28.10.09 Two Conservationists Arrested in Tasmania’s Threatened Weld Valley

“Two conservationists were today arrested in Tasmania’s Weld Valley forests, after they took a non violent stand to call for their protection, by sitting atop cable logging machines. They were part of a team of conservationists who took action today to highlight the ongoing devastation in the Weld Valley,” Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber said.

“Forestry Tasmania institutes the ruthless policies of the State and Federal Labor Governments, which see the complete annihilation of large swathes of native forest in Tasmania like the wild forests of the Weld Valley. Today’s non violent action by conservationists was in the Barnback Creek catchment, an area of the Weld Valley where a number of 50ha coupes are being logged. Wildlife habitat, carbon rich forests and Tasmania’s wilderness heritage is being lost,” Jenny Weber said.

“Forestry Tasmania today released a report claiming they are stewards of the forests, they are transparent and engage in advertising spending to ensure they are transparent. Meanwhile in the Weld Valley, behind locked gates, with 24 hour security and large exclusion zones restricting the public in to state forests are instituted to protect the logging from scrutiny,” Jenny Weber said.

you can see a gallery slide show from the action here:
Cable Logger gallery