25.07.11 Labor Deal fails Tasmania's forests

The State and Federal Labor government have failed the forests again, with another pay out to the loggers and a poor attempt at conservation outcomes. Huon Valley Environment Centre vows to continue to highlight the ongoing deforestation of Tasmania's southern forests.

“Yesterday's Heads of Agreement gives security to a long term contract to native forests with Malaysian timber company, Ta Ann. It fails to give immediate protection for high conservation value forests, protection that is long overdue. It entrenches logging of native forests and there is no clear commitment to a full transition out of these rich carbon stores and wildlife habitats in Tasmania,” said Ms Weber.

“The immediate moratorium on high conservation value forests has failed to be implemented, and now logging will continue in the high conservation value forests for another six months before verification of boundaries is final. 430 000ha in informal reserves falls short of the full 575000 ha that has been identified as being high conservation value forests over decades, by environment groups,
scientists and the government's own expert bodies,” said Ms Weber.

“Tasmania was assured that the statement of principles would deliver immediate protection for ENGO's identified 575 000ha, and now under this agreement sadly the impacts of deforestation and large scale land clearing on Tasmania's southern forests will continue” said Ms Weber.

Huon Valley Environment Centre is a independent environmental organisation, and we will continue to
protest in the defence of the native forests of southern Tasmania as long as they remain threatened .