Ta Ann receives conflict wood supply from Tasmania’s Tarkine

The high conservation value forests in Rapid River, where Bob Brown Foundation held yesterday’s protest, is being logged to supply Ta Ann with eucalyptus timber.

“The fact is that rainforest species like ancient celery top pines are felled along with the eucalypts Ta Ann is targeting. They are incinerated in the follow-up regeneration fire, lit by incendiaries dropped from helicopters. It is like dynamiting the ocean for fish but disclaiming responsibility for the dead corals. If the Tarkine forest were not logged to supply Ta Ann, the celery top pines would not be destroyed,” Bob Brown said.

“Our Foundation is calling for immediate protection of Australia’s largest temperate rainforest in the Tarkine, including Rapid River where logging is currently occurring. There are three areas of forest on the current logging schedule in Rapid River. One has been logged earlier this year, another is currently being logged and another is still threatened from imminent logging. This globally significant remote region of the Tarkine is unlogged and has a substantial area of intact wilderness old growth forest, which had no roads until 10 years ago,” Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager Jenny Weber said.

“We are currently witnessing devastation of remote rainforests and eucalyptus forests in the Rapid River region of the Tarkine that are rich wildlife habitat for endangered species. It is high time that this logging ceases. Rainforests and native forests are far more valuable for the environment, economy and climate as intact, protected landscapes,” Jenny Weber said.

What is the timber being used for from RD16B? The timber from these high conservation value forests are rainforest timbers being supplied for flooring and furniture, eucalyptus trees are being logged for peeler billets supplied to Ta Ann. Majority of what is cut is pulpwood, a large quantity of timber to be supplied to Ta Ann and a small quantity to sawlogs for furniture and flooring. Out of the 30 hectares 1000 cubic metres go to sawlog, 100 tonnes rainforest timbers, 600 cubic metres peeler to Ta Ann and 6900 tonnes woodchip.
Jenny Weber Campaign Manager Bob Brown Foundation