MEDIA RELEASE

12 October 2006
Ancient Leatherwood destruction halted in Tasmania's Southern Forests

Cable logging of ancient, leatherwood-rich forest in Southern Tasmania's
Arve Valley has been halted today. Community activists have staged a
community walk in to coupe AR34C. Activists conducted an independent
audit of operations, to highlight the ongoing destruction of Southern
Tasmania's old-growth forests and dwindling leatherwood resource.

"Members of the community were shocked by the steep cable logging
operation, large leatherwoods in reserve areas were found knocked over
by large eucalypts. Work was halted for a short time, whilst activists
documented the current destruction of ancient forest," Huon Valley
Environment Centre spokesperson Jenny Weber said.

"This high-conservation-value forest is just 3km from the popular Big
Tree reserve, on the route to the Tahune Airwalk. Cable logging of this
area for woodchips is an example of Forestry Tasmania's contempt for the
future of the state's iconic tall-forests, the local community,
beekeepers and tourism," said spokesperson Jenny Weber.

"Ancient leatherwood in this forest were vital to the survival of the
beekeeping industry. Local beekeepers working with Save your Leatherwood
Honey Inc have indicated their concern that this coupe is being
clearfelled despite commitments from Forestry Tasmania to defer logging
in leatherwood rich forests," Jenny Weber said.

"It is absurd that taxpayer's money from the Lennon-Howard forest deal
is being allocated to drive new roads into pristine wilderness forests
like the Weld Valley, under the guise of providing access to leatherwood
and special species, whilst cable logging and clearfelling of existing
accessible leatherwood resources continues" Jenny Weber said.

"The Tasmanian Government and Federal Forestry Minister Eric Abetz are
showing no concern for the future of the iconic Tasmanian leatherwood
honey industry. The Howard-Lennon forest deal has doomed these unique
old-growth forests to the woodchipper. " Jenny Weber said.

"The Huon Valley Environment Centre calls on state and federal
authorities to heed community and honey industry concerns and reserve
all remaining leatherwood in this coupe. We call on the Lennon
Government to halt the construction of new roads into areas of pristine
wilderness forests." Jenny Weber said.

Contact

Jenny Weber