Eight Arrested in Upper Florentine Valley, Tasmania : Melbourne Indymedia

Police today raided the camp of community forest protesters in the Upper Florentine. This move clears the way for Forestry Tasmania to begin work on a logging road that will access the old growth forests of the valley.

Approximately 40 police and forestry workers stormed the camp where community activists have been based since October 2006. Eight people have been arrested and a local campaigner was taken to hospital with injuries sustained from the extreme attempts to remove her from the area.

Heavy handed tactics were used, and it is alleged that a crow bar was employed against activists. “The tactics used to remove activists here today have been a breach of duty of care” says independent activist Kylie MacFarlane. The safety of the brave people using non violent direct action to make a last stand and create much needed awareness has been severely compromised”

Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski said “Forestry Tasmania are using tax payers’ dollars to open the Upper Florentine valley to industrial scale logging practices. The proposed devastation of ancient old growth forests and irreplaceable carbon sinks is completely unacceptable.”

In the lead up to the last federal election, John Howard promised protection for this area. This deal has been shamefully reneged upon. The legality of Forestry procedures is also questionable in light of the recent Federal Court decision regarding the Wielangta state forest.

“The operations being carried out in the Upper Florentine Valley are bordered on 3 sides by World Heritage Area. This area is home to several threatened species including the Tasmanian wedge-tail eagle. We are calling for an immediate halt to all work in the Upper Florentine region” says Kylie MacFarlane. “Changes to policies and infrastructure of the timber industry are necessary to create sustainability for the community, workers and the integrity of the environment.”