The question of so-called sustainable logging in Tasmania’s Tarkine rainforest is set to have global attention as a new short film is released.

The Truth About The Tarkine has been made by renowned British scientist and environmentalist, Matthew Shribman.

In the film, Matthew travels to the Tarkine in north-west Tasmania and sees for himself the devastating effects of what the forestry industry lobby claims to be ‘sustainable logging’.

“The Tarkine is one of the last remaining, truly wild places on earth, with the cleanest water and air measured anywhere in the world,” said Shribman.

“Comparing the Tarkine rainforest with the so-called ‘sustainable’ replanted parts is like comparing the Great Barrier Reef with a fish farm. The new areas have hardly any wildlife and are all the same tree. You can even feel how much hotter it is in the new bits,” Shribman observed.

“Matthew Shribman’s film The Truth About The Tarkine gives a first hand account of both the beauty and the threats to one of the world’s great temperate wilderness areas Tasmania’s takayna/Tarkine,” said Scott Jordan, a Bob Brown Foundation takayna/Tarkine campaigner.

“takayna/Tarkine supports Australia’s largest tract of cool temperate rainforest, spanning wild windswept beaches, extensive buttongrass plains, and pristine wild rivers. It is of great significance to Tasmania’s Aboriginal people and a relict of the ancient continent of Gondwana. It is home to rare species such as the Tasmanian Devil, a freshwater crayfish that grows up to six kilograms in weight, and the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle.

“People need to watch this film, educate themselves on the threats to one of the last wild places on Earth and join our Foundation to take action to protect takayna.”

Having formally trained as a scientist (MChem (Oxon)), Shribman is positive about new roles out of the lab and in the wider world as a communicator, environmentalist, musician and some other things.

“With everything I do – from public speaking to advising to teaching to campaigning – I am aiming towards a brighter, greener and smarter future for humanity and for Planet Earth,” he said.

“This pursuit can’t be achieved without a multiplicity of voices and ideas, which is why I strive to make knowledge and opportunity accessible to everyone, regardless of background, education or experience.”

The Truth About The Tarkine

Tarkine’s new mining threat

Shribman’s film debuts as rainforests in Tasmania’s Tarkine have a new threat with a Chinese state-owned tin miner pushing to clear 140 hectares for a new tailings dam.

“MMG’s plan to dump twenty five million cubic metres of toxic, acid producing mine tailings into World Heritage value rainforests within takayna/Tarkine is an assault on wilderness and the creatures that rely on it for habitat,” said Scott Jordan, Bob Brown Foundation takayna/Tarkine campaigner.

The project has very recently been referred to Federal Environment Minister Ley for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

“This mining company is controversially proposing to pump 25 million cubic metres of tailing waste product across the Pieman River to this new tailings dam after flattening rainforest in the takayna/Tarkine wilderness,” Jordan said.

“MMG’s existing tailings facilities at their Rosebery mine are south of the mine and outside takayna/Tarkine,” Scott Jordan said.

“The verified World Heritage value forests of takayna/Tarkine are not a dumping ground for the toxic acid producing waste from the Chinese state-owned MMG”, Scott Jordan said.

Jordan pointed out that ASX-listed MMG‘s own reports show this proposal will destroy 285 hectares of rainforest and melaleuca forest, to accommodate their 140 hectares of tailings dams and pits. “That is dams and pits 70 time larger than the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and a total disturbance twice that amount.”

“Despite the company’s dismissals, this area is home and feeding ranges for Tasmanian devil, spotted-tailed quoll and masked owl,”

Jordan claimed that since the BBF has operated a blockade against logging and mining in the area since December there have been regular sightings of devils, quolls and wedge-tailed eagles, plus audible calls from masked owl hunting.

“MMG should abandon this insane plan, and Minister Ley should use her powers under the act to declare this proposal clearly unacceptable and end this folly. Until they do we are blockading the access road to these rainforests to defend and protect them,” Scott Jordan said.

You can read MMG’s most recent Sustainability Report here.