*Pic: Oldgrowth wilderness forest, Peak Rivulet, southern Tasmania. *Pic: Rob Blakers http://www.robblakers.com/
The Wilderness Society and renowned photographer Rob Blakers today released a new publication of recently taken images from the proposed World Heritage delist zone. The publication also contains a comprehensive case for the rejection of the Abbott Government’s application to the World Heritage Committee to log World Heritage forests.
The release of the publication finalises plans for engagement at the Doha meeting of the World Heritage Committee, which commences on Sunday. Expert advice and a draft decision already before the Committee recommends rejection of the Abbott proposal and this new publication will help reinforce this outcome at face to face meetings with member countries in Doha.
“Recent flights to photograph the areas proposed for delisting and logging confirmed the data analysis already done by experts that the overwhelming majority of these areas are intact oldgrowth, rainforest and other natural vegetation,” said Mr Blakers.
“The forests speak for themselves. This book will bring Tasmania’s forests to Doha and present the case against Mr Abbott’s attack on World Heritage.”
Experts and advocates will be departing for Doha over coming days, to counter the Federal Government’s misleading claims that the areas proposed for excision is extensively degraded by logging.
“The Federal Government continues to trash its own credibility by pushing on with this dishonest application and undermining the value of the World Heritage Convention,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society who will travel to Doha after tomorrow’s Rally to Respect World Heritage.
“Internal Ministerial advice, independent expert analysis and the evaluations of the Advisory organisations to the World Heritage Committee all counter the claims of the Federal Government about levels of degradation by confirming around 90% of the area proposed for delisting is old growth, rainforest or other intact natural vegetation.”
“Mr Abbott can still withdraw this application to avoid embarrassing Australia further and wasting the World Heritage Committee’s time.”
• The Rally to Respect World Heritage will be held Tomorrow, Sat 14th June at 12 Noon at Parliament House in Hobart. Speakers include Greg Irons from Bonorong wildlife Sanctuary, Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick from University of Tasmania and Aboriginal Tasmanian Rodney Dillon.
• All Richard Colbeck’s World Heritage mockeries are here, including the latest …
