Lilia Letsch World Heritage Committee supports activist’s call for forest protection. Huon Valley Environment Centre welcomes resolution.
In Canada 21 countries passed a unanimous resolution, which calls upon the Australian Government to take steps to extend the boundaries of the TWWHA to cover areas of Outstanding Universal Value, outside the existing protected area. These areas include the Lower Weld Valley, Middle Huon and other places which the HVEC has been campaigning to protect. “This resolution represents an urgent call for action to the Tasmanian and Federal Governments. Spectacular natural and cultural values in areas like the Lower Weld and Middle Huon Valleys are under immediate threat from industrial logging,” said HVEC spokesperson Will Mooney.
THE HUON Valley Environment Centre has welcomed a resolution by the international World Heritage Committee, calling on the Australian Government to extend the boundaries of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area to cover crucial areas now threatened by destructive logging activities.
For over three years Huon Valley Environment Centre forest campaigners have been writing reports and documenting threats to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) to the IUCN and World Heritage Committee, as well as highlighting the outstanding value of adjacent forest areas.
In Canada yesterday, 21 countries passed a unanimous resolution, which calls upon the Australian Government to take steps to extend the boundaries of the TWWHA to cover areas of Outstanding Universal Value, outside the existing protected area. These areas include the Lower Weld Valley, Middle Huon and other places which the HVEC has been campaigning to protect.
The resolution came despite a flawed report prepared by delegates sent on a mission to assess issues relating to world heritage management.
Current roading and logging practices next to the TWWHA boundary were endorsed by the Report, but was condemned by the Wilderness Society and the IUCN (World Conservation Union). The report contained serious innacuracies, incorrect statistics and was heavily biased in favour of dubious forest management practices.
The IUCN’s decision not to endorse the report and the strength of this World Heritage Committee resolution shows that the issue of managing forests adjacent to the TWWHA is very serious indeed.
“This resolution represents an urgent call for action to the Tasmanian and Federal Governments. Spectacular natural and cultural values in areas like the Lower Weld and Middle Huon Valleys are under immediate threat from industrial logging,” said HVEC spokesperson Will Mooney.
“Tasmanian and Federal Governments must now heed the requests of the international community and IUCN experts, by moving to impose an immediate moratorium on logging in these areas and take steps towards extending the boundary of the TWWHA to protect their values,” Will Mooney said.
The HVEC has provided various reports and information to the World Heritage Committee and IUCN, as well as meeting with delegates on a recent mission to Tasmania.
“We will be writing to Premier David Bartlett and Environment Minister Peter Garrett in coming days to request immediate action on this issue,” Will Mooney said.
www.huon.org
