Direct Action in Tasmania's Southern Forests : Melbourne Indymedia

“Forestry Tasmania has expanded an illegal onslaught against wild forest containing threatened species habitat in the Lower Weld and Upper Florentine Valleys. Community activists have stopped logging in these World Heritage value forests today,” Huon Valley Environment Centre Jenny Weber said.

“For the past two years, activists have halted expansion into wilderness forests in the Weld Valley. This week Forestry Tasmania has commenced logging in two forest areas on both sides of the world-heritage valued valley. Forestry Tasmania has signalled its intention to ignore the ruling of the Federal court and the advice of numerous international and local experts,” Jenny Weber said.

“A tree sit in the Weld Valley, Coupe WR12C has today highlighted threats to an oldgrowth forest area within 200 metres of the World Heritage boundary in the South Weld. It is set to be cable logged. Across the Weld river, threatened forest in Coupe BBO21C contains habitat for endangered Wedge-Tailed Eagles, White Goshawks and the Mt Mangana Stag Beetle. Logging in the area has been stopped for 18 months by community blockades.”

“Meanwhile, a tree-sit has been suspended off logging machinery in Coupe FO42F in the Upper Florentine, with the World Heritage boundary less than two kilometres to the west and east,” Jenny Weber said.

”These actions are taking place on the eve of the arrival in Tasmania of the Director General of the World Heritage Centre. The Australian Government was asked by the World Heritage Bureau to prepare a report, by February 2007, responding to concerns raised by conservationists about threats to the Tasmanian World Heritage Area,” Jenny Weber said

"Ancient, tall forests directly adjacent to the WHA, such as the Upper Florentine and Lower Weld Valley, have been identified by international and local experts as being of World Heritage value in their own right.
With the Federal Government promising to protect these areas in the last election and now the Wielangta decision casting further doubt on the legality of logging, protection is long overdue,” said Still Wild Still Threatened campaigner Ula Majewski.