Howard's Broken Promise

Community Walk-in the Upper Florentine, Southern Tasmania, Coupe 42F. 10th January 2007

Tasmania's Southern Forests
Still Wild Still Threatened

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 descending 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 ecologically 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 Huon Valley Environment Centre's website www.huon.org or
the Wilderness Society
www.wilderness.org.au

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• tasmania
• southern
• forests
• non
• violent
• direct
• action
• upper
• florentine
• still
• wild
• and
• threatened
• climate
• change

[noalternativecollect]

Brilliant video m8... keep it up... c ya soon

Direct Action Volunteer XXX