Media Release 28th Feb 2013 -The proposed ongoing logging of forests nominated for World Heritage listing has been revealed today in the Legislative Council by the Federal Environment Department, a matter of serious concern that provoked production of a special report by Huon Valley Environment Centre and others, followed by forest protest action last week. The officials disclosed that the State Government is seeking excisions from the nominated world heritage value forests so as to continue logging these areas, a completely unacceptable approach to fulfilling environmental obligations.

The Huon Valley Environment Centre also urged caution over claims by Ta Ann Tasmania that they have requested not to receive timber from the areas inside the world heritage nominated forests, saying that it is Forestry Tasmania who need to make an official announcement that they will not supply timber from the nominated world heritage forests to Ta Ann before anyone can have any confidence that this particular source of contentious wood will not enter Ta Ann’s wood supply.

Huon Valley Environment Centre’s spokesperson Jenny Weber said, “Ta Ann asserting that they won’t receive timber from the World Heritage nominated forests is one thing, but a commitment by Forestry Tasmania that they will not deliver wood from these coupes has not been officially announced. Until the guarantee that the timber from the proposed logging areas in the Huon district is given by Forestry Tasmania, the assertion by Ta Ann cannot be verified.”

“Previously Ta Ann has publicly complained that they have to take what Forestry Tasmania supplies and that they have not been able to prevail on them not to supply wood from proposed protected areas.”

“Huon Valley Environment Centre operates on information that is available on the public record.  It has been on the public record for more than a year that Ta Ann is the key driver of the logging inside the 572 000ha area proposed for protection by the Tasmanian Forest Agreement.  Huon Valley Environment Centre’s campaign has been based on official documents, but today under Parliamentary privilege a misguided attack on the Huon Valley Environment Centre implied we made up these claims and that Ta Ann was never the driver of this logging.”

The Independent Scheduler’s reports from October 2011 stated, Ta Ann was officially identified as the company whose wood supply requirements are driving the logging inside this area. [i]

Documents released on January 13 2012 regarding the scheduling for logging in contentious high conservation value coupes refer explicitly to the contract to supply Ta Ann, and state that, peeler billets is the limiting log product in the South and North West. They outline that: “Peeler Billets for Ta Ann is an important driver for the harvest schedule.”[ii]

Ta Ann has not bothered at any time in the last year to publicly correct the assertion that they are a key driver of proposed reserves logging, as outlined in the expert reports made to the signatories and governments.”

In the Huon district we report the logging that occurs in the forests, the threats to the forests from proposed logging, and we have consistently found Ta Ann as a key customer of the timber arising from forests with conservation values.  In the Picton Valley a coupe that is on the proposed list for ongoing logging, PC015B is targeted for Ta Ann despite its World Heritage significance. [iii]

Notes:

[i] Hoffmann,O. & Williams, D. (2011a) Report of independent expert schedulers appointed under the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement. 12 October 2011. http://www.environment.gov.au/land/forests/pubs/schedulers-report-12oct2011.pdf  & Hoffmann, O. & Williams, D. (2001b) Rescheduling Work – January and February 2012. 23 December 2011. As requested by the AustralianGovernment on 21 November 2011.

[ii] Report of Independent Expert Schedulers12th October 2011 p7, Supplementary Report November 2011, Rescheduling Work - January and February 2012, Report requested by The Australian Government.

[iii] Hoffmann & Williams, (2011a) Report of Independent expert schedulers appointed under the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement. 12th October 2011. http://www.environment.gov.au/land/forests/pubs/schedulers-report-12oct2011.pdf

Media Release: 21 Feb 2013: Today Still Wild Still Threatened has taken action at Butlers Gorge for the second day in a row. Yesterday protesters successfully halted logging operations in three separate logging coupes. Police arrested one protester yesterday afternoon and dismantled structures that blocked access to the logging road. This morning the logging is halted once again by a structure attached to a tree sit. One person is in the tree sit and 15 others are on the logging road.

“Conservationists are stopping logging for a second day today, because it is absolutely critical that the chainsaws stop in these World Heritage nominated forests” said Miranda Gibson, spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened.

“Three weeks ago when Minister Burke announced the outstanding universal values of these forests were worthy of World Heritage protection there should have been an immediate cessation of logging. This did not happen” said Ms Gibson.

“Stopping logging in World Heritage nominated forests should not be left up to the community. But unfortunately in the wake of Tony Burke’s deplorable neglect of these forests, conservationists have had to step in and hold the chainsaws at bay in order to try and protect very values for which these areas have been nominated” said Ms Gibson.

“As a conservationists, members of Still Wild Still Threatened cannot stand by and watch some of Tasmania’s most precious forests carted away on the back of log trucks at a time when they should have been safe. We will continue to take action to end the destruction in these World Heritage nominated forests” said Ms Gibson.

“The message is clear: Tony Burke, enough is enough. You’ve nominated these forests, now protect them” said Ms Gibson.

Media Release: 20th Feb 2013: Today conservationists from Still Wild Still Threatened have halted logging operations that are occurring within the World Heritage nominated forests of Butlers Gorge. There are 15 people on the logging road that leads to at least 3 current logging coupes. There is currently a structure blocking the road and two dedicated conservationist have put themselves in positions which may possibly lead to arrest, in order to halt logging.

“Today’s peaceful action is taking place to halt the destruction that the Australian Government should have stopped themselves upon nominating these forests for World Heritage to the IUCN. The government’s nomination is recognition of the outstanding ecological values of these forests, despite this they are neglecting their responsibility to protect the area. These forests are not safe” said Miranda Gibson, spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened.

“Right now logging is occurring in three separate coupes in Butlers Gorge. This logging must immediately stop. The damage being done in this globally significant forest is an international shame. To have the very heart ripped out of one of Tasmania’s most significant tracts of wilderness and tall eucalyptus forests, only months before a potential World Heritage listing is a tragedy” said Ms Gibson.

” There has been a global outcry resulting from the documentation of the ongoing logging. Since we released a report in conjunction with the Huon Valley Environment Center and Markets for Change last week, thousands of people have signed an online petition calling for an end to the destruction of these World Heritage nominated forests” said Ms Gibson.

“The Federal Government has the responsibility, as commanded by Article 4 of the World Heritage Convention (1972) that Australia is a signatory to, to identify, protect, conserve, present and transmit to future generations these globally significant forests” said Ms Gibson.

“It is blatant hypocrisy to nominate forests for World Heritage one week and log the same forests the next week.” said Ms Gibson.

“Still Wild Still Threatened will continue to stand up for the threatened forests of Butlers Gorge and other World Heritage nominated forests until they are securely protected. We are calling on the Australian Government to immediately end logging and ensure no new coupes are started within the nominated forests” said Ms Gibson

Media release 31st January 2013 - Huon Valley Environment Centre celebrates the nomination for World Heritage protection of the southern forests in Tasmania.

Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber spokesperson said, “Finally the world heritage values of the Weld, Picton, Middle Huon, Esperance and Far South Tasmania will be secured in protection.  After more than a decade of campaigning by the brave forest defenders from the Huon Valley Environment Centre in these threatened world heritage value forests, the day has come when their globally significant values will be safe.”

“Secure protection in the form of world heritage listing for these wild forests will be the greatest conservation gain that the Huon Valley Environment Centre has witnessed.  Our campaign for the past eleven years in the Huon forests, from the Weld Valley to the Far South has included lobbying for the protection of the world heritage values,” Jenny Weber said.

“In the Huon Valley, there is no current logging inside the nominated world heritage value forests and now these forests can be safe from any further environmental destruction,” Jenny Weber said.

Media release - 31st January 2013 - Conservationist Miranda Gibson today welcomes the announcement by Federal Minister Tony Burke that a nomination will be made to the World Heritage Committee to include forests such as the Tyenna where Ms Gibson is located in the Observer Tree. Ms Gibson now awaits confirmation that logging will cease in World Heritage nominated areas, in order to make a decision on whether to continue Australia’s longest running tree-sit.

“After decades of community campaigning drawing attention to the values of these world class forests, we have now achieved a significant milestone for the protection of Tasmania’s forests. Today’s announcement comes after many years of Still Wild Still Threatened and other grassroots community groups defending these forests, such as the Upper Florentine Valley, that are now on their way to protection” said Miranda Gibson.

“The international community has been calling for the protection of these globally significant forests for a long time. With a recent example of over 300 actions taking place across the globe in support of the Observer Tree last month. Today’s announcement will most certainly be welcome around the world” said Ms Gibson.

“This extension to the World Heritage boundary has been recommended by the World Heritage Committee itself several years ago, and Burke had a responsibility as Environment Minister to protect these forests, despite the stalled process of the Forest Agreement.” said Ms Gibson.

“The World Heritage nomination for these areas should signal their protection. Burke has now acknowledged their values and must honour this nomination by protecting those values. This could potentially be a moment at which I could get down from the tree and celebrate, if these forests now safe from logging. However, I need to be certain that this significant international commitment will honoured on the ground, by the immediate withdrawal of logging operations from within the nominated forests” said Ms Gibson.

” It is our expectation that any ongoing logging within the area will cease within the coming days and that obviously no new logging coupes will be started. I will be waiting until we can confirm the cessation of logging before making a decision on getting down from the tree ” said Ms Gibson.

Media Release 23 Jan 2013 - The Wilderness Society today announced they would be travelling to Japan in the coming week accompanied by staff of the controversial Sarawak timber company Ta Ann, to lobby customers and secure this timber company’s international markets.

Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber said, “Our forest advocacy organisation does not support the visit by The Wilderness Society to Japan to meet with Japanese customers of Ta Ann. This misguided delegation to Japan by The Wilderness Society is being undertaken without a stick of forest being protected in Tasmania and without any certainty that the Legislative Council will install industry reforms to move forestry in Tasmania away from a reliance on native forest destruction.” 

“Logging is still happening inside the proposed reserves and no new reserves have been created yet. Ta Ann’s Tasmanian product is still coming from proposed reserves where the forests have extraordinarily unique conservation values. This is not acceptable to the market.” Jenny Weber said.

“Environment groups providing environmental credentials for an industry who continues to provide a controversial wood product is not ok, while forests remain unprotected and logging continues unabated, this endorsement is putting the cart before the horse. The logical and reasonable approach in anyone’s book would be to provide a green tick to forestry in Tasmania once its practices have actually changed. This cannot happen while native forest is clear felled, biodiversity is lost and Sarawak timber mafias are driving the destruction,” Jenny Weber said.

“Our campaign has been to inform the Japanese customers of their controversial wood supply by Ta Ann and request Ta Ann and their Japanese customers to cease receiving timber from the destruction of Tasmania’s forests,” Jenny Weber said.

“Our opposition to this tour of environment groups endorsing Ta Ann, is about companies being rewarded for a legacy of environmental destruction and human rights violations overseas before there are any changes made by the company to halt their controversial practices,” Jenny Weber said.

Media Release 21 Jan 2013 - Tasmania’s grassroots forest organisations have spent a successful activist skillshare weekend in the threatened world heritage value Picton Valley. Through workshops, guest speakers, peddle powered film nights, activists have left the January Justice event with increased knowledge about the Tasmanian forests issue. 

Events continue this week with a visit to the ObserverTree planned for tomorrow and intensive workshops in Hobart in the coming days.

Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber said, “Sixty people participated in the intensive skillshare event, with key note speakers, Bob Brown, Roland Browne, Peg Putt and Alistair Graham giving perspectives on Tasmania’s forest issue.  Additional workshops provided by activists, ranged from conflict resolution, social media campaigning, transition out of native forest logging to understanding legal rights of activists and using fauna monitoring cameras,”

“People came from campaigns around Australia, James Price Point in Broome and East Gippsland Victoria and from around Tasmania to collaborate in learning about campaign tactics and non-violent action.” Jenny Weber said.

“Weeks of harassment by pro-logging people and threats to disrupt the event, failed to impact on the activist skillshare which was the most successful in it’s eight year history.  Tactics employed by the pro-logging people included threats of violence, someone impersonating a journalist interviewing me to seek details about the event,” Jenny Weber said.

“Our grassroots groups who collaborated to host the positive alliance building gathering have vowed to continue to organise for the protection of Tasmania’s native forests,” Jenny Weber said.

Media Release 21st Dec 2012 - Environment groups Huon Valley Environment Centre and Still Wild Still Threatened have called for an immediate and comprehensive moratorium on all forests nominated for protection, as the key driver of forest destruction Ta Ann has announced it would close over January.  The State Government could provide an immediate moratorium, with-out the business as usual logging that the failed moratoriums have had in the past.    

“A real moratorium on logging in the world heritage value and national heritage value forests will provide the necessary protection for these areas. If Ta Ann is scaling back operations for January, then the logging can be scaled back too,” Huon Valley Environment Centre’s spokesperson Jenny Weber said.

“Ta Ann’s announcements of a seven week shut down and an agreement to accept lower peeler log supply from public forest, means there is no reason for those forests nominated for future reserves to be lost to clear-felling this summer.  For this company to re-open in 2013 and continue to accept wood from verified national and world heritage value forest would fuel controversy in the international market and is unacceptable,” Miranda Gibson spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened said.

The organisations state their opposition to a premature environmental endorsement for Ta Ann in the markets.

“Ta Ann’s announcement that some environment groups will assist the company in January with a ‘market support program’, belittles the credibility of these environment groups and gives false certainty for the Japanese customers of Ta Ann. Premature endorsement for Ta Ann before secure protection of high conservation value forests is delivered is unacceptable.  Endorsement for Ta Ann in their markets by environment groups will be supporting a timber product that is tainted with the loss of globally significant forests, threatened species impacts and large scale clear-felling,” Jenny Weber said.

“Certainty for forest protection has not been provided, so the largest timber company in Tasmania that is the key driver of world heritage and national heritage forests should not be provided market security,” Jenny Weber said.

“Ta Ann has not yet proven that they will cease accepting wood from the controversial forests that are the concern of the international community and customers. The company cannot expect to gain environmental credibility internationally without making those changes. And the market support they intend to receive from some environment groups cannot be a replacement for making real change to their ongoing destructive practices” said Miranda Gibson,

Our organisations are concerned that there are a range of issues arising from Ta Ann in Tasmania that require closer scrutiny including taxpayer funding for a multi-million dollar company, and the intention of the company to maintain their timber supply at 265 000 cubic metres, with 140 000 cubic metres being provided by private land at the same time that a weakening of the forest practices code spells threats to biodiversity.   

“Ta Ann is set to be provided financial assistance by the State Government, with one example being a cheaper electricity deal. For tax-payer funds to support a multi-million dollar company, in a time when our community struggle with high power prices is an insult to the Tasmanian public,” said Jenny Weber

“Furthermore Federal tax-payer compensation for the company will be provided after their contracted wood supply could not be met by Forestry Tasmania; however Ta Ann is looking to make up the difference in their contracted wood supply from private land,” Jenny Weber said.

“Ta Ann stands to be the biggest winner out of the Tasmanian Forest Agreement, while the forests continue to be lost. Environment groups will give them a tick of approval despite the company being one of the most controversial companies to operate in Tasmania’s environmental landscape, while the tax-payer will prop up a multi-million dollar company,” Jenny Weber said.

“Tasmania has not yet seen one hectare of forest guaranteed secure protection through this forest agreement. Yet despite the uncertainty for the forests Ta Ann are being further propped up by the Government to continue operating in this state, without any evidence that they will cease accepting high conservation value forests,” Miranda Gibson said. 

“Ta Ann’s announcements highlight the complete hypocrisy of the forest agreement. While logging is set to continue business as usual in high conservation value forests, the industry are being supported to continue that destruction without a guarantee for the forests,” Miranda Gibson said.