Dr Frank Nicklason
The final 3 principles are as follows; 13) Sharing of benefit, 14) Protection of future generations and 15) Protection of the environment, the biosphere and biodiversity. I believe that current Tasmanian forestry practices are substantially in breach of each in each of these areas.
ON 30/1 I attended a stimulating talk (At the Royal Hobart Hospital) by Professor Henk ten Have, who is director of UNESCO’s Ethics of Science and Technology Division in Paris. (Mercury 31/1/07).
Prof ten Have referred in his talk to the Universal Declaration of Bioethics and Human Rights which was signed unanimously by all 191 member countries of the United Nations in October 2005. The Declaration outlines 15 fundamental principles.
The final 3 principles are as follows; 13) Sharing of benefit, 14) Protection of future generations and 15) Protection of the environment, the biosphere and biodiversity.
I believe that current Tasmanian forestry practices are substantially in breach of each in each of these areas.
The broadacre conversion of biodiverse native forests to monoculture plantations also compromises our long-term water security and creates a major fire risk.
The publicly owned forests are being clearfelled, with documented huge wastage of valuable timber, largely by private companies, with poor financial returns as royalties to State coffers.
Woodchips and whole logs are being exported into the fickle global commodity markets as local sawmillers struggle to get sufficient access to timber for their businesses.
Dr Frank Nicklason
West Hobart
