Media Release
25 January 2007

Action Highlights Government Hypocrisy on Climate Change
Forest Protection First Step to Reducing Emissions

National climate change network Beyond Zero Emissions, the Huon Valley Environment Centre and the Derwent Forest Alliance will conduct a peaceful action at DPIW's Hobart office today to highlight the Tasmanian Government's Draft Climate Change Strategy's failure to address the role of forest conservation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Thirty forest campaigners and community members will engage in colorful protest, with a submission writing workshop being held to encourage community members to take part in the process. Representatives of Beyond Zero Emissions, The Huon Valley Environment Centre and the Derwent Forest Alliance will enter submissions.

"The Tasmanian Draft Strategy is a disgrace. It fails to take the issue of reducing greenhouse gas emissions seriously," said Beyond Zero Emissions spokesperson Adrian Whitehead.

"It would seem that the the Government has deliberately left the issue of reducing emissions from logging old growth forests off the agenda. By failing to seek to reduce emissions, Tasmania is failing in its obligations to become part of the international movement to fight climate change," Mr Whitehead said.

"Land Use Change and Forestry is the largest contributer to greenhouse emissions in Tasmania. Logging and burning of pristine old growth and rain forest unlocks vast amounts of stored carbon. Yet this strategy sets no targets to reduce emissions" said Huon Valley Environment Centre spokesperson Will Mooney.

"A recent study from ANU has shown that rotational logging of old growth Eucalyptus Regnans forests reduces their value as a carbon store by two thirds," Mr Mooney said.

"The Government's Draft Climate Change Strategy recognises that intact native forests are invaluable carbon sinks. Yet, the strategy fails to provide any real initiatives to enhance carbon storage and reduce emissions by keeping more of our pristine old growth forests in the ground," Mr Mooney said.

"We are calling for the Lennon government to create a fair dinkum strategy, one that recognises that the protection of pristine old growth forests, such as the lower Weld and Upper Florentine valleys, is the best way Tasmania can honor our greenhouse responsibilities," Mr Mooney said.

Activists will be gathering at the Marine Board building at 10am and handing in submissions to DPIW on the fifth floor at 11. Press conference at 10.30 am.

Submissions to the Draft Climate Change Strategy close on the 31 January.
Please see attached media breifing for more information.

Contact: Will Mooney (Huon Valley Environment Centre)- 0423 146 923
Adrian Whitehead (Beyond Zero Emissions)- 0403 735 118