000 guitar, to sit at a $7000 table” also advocates the following;
• Special timber harvesting through the Huon, Weld, Picton, Styx Florentine and Bruny Island areas
• FSC Certification for Specialty Timbers from these areas
• Expansion of the specialty timber sector
• That Tasmania’s specialty timbers industry and distinctive high value finished products should be icons of the State’s timber industry.
Andrew Denman again – “It is a very mixed message that the Greens are putting out and this close to an election. Surely they have a duty to the Tasmanian people to tell them which is correct – the policy or the rhetoric? In this policy the Greens claim to have been “long term supporters of the Specialty Timber Industry” but their current initiatives, including Nick McKim’s proposed removal of special timbers amendments to the TFA, are in direct contradiction to this policy and they seemed determined to shut the industry down”
Picture of 2013 WHA in the Catamaran area showing previous harvesting. The green outline is the 2013 extension boundary and the blue areas are the Greens recommended specialty timber harvest areas.
Another picture of the 2013 extension at Lake Gordon. Greens preferred timber harvesting areas in blue, inside the 2013 TWWHA Extension
More Greens preferred harvesting areas in the 2013 TWWHA in the Styx area near the Big Tree forest reserve. Note the level of harvesting activity in this area.
Andrew Denman President Tasmanian Special Timbers Alliance
