Since the Weld was flooded - Part 2

Film by Allana
Tasmania's Southern Forests
Still Wild Still Threatened
At dawn on the 15th of November 2006 the insatiable forces of industrial logging descended, imposing it's destructive will on the irreplaceable World Heritage value forests of the Weld Valley. The community blockade that had halted the construction of a proposed logging road for more than 18 months succumbed to a massive State sponsored assault. More than 50 police in league with Forestry Tasmania raided the camp. By the end of the day the camp had been destroyed including the iconic "Weld Ark", a life size replica pirate ship that has come to symbolise community opposition to the clearfelling and woodchipping of Tasmania's Southern Forests.

It took Forestry Tasmania just ten days to push the road three kms further into forest which is the recognised habitat of endangered and rare species. It would have taken them even less time than this but for a concerted effort by community members to defend this high conservation value ecosystem. In spite of a massive public and media exclusion zone and 24 hour police presence, forest defenders and concerned citizens attempted to halt the destruction. This included tree-sits, lock-ons and three separate walk-ins, with hundreds (including Tasmanian Greens Leader Peg Putt) risking trespass charges to bear witness to the destruction of this public forest.

In all twenty three people were arrested with three of those spending time in remand. The day after the police and machines left, the community reclaimed the forest with two structures being established to block access. Since then no further work has been undertaken in the Weld although the exclusion zone, on both sides of the river does not expire until the end of June. Logging of coupes adjacent to the new road is expected to start in late January or February and there are numerous areas of precious forests in the Weld directly bordering the World Heritage Area, that face destruction in 2007.

At the last federal election both major parties promised to protect Tasmania's oldgrowth forests. Yet they continue to be obliterated at an alarming rate for short term profits and with little return to the community. As we enter another federal election year, with the impacts of climate change decending across the country, the significant role of old forests as carbon sinks must be taken into account and acted upon. "The loss of natural forests around the world contributes more to global emissions than the transport sector" (Stern Review into Climate Change). In the light of this and the recent Federal Court decision relating to threatened species (see www.bobbrown.org.au Wielangta court case), the Federal Government must act to create an ecolgically sustainable forest industry which includes Tasmania's high conservation value and oldgrowth forests being given the National Park status they require.

This will happen when the majority of voters nationally desire this to occur.

PLEASE STAND UP, ACT AND SPEAK OUT AT THIS CRITICAL TIME!

For more information or to make a donation, visit the Huon Valley Environment Centre's website at www.huon.org

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• forests
• non
• violent
• direct
• action
• tasmania
• weld
• valley
• still
• wild
• and
• threatened
• climate
• change

[laathetlevenvloeien]

is there still resistance? how are the people over there doing? I would love to come over and help...

[sharqiya]

if you cant get into the forrest how can you appreciate it?