Since the Weld was flooded - Part 1

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 heart of Tasmania's Southern Forests, wild rivers flow through valleys containing forests which evolved from the ancient continent of Gondwanaland. In the valleys of the Styx, Upper Florentine, Middle Huon, Weld, and Upper Derwent flourish some of the world's oldest and most spectacular ecosystems. Magnificent oldgrowth Eucalypt forests, the world's tallest hardwood trees, and ancient Tolkienesque rainforest lap against those parts of the south west landscape that have received protection. Along the eastern boundary of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, encircled by incredibly beautiful mountains and alpine regions that are protected, these large areas of pristine forest are intentionally left unreserved. These forests have been given a death sentence, at the hands of the woodchippers. These areas have been identified by experts including government bodies as being of World Heritage in their own right and as being significant for maintaining the integrity of the existing protected areas.

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

[Havvalager]

Why can't the coward Forestry Tasmania allow comments on their irritating advertisements. Scumbags.

Go you mighty tree huggers.

[forthseen]

people dont know that the bacteria to fungi rotio is 1100 bacteria 1000 fungi in our old growth forest you cant get that anywhere on earth once that is gone you will destroy everything on top of the soil line you know health depends on what you cant see with your eyes some of you should get a microscope and find out your self whats going on once gone your dead to.

[robesofearth]

Great video- keep up the good work protesters, your bravery is a daily inspiration to me, and I'm sure thousands of others feel the same. Keep Tassie green, fight the Gunns machine!

[robesofearth]

Great video- keep up the good work protesters, your bravery is a daily inspiration to me, and I'm sure thousands of others feel the same. Keep Tassie green, fight the Gunns machine!

[EgoDiversion]

Stay Strong !

Keep Fighting !

[kurifuda]

Well done mates! if only ALL people could understand the importance of preserving our natural world. Some of my good freinds were arrested recently from protesting the destruction of unique forests of the eagle's bluffs here in British Columbia, Canada