Media release – Protect Our North West Forests, 7 May 2025
Leven Canyon: planned reserve extension set to be logged
Leven Canyon area, NW Tasmania.
See this? This striped area of land was meant to be added to the Leven Canyon Regional Reserve. It didn’t.
And now the government is set to greenlight its logging.
This forest is home to towering ancient trees, spectacular waterfalls, wedge-tailed eagles and is an important catchment for the Leven River and our drinking water.
So how did we get here?
The year is 2012
Gunns is one of the largest companies in the southern hemisphere and has created an empire from woodchipping Tasmania’s forests and exporting them to Asia for paper production.
A historic agreement was signed between environmental groups and the industry, ratified by the then Labor-Green government, to reshape Tasmania’s forestry industry.
Part of that agreement included moving 500,000 hectares of high conservation value land out of the hands of the industry and into formal reserves – protected in perpetuity.
$121 million was made available by the federal government to compensate the industry and protect and manage these forests.
Two years later, the newly elected Liberal government abandoned the agreement by reclassifying these 500,000 hectares as Future Potential Production Forest (FPPF) land, known as the ‘wood bank’.
‘Three Brothers’ forest, Leven River catchment.
Now, the bulldozers are back
At the 2024 state election, the Liberal government pledged to increase native forest logging.
40,000 hectares has been identified for immediate logging, including this forest bordering the Leven Canyon Regional Reserve.
Home to ancient trees, this forest is critical habitat for threatened species like wedge-tailed eagles and Tasmanian devils and is an important catchment for the Leven River and our drinking water.
The forest is recognised by Central Coast Council for its scenic values and is a designated scenic protection area under the Tasmanian Planning Scheme. Yet forestry is exempt from the scheme, allowing industrial scale logging to proceed.
What we know about this forest
547 hectares in size.
252 hectares have been identified for logging – 46% of the area.
Huge logging roads will be carved into the landscape.
These coupes are expected to yield a mere 2,165 m3 of sawlogs, while a whopping 67,361 m3 of ‘other products’ (i.e. woodchips) are expected. This is a shockingly low ratio even for Forestry Tasmania’s standards.
There is one recorded wedge-tailed eagle nest and our cameras have recorded dozens of sightings of Tasmanian devils and spotted-tail quolls. It is core and potential range for giant freshwater crayfish, swift parrots, masked owls, eastern quolls, Australian graylings, spotted-tailed quolls, grey goshawks and a range of other threatened species.
There are a number of stunning waterfalls on the streams all of which will be impacted by run-off and sedimentation.
Multiple tributaries flow into the Leven River from this forest. The Leven River supplies drinking water to Ulverstone and surrounds.
We have so far documented 6 trees over 2.5 metres in diameter. Under Forestry Tasmania’s policies these trees should be “retained wherever operationally safe and practical to do so”. The reality is, these operations happen behind closed doors and they are indiscriminately felled unless citizen scientists have recorded them and keep Forestry accountable.
‘Koekunyer’.
Giants of the Leven walking trail
A 4.6km return trail has been created taking you to some of these giant trees. Starting off Barretts Road, Nietta, the trailhead is found here on Google Maps. It will soon be published on All Trails. Giants of the Leven is a moderately difficult walk along undulating terrain, along a well-defined track but with uneven footing.
Along the trail you will encounter spongey sphagnum, an aromatic tea tree stand, fern after fern, sassafras abounds, two short detours to massive ancient trees, and the true showstopper – the giant tree, Koekunyer. Standing at girthy 11.2m in circumference, Koekunyer is a relic of once was. At approximately 300+ years old, Koekunyer could tell stories like no other and will leave you reflecting upon what it has seen and what this landscape once was. Entering its cavernous hollow you can read more about the threats this forest is facing. But do take care, treat Koekunyer with the respect it demands and leave no trace.
Koekunyer (koe-kun-yer), meaning “come here / come close”, comes from the old historical records of Tasmanian Aboriginal language collected mainly by George Augustus Robinson in the 1820s–30s, when he was traveling and recording phrases spoken by Aboriginal people. This was recorded in the Middlesex plains area. Koekunyer, named by Tasmanian Aboriginal and PONWF Committee Member, Lyndon O’Neil, rises above the surrounding forests, calling, inviting visitors to this place to “stand close”, “listen deeply”, respect Country, reminding us we are not seperate.
Reception is patchy. Be prepared – pack appropriate safety items such as snake bandages, a personal locator beacon, plenty of water and some food. Let someone know where you are heading and always stay on the trail.
What else you can do
In order for the government to reclassify these 40,000 hectares a Bill must be introduced to Parliament and passed by both houses. This is expected to be introduced sometime in 2025.
The Liberals and Labour are in lockstep on native forest logging – the key will lie with the independents in the Legislative Council.
Here is what you can to help protect this forest, and 40,000 hectares like it.
- Give this ‘Giants of the Leven’ trail an epic review on All Trails (once published!).
- Contact your elected representativesand tell them why you believe this forest, and the 40,000 hectares like it, is worth more standing.
- Use yourvote
- Contact Forestry Tasmaniaon [email protected].
- Become a Memberof Protect Our North West Forests. Membership supports our work and gives you a platform to amplify your voice. You can become a member here.
Get active, get involved. You have a voice, you have the power to protect this beautiful landscape.
Protect Our North West Forests
PO Box 196, Penguin TAS 7316
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