Joint Statement – various groups, 11 December 2024
Protect Lutruwita / Tasmania’s Forests
Location of 39,000ha of high conservation value forest potentially being handed over to Tassie loggers revealed
The Rockliff Government is attempting to open the door for destructive logging operations into large tracts of forest in spectacular settings all over Tasmania. Forests that were promised protection and are now imminently threatened include ‘lots’ at Ben Lomond, Pyengana, Mt Arthur, Mt Barrow, Mt Victoria, South Sister, and St Patricks River catchment in the north east, and Detention River catchment and Leven Canyon Catchment in the north west.
Documents obtained via ‘Right to Information’ (RTI) have revealed that in 2022, the Tasmanian Government and Forestry Tasmania discussed the transfer of high conservation value forests for transfer to the Permanent Timber Production Zone.
During this year’s election, this intention was echoed by the Liberal party in an election promise to deliver 39,000ha of forest to loggers.
Analysis of these 27 parcels of forest have shown that 88% to be destroyed is over 80 years in age. They are also home to a variety of iconic threatened species such as the Tasmanian devil, wedge-tailed eagle, giant freshwater crayfish and swift parrot. Areas slated for logging are also located in critical water catchments for local communities.
Communities worked tirelessly to have these forests protected, and now significant portions could be handed over to the logging industry without consultation. The Australian public has paid $121 million to industry in exchange for their commitment to spare these areas from logging. Yet the Government is moving to open 39,000ha back up.
While Uncle Jim Everett – puralia meenamatta is being arrested for protecting forests, the Tasmanian Government is making plans to open up his homelands in meenamatta country for logging.
Further, the RTI documents show that there are multiple known Aboriginal heritage sites located within the 27 lots. We echo Uncle Jim in calling for the recognition of First Nations ‘Law in Country’.
At a time where we are facing dual climate and biodiversity crises, protecting forests is a key solution. Other states have already exited native forest logging – Tasmania must also protect all native forests. It’s not the time to be opening more forests for ongoing destruction.
We collectively call on the Rockliff Government to permanently protect these areas, as was promised over a decade ago.
Signees:
- Protectors of Country: Uncle Jim Everett – puralia meenamatta & Ruth Langford
- The Wilderness Society Tasmania
- Australia Institute Tasmania
- BirdLife Australia
- Blue Derby Wild
- Bob Brown Foundation
- Environment Tasmania
- Friends of Jackeys Marsh
- Friends of the Blue Tier
- Grassroots Action Network Tasmania
- Hands Off Quamby Bluff
- Nayri Niara
- Protect Our North West Forests
- Tasmania Climate Collective
- Tasmanian Conservation Trust
- The Tree Projects
Ben Marshall
December 11, 2024 at 16:48
We’re in the Leven River catchment in Loongana Valley.
Our community can confirm STT’s devastating and pointless destruction of regenerating rainforests that are rich habitat for many threatened and endangered species. The coupes currently being bulldozed adjacent to the Winterbrook Reserve are a great example of habitat destruction for no genuine economic return as the roads and bridging they’ve built (virtual highways) will have cost more than they’ll get in pulp or timber.
Another example is STT’s destruction of regenerating rainforest at the Western end of the Loongana Range. STT razed a vast area of vibrant habitat, including high up on the range itself, then burned the lot, then bombed with a monocultural eucalypt seed thereby creating a sterile no-go area for native fauna and flora.
Is this the plan? To take all crown land, owned by you and me, bulldoze it, then create a faux-plantation? Are the Liberal-Labor Parties using our money to prop up STT who make a loss overall, but then give some of the money they make to the State government? Are we taxpayers the actual resource being exploited here via the proxy of native forest logging which has no economic rationale other than State theft?
Matt
December 11, 2024 at 21:33
What the heck is wrong with these people?
These Liberal and Labor weirdos shouldn’t be anywhere near public office! They are destructive, unthinking cretins!
Robert Goodwin
December 12, 2024 at 04:18
I completely agree with Matt’s views!
Shane Brazendale
December 12, 2024 at 14:34
Great news!
Well done!
Sue
December 12, 2024 at 16:06
It’s absurd; it’s so un-human! What is wrong with people?
Shame! Shame! Shame!
Stop logging now!
We need what we have left! It’s so simple!
Mark
December 13, 2024 at 11:40
So … “The Australian public has paid $121 million to industry in exchange for their commitment to spare these areas from logging.”
I say they should refund the $121 M, plus interest, first!
That should put the final nail in the coffin of an AFL team, the stadium, the health system, and the new docks for the Spirits and every other piece of state government mismanagement.
Financial parasites!
Smith Susana
December 19, 2024 at 21:58
This is shocking!
It will be impossible to re-establish those forests and eco systems once they are lost. Do Liberal politicians and Forestry Tasmania ever even care about the destruction and loss of habitat for so many creatures that live there?
There is some very short-term thinking going on here.