Pic: Alan Lesheim
GREENS CALL FOR COOL HEADS AT OBSERVER TREE
Political & Community Leaders Must Do The Same
Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
The Tasmanian Greens today called for calm after reports that a forest industry supporter was camped at the tree occupied by activist Miranda Gibson.
Greens Leader Nick McKim MP strongly supported Ms Gibson’s right to peacefully protest to protect Tasmania’s iconic forests, and expressed concern that the situation had the potential to escalate.
“The Greens expect all political leaders to echo our call for calm to ensure that the situation does not get out of hand,” Mr McKim said.
“The IGA negotiations are at a very delicate stage, and we are concerned that any escalation might derail the best chance we have to achieve a lasting outcome.”
“The Greens support the right to peaceful protest no matter what the cause, which Tasmanian conservationists have always abided by, and we trust that political and community leaders will do the same.”
“This situation has the potential to escalate, and calm heads must prevail,” Mr McKim said.
• David Obendorf: Make or Break Time on Forests
As the secret forest talks reach their own imposed deadline of 23 July 2012, Tasmanian Correspondent with The Australian newspaper has revealed that more taxpayer funds will be required to reduce the sawlog quota from 155,000 tonnes per year. Matthew Denholm understands that if there is a deal on Monday that the Commonwealth government had been asked to ‘provide up to $50 million to buy out sawmillers wanting to exit the industry’.
Akin to buy-outs offered to commercial fishers, the pay outs to Tasmanian sawmillers would attempt to cut the interim quota agreed to by the forestry signatories of 155,000 tonne per year for sawlogs.
According to the report in The Australian [19 July 2012] there remains considerable tension around the ENGOs demand for ‘new national parks’ in 568,722 ha of high conservation value forest and forestry interests who claim that ‘unless logging practices are relaxed, no more than 135,000 tonnes per year of sawlogs, at the very most, can be provided while protecting the full 568,722 ha.’
This $50 million compensation option would see the forestry interest agree to a lower sawlog quota achieved in a ‘buy-out scheme’ to small sawmillers wanting to exit the Tasmanian forestry industry.
The forestry interests are reluctant to retire the quota down to level that would allow 135,000 tonnes per annum quota for sawlogs and the protection the ENGO total area of 567, 722 ha. The ENGOs are equally reluctant to reduce their demand for forest protection below that total. If there is no deal is reached on these two make or break issues, ‘the two sides may simply list the matters of agreement’. That leaves the Commonwealth and Tasmanian governments to determine ‘a restructure and reservation outcome, but without the agreement of the ENGOs’. With the ultimate determination made by governments, it may ‘fail to halt campaigns undermining [Tasmanian] forest products’.
The Australian newspaper’s report does not mention the 255,000 tonne per annum quota for peeler billets that is currently enshrined in a commercial contract between Malaysian forestry firm Ta Ann and Forestry Tasmania.
[Reference: Forest peace deal plan may cost $50m – by Matthew Denholm, Tasmanian Correspondent for The Australian newspaper 19 Ju.ly 2012]
First published: 2012-07-19 06:39 AM
• Tree sitter Miranda Gibson remains committed to staying in the Observer Tree
Australian tree-sit record holder Miranda Gibson has been maintaining a peaceful vigil over the threatened forests of Tasmania’s south-west for the past seven months, perched over 60 metres up a 300-year-old eucalypt in a forest at the centre of the current forest talks.
She has been sending her message about Tasmania’s forests to the world via her blog at http://observertree.org/.
Despite the presence of a pro-logging protester who has set up camp at the base of the tree, Miranda has no intentions of coming down.
‘I’m here to provide a voice for Tasmania’s threatened forests and wildlife, and plan to remain in the Observer Tree until these forests receive the protection they deserve” said Miranda Gibson.
“I have been at the top of this tree for over seven months now. Any claims to the effect that I have left the ObserverTree are just plain wrong,” Ms Gibson said.
‘I remain committed to staying in this tree, standing up for these globally significant forests and the endangered species that rely on them for survival” said Ms Gibson.
Still Wild Still Threatened is a grassroots community organisation campaigning for the immediate protection of Tasmania’s ancient forests and the creation of an equitable and environmentally sustainable forestry industry in Tasmania.
www.stillwildstillthreatened.org
[email protected]
PO Box 295. South Hobart TAS 7004
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• Mate, in Comments: Just quietly, if I was 30 years younger, I’d tramp down there and declare my eternal love for this girl too.
