MEDIA RELEASE

1st February 2006

WORLD HERITAGE AREA UNDER THREAT
CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT LOWER WELD VALLEY EXPANDS

Community Activists have today expanded their campaign to protect high conservation value forests in the Lower Weld Valley, Southern Tasmania.

Community Activists have set up a tree sit on an access road to a proposed logging coupe adjacent to the Tasmanian World Heritage Area, on the western side of the Lower Weld Valley.

"Today we have established a tree sit that will prevent logging machinery from accessing high conservation value forest. The proposed logging aims to clearfell right up to the border of the South West National Park. We have grave concerns Tthat destruction of this magnificent forest will directly effect the world heritage values of the area," Spokesperson Jess McLachlan said.

"People can stand with one foot in the Tasmanian World Heritage Area and with one foot in the proposed logging coupe."

"In past year, Forestry Tasmania regeneration burns have escaped their prescribed limits and come within 200 metres of the World Heritage boundary. Direct damage to the World Heritage area is likely unless logging plans are changed," Spokesperson Jess McLachlan said.

Community Activists have been camping in threatened forest in the Lower Weld Valley for four months. The new tree sit will allow tourists in cars and beekeepers to pass through, however logging machinery and logging trucks will be halted.

"We are calling for an immediate moratorium on all logging in World Heritage nominated forests. These high conservation value forests which are directly adjacent to the Tasmanian World Heritage Area deserve better than to be clearfelled and fed to the woodchipper," Huon Valley Environment Centre Spokesperson Jenny Weber said.

Contact
Jess McLachlan 0420 100 550
Jenny Weber 0427 366 929