Category Archives: Media Releases
Australian tree sitting record broken today!
Today, Miranda Gibson breaks the Australian record for the longest tree sit. Miranda has remained at the top of a tree, 60 meters above the ground for 209 days, in protest of the ongoing logging of Tasmania’s high conservation value forests.
“I climbed to the top of this tree over six months ago and made the commitment to remain here until the forests are protected. Unfortunately these globally significant ecosystems have remained under threat and I have needed to maintain my vigil for 209 days” said Miranda Gibson.
“This is a significant milestone to reach, and this is now the longest running tree sit in Australian history. However, I sincerely hope for the sake of these high conservation value forests that protection is secured soon and I can come down from the tree” said Ms Gibson.
“The failure to stop the destruction of all the independently verified high conservation value forests and the continual delays in negotiations has caused enormous community concerns, raising question as to whether a resolution will be reached in the near future that secures real forest protection” said Ms Gibson.
“My presence is this tree has acted as a constant reminder for the past 209 days that verified world heritage and national heritage value forests are being lost, primarily due to Ta Ann’s wood supply specifications” said Ms Gibson.
“I have been in communication with the corporate customers of Ta Ann, to inform them of the conservation values of this forest and the need for Tasmania to move forward to a sustainable forest industry through the protection of high conservation value forests” said Ms Gibson.
“The Observer Tree has drawn international attention to the values of the forests that are currently threatened by logging. From the tree tops I have used http://www.observertree.org to connect to the world; updating a regular blog and conducting talks around the world via Skype.” said Ms Gibson.
“I am committed to staying at the top of this tree for as long as it takes to see Tasmania’s precious forests given the protection they deserve” said Ms Gibson.
Click HERE and take action for Tasmania’s forests now!
Media Alert: Tasmanian tree sit breaks Australian record tomorrow
Miranda Gibson in The Observer Tree: Photo by Paul Hoelen
Tomorrow, conservationist Miranda Gibson will break the Australian record for the longest time spent continuously in a tree sit. Miranda, spokesperson for grassroots group Still Wild Still Threatened, has been perched at the top of a eucalypt tree in Tasmania since December 14th 2011, in an area of forest under threat from logging.
Miranda is set to break the record tomorrow when she reaches 209 days atop the platform known as The Observer Tree. The previous record holder was Manfred Stephens, who spent 208 days in a tree sit near Cairns in 1995.
This milestone comes at a time when environment and industry groups are in their last weeks of negotiation, with a final chance to seal a deal for forest protection under the Intergovernmental Agreement by July 23rd 2012.
Media Release: Expiration of forests moratorium gives opportunity for more comprehensive interim protection of Tasmania’s forgotten forests
The imminent expiry on June 30th of the current ‘Conservation Agreement’ that applied a limited moratorium on logging high conservation value forests means that a new, more comprehensive Conservation Agreement is urgently needed that covers all Tasmania’s high conservation value forests.
Markets for Change, The Last Stand, Huon Valley Environment Centre and Still Wild Still Threatened are calling on the Federal Government to adhere to the precautionary principle and implement an immediate moratorium on the full 563,000 ha of forests that have been verified as having high conservation values in Tasmania since the original, limited agreement was applied. The opportunity should be taken to ensure that values are not lost to ongoing logging and road-building operations in forests that are currently the subject of negotiations for their permanent protection.
There have always been two problems with the incomplete nature of the current logging moratorium, which prompted international markets action:
- The IGA only ever proposed that 430,000ha of the ENGOs conservation claim of 572,000ha be subject to a moratorium, leaving 142,000ha of equally important forests to bear the brunt of destruction by ongoing forestry operations. Independent Verification Reports have now confirmed that “The majority of ENGO proposed reserves meet one or more National or World Heritage criteria” and “the ENGO proposed reserves represent the last chance to address and protect many natural heritage values on forested public land.”*
- The Conservation Agreement imposed on January 13th didn’t even cover the 430,000 hectares in its entirety as promised in the IGA, instead allowing logging and road-building in 43 coupes of high conservation value.
“The Federal Government should act to provide for new and improved protection measures over Tasmania’s forests when the current Conservation Agreement expires at midnight on 30th June. We are advocating for a better conservation agreement so that forests under negotiation for protection are not destroyed now whilst their potential reservation is being discussed,” The Last Stand’s Campaign Manager Ula Majewski said.
“The failure to properly impose interim protection on vital areas of forest was directly due to Ta Ann’s wood supply requirements, according to official documents, and so we ramped up our international markets campaign in an effort to get the company to source its wood outside these places,” Markets for Change spokesperson Peg Putt said. “Here is the opportunity to get it right.”
“World heritage value forests in Butlers Gorge, the Picton Valley and elsewhere have been lost during the period of the last Conservation Agreement due to ongoing logging destruction, even though the IGA promised they would be off limits. Across Tasmania there are also important forest ecosystems that can still be protected from logging, which were left out of the previously inadequate Conservation Agreement and are still intact. Sadly these forests remain imminently under threat from proposed logging. These verified forests should now all be off limits whilst future reserves are finalised in the negotiations,” Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber said.
“Our scouting shows that approximately half of the 43 coupes exempted to allow logging inside the moratorium area have been subject to forestry operations, but the rest remain intact. Logging operations need to be kept out of all the critical forests. We are going to continue to fight for these forests’ protection. If a comprehensive Conservation Agreement is not implemented the forest I have been living in for over 6 months will remain under the threat of imminent destruction,” Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Miranda Gibson said from the Observer Tree, which is located in one of the 43 exempt logging coupes that was targeted to supply Ta Ann.
Miranda’s Daily Blog: Day 170
I went to sleep lying in my swag, out on the deck beneath a sky full of stars, the moon throwing light across the mountains. I was going to write a blog, but the last thing I wanted was to be staring into the unnatural glow of the laptop, not on such a nice night. It’s become pretty rare, these days, to have such clear nights, and I wanted to soak it up while it lasted. Sleeping out on the deck is amazing, especially with my swag right near the edge of the platform, so it feels as though I am floating above the forest as I look out over the tree tops I thought of the possibility having to get up in the middle of the night and move in under the tarp, but it seemed worth the risk. In Summer I spent so many nights outside, and it reminds me of those days (wow, I’ve been up here long enough to feel nostalgic about the early days of my time in the tree!). Amazingly the night stayed clear and I awoke in the morning to an incredible sight. Above me stars were still twinkling as the sun began to make its first impression on the landscape. A thin glow of daylight began to creep into the sky above the dark silhouettes of mountains. Slowly as the glow brightened, the stars got fewer and fewer. Until it was only the final determined few who clung onto the night for as long as possible, before eventually giving their light away to the sunshine. It was one of those perfect sunrises… well, they all are so amazing up here! I could hear the birds up and about, making the most of the day already, as my tree began to glow with golden light.
And what followed was another perfectly sunny day. I couldn’t believe it. It was like summer had come back. I didnt’ even need to wear a jumper. But it’s hectic too… because like the birds that are madly flying around, I’m busily doing all the things that are best done on a sunny day… airing out my bedding, washing my clothes, etc.
It’s been a marvelous few days of sunny days and clear nights. Again tonight the moon is so bright I hardly need my torch to see my way around the platform. And although there are a few clouds, some stars have managed to find their way through. On nights like this I look out across the quiet forest around me and feel a sense of awe. I also feel a sense of sadness that this area is still open to logging, that could start at any time. Today’s announcement that the talks have still not come to any resolutions means that the forests are still at risk. In response to this announcement my organisation Still Wild Still Threatened along with the Huon Valley Environment Center, The Last Stand and Markets for Change issued the following statement:
MINISTER GREEN & FORESTRY TASMANIA MUST CEASE PROVOCATIVE ACTS
The Tasmanian government and Forestry Tasmania need to back off from the provocative acts they have taken in the last week which have been undermining the Tasmanian forest peace process, Markets for Change, the Huon Valley Environment Centre, The Last Stand, and Still Wild Still Threatened said today in response to a statement from the negotiators calling for more time and space to reach agreement.
“We suspended new overseas market initiatives and protests a fortnight ago as a gesture of encouragement after the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania finally agreed to sit down and talk, but Minister Bryan Green in particular has indulged in a series of provocations,” said Peg Putt of Markets for Change.
“He has announced a trial shipment of blackwood to China in order to eventually establish a new processing venture based on this rainforest species, thus assuming and setting up for entrenched logging in sensitive forests at increased volumes. This cannot be reconciled with the intention of the talks to reserve substantial new areas and decrease volumes of native forest logging with a transition to plantations.”
“The Minister followed with an even more inflammatory action giving the go-ahead for Tarkine mining, a move designed to rebuff effective reserve creation.”
“There is increasing urgency that these talks get to the point of reserving forests and reworking wood supply and we are not going to sit on the sidelines for months whilst the forests in question continue to fall,” Ms Putt said.
“We appreciate that the issues are complex, but we are also increasingly concerned that the pressing nature of the conservation claim is not being acknowledged by restraint on logging destruction of the areas,” said Miranda Gibson of Still Wild Still Threatened from the Observer Tree in a threatened forest coupe.
“It was devastating to hear on Monday that, although the signatories agreed to no new contracts, Forestry Tasmania have in fact signed up 22 logging contracts in the past year, eleven of which are completely new ones, and all obviously designed to nullify forest protection,” Ms Gibson said.
“We will maintain a close watching brief for the moment, but are exceedingly concerned that the longer the negotiations are drawn out the more magnificent forests we lose to the chainsaw,” said Jenny Weber of the Huon Valley Environment Centre.
“We are waiting with high anxiety for some demonstration of the good faith that is claimed to exist,” Ula Majewski of The Last Stand concluded.
Media Release: Tasmania’s forest groups looking for swift resolution and forest protection
Grassroots environment groups will take a watching brief over the next fortnight of forest talks in Tasmania, after today’s announcement that Forest Industries Association of Tasmania (FIAT) will return to the table for negotiations. Huon Valley Environment Centre, Still Wild Still Threatened and Code Green remind people today that unique forests are still being destroyed.
“While verified world-heritage value forests disappear and critical endangered species habitat vanishes, the native forest logging industry lingers in an irreversible decline. Immediate protection of 572 000ha of native forest, and a transition out of industrial scale native forest logging, is the only solution for the environment and the industry,” said Ms. Weber spokesperson for Huon Valley Environment Centre.
“FIAT has been holding back these talks over the future of forest protection in Tasmania. The negotiations have been stalled while FIAT remained outside the process and continued to level false accusations at community groups highlighting environmental concerns. We recognise the positive gesture by FIAT to proactively engage in securing a protection outcome,” Jenny Weber said.
“Tasmania’s native forests and wildlife are unique icons that draw international attention. To squander assets of such immeasurable value is to fuel the downward spiral in the current native forest industry. Protection of the verified 572 000ha of high conservation value forest and a transition to an ethical and sustainable industry is the way forward to securing stability in international markets,” said Miranda Gibson of Still Wild Still Threatened.
“We would like to remind everyone that while the negotiations occur the logging of world heritage value and unique native forests is continuing. A resolution is needed within a strict timeframe so the ongoing logging in these precious ecosystems ceases. I will continue to occupy this mature eucalypt tree, known as the ObserverTree, in these threatened forests until protection is secure,” Miranda Gibson said.
“These are iconic world heritage value forests in Tasmania and now it’s time for their legislated protection. This is a crucial moment for the Intergovernmental Agreement which could result in these globally significant forests being given the protection they deserve.” said Jared Irwin of CODE GREEN.
Media Release: Devils demand den protection
Four conservationists have been arrested today at Forestry Tasmania’s Hobart headquarters. An alliance of forest groups including Still Wild Still Threatened, Huon Valley Environment Centre and Code Green conducted a “sit in” dressed as Tasmanian devils. The “devils” occupied the atrium of the Forestry Tasmania building and refused to leave. Four demonstrators were arrested and charged with committing a Trespass. They have subsequently been released on bail.
Today’s action highlights community concerns surrounding recent findings of a healthy juvenile devil in an area scheduled for logging, in the forest of the Tyenna Valley, surrounding The Observer Tree. Miranda Gibson, permanent resident of The Observer Tree platform for the past four months, released footage of the young devil on Monday
“This footage is evidence of the existence of devil dens in the area. In December Still Wild Still Threatened released footage of a mother devil in the same location. Had logging proceeded in this area over summer, the maternal den site would have been disturbed and this young devil may not have survived. This highlights the importance of protecting these forests for the future survival of this species” said Ms Gibson
“Maternal dens are used from generation to generation. It is likely that this young devil may raise young in the same area. With these findings it is now more critical than ever that these high conservation value forests are formally protected” said Ms Gibson.
“Tasmanians are calling for greater protection for Tasmania’s most iconic species. The Tasmanian devil and other endemic species are at risk of extinction due to rapid decreases in population and secure undisturbed habitat. The community is demanding Forestry Tasmania and the State Government install immediate measures to ensure the restoration and protection of habitat for our unique species. Protection of the 572,000ha of native forests, over half of which were identified by the government’s experts as key habitat for the Tasmanian Devil, is the obvious first step to take.” said spokesperson for today’s action Ali Alishah (Still Wild Still Threatened).
Media Release: Observer Tree exposes baby devils in area threatened by logging
Miranda Gibson, Tasmania’s long-time treesitter in The Observer Tree has today released footage of a baby devil in the threatened forest that Gibson is living in.
New footage captured in the forest surrounding The Observer Tree shows a healthy juvenile Tasmanian devil. Still Wild Still Threatened conservationists have been monitoring this area of forest for the past six months and in December 2011 captured footage of a devil believed to be taking food back to young in the den. The new footage reveals a young devil that is of right age to be the offspring.
Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Miranda Gibson has been at the top of a tree watching over this area of threatened forest for the past four months.
“It is a significant find to see young healthy devils in this forest, adding to the already clear evidence that these areas need protection. Tragically we are losing this species to a rapacious disease (DFTD) yet everyday habitat and maternal dens are being destroyed by ongoing logging ” said Ms Gibson.
“It is not clear what happens to mothers and their young devils when maternal dens are destroyed by logging and heavy machinery. If logging had proceeded in this area, this young devil may have been trapped and died in it’s den. The habitat of the young dispersing devil is still under threat from logging, despite the area being verified as having world heritage values by the Government’s commissioned independent report by Jonathon West.” said Ms Gibson.
“The Jonathon West report showed that more than half of the proposed forest reserves are high priority for the protection of Tasmanian devils. Immediate and full legislated protection is required for these world heritage value forests and to ensure the protection of den sites which are passed on between generations of Tasmanian devils ” said Ms Gibson.
Still Wild Still Threatened releases this footage today coinciding with an International Day of Action for Occupy the Trees. An alliance of forest groups including Still Wild Still Threatened, Huon Valley Environment Centre and Code Green will join forest advocacy groups in the USA and conduct a calendar of events this week to highlight the destruction of wild places around the world and the irreversible impacts of climate change.
Media Update: RESPONSE TO INTRANSIGENCE OF THE TASMANIAN FOREST INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
The ‘olive branch’ groups say their genuine offer to smooth the way for the forest industry to return to forest peace talks remains on the table despite its rejection by the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania (FIAT).
Whilst disappointed by the forest industry position, the groups point out that the Tasmanian government holds the key to ensuring a moratorium on logging high conservation value forests, in return for which they offer to suspend market action in Japan.
“Our offer is genuine and remains on the table despite the forest industry’s very disappointing outright rejection, as ultimately the power to impose a logging moratorium to try and get things on track lies with the Tasmanian government,” said Peg Putt for Markets for Change.
“We sent a letter to the government formally outlining our offer and have had an acknowledgment of receipt of the letter.”
“Just as FIAT has been in communication with Ta Ann customer companies in recent days so have we, providing an update on the independent verification group’s expert reports and on our offer of a market moratorium for a forests moratorium. We do not accept that our international or domestic communications should be censored whilst other forest industry stakeholders remain free to say and do whatever they please.”
“Consumers these days are concerned to know about the environmental impacts of the products they buy and want assurance that it is really eco-friendly when advertised as such, not misleading advertising like that in Japan that wrongly describes Ta Ann Tasmania’s plywood flooring range as plantation grown,” said Jenny Weber of the Huon Valley Environment Centre.
“It is not reasonable to expect that devastation of verified high conservation value forest is not restrained but that campaigns in defence of the forests are scuttled. That is a one-sided recipe without any element of compromise.”
Still Wild Still Threatened, Huon Valley Environment Centre, Markets for Change and The Last Stand.
Media Release: NEW FOREST SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE MAKES CASE FOR MORATORIUM
The full cycle of logging incursions inside Tasmania’s verified, but unprotected, high conservation value forests has been captured in eye-opening new surveillance aerial footage filmed yesterday, which reinforces the case and urgency for an immediate moratorium on logging activity.
These four environment groups have offered an olive branch comprising a suspension of their market action in Japan for one month on the condition that a moratorium is imposed over the 572,000 hectares under discussion for potential future reservation, whilst forest talks take place.
“We are yet to receive a response on the offer we made to government and the industry, and in the meantime we have gained spectacular new footage showing forests inside the 572 000ha that are being logged, roaded and burnt right now,” said Jenny Weber of Huon Valley Environment Centre.
“The cycle of forest destruction in Tasmania stems from the roads pushed in to pristine forest, large scale industrial logging operations and high intensity burning. The outstanding values of the forests are completely destroyed and we are losing significant tracts of world-class forests every single day.”
“At a time when the focus should be on moving out and moving on, Forestry Tasmania is instead bulldozing new logging roads deep into wilderness of global significance and logging verified World Heritage forests. Make no mistake, this is strategic destruction and must be reined in,” Ms Weber said.
“The rapid devastation that is occurring in Butlers Gorge is seeing their unique ecosystems lost by ongoing logging operations. This area has been identified by the West report as one of the most significant tracts of Tasmania’s tall eucalpyt forests. The wilderness values of these forests are indicated as a key reason for the recommendation of adding them to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area,” said Miranda Gibson of Still Wild Still Threatened from the Observer Tree.
“Apocalyptic vision of the Forestry Tasmania regeneration burn in the Plenty Valley taken during our surveillance flight shows the unacceptable practice that blanketed The Channel in smoke yesterday. We filmed the aftermath of such fires inside the high conservation value area,” said Ula Majewski of The Last Stand.
“Regarding our olive branch offer, we have delivered a formal letter to government and await their response,” said Peg Putt, representing Markets for Change.
“We reiterate that our offer of a moratorium on market action is conditional on not continuing to log the forests under discussion for protection. Forestry Tasmania’s blatant attack on forests of the highest value which we have revealed, and their refusal to consider moving out, is a serious problem,” Ms Putt concluded.
Media Release – 2nd April 2012: Olive branch offered on Ta Ann markets campaign
Environment groups have offered to suspend their markets campaign in Japan for one month while forest peace talks proceed, on the condition that logging ceases in the 572,000 ha of verified high conservation value forests whilst negotiations about protecting them take place.
“It’s a moratorium for a moratorium,” said Peg Putt of Markets for Change.
“Logging the forests that are the subject of discussions about their protection cannot be justified. Wood should be sourced from the remaining million hectares of native forest outside of the area subject to reserve claims, whilst an agreement is hammered out around reserve creation and forest industry restructure.
“We began our campaign with Japanese customers of Ta Ann because the promised moratorium on logging was not implemented and Ta Ann’s wood supply was officially identified as the key driver of logging within this area.”
“If logging ceases inside the verified 572 000ha, we will give the talks an opportunity to reach an agreement to protect Tasmania’s globally significant forests,” said Jenny Weber of the Huon Valley Environment Centre.
“The West report provides overwhelming evidence for protection of these forests. The damage that has been done from years of over-cutting the forests means that the conservation of the threatened intact forests is at the edge of a cliff. It is a critical time for these forests to be protected for world heritage, national heritage, carbon storage and species protection values,” Ms Weber continued.
Miranda Gibson of Still Wild Still Threatened, who has now spent 110 days perched in her tree sit 60 metres up the ObserverTree, has also been coordinating messages to Japan. Her tree top eyrie is located in one of the logging coupes under imminent threat inside the verified high conservation value forests.
“I will support the conditional moratorium on the markets campaign in Japan. Meanwhile, however, I will remain in the Observer Tree to bear witness and await a final outcome. I am keeping the Tasmanian devils and wedge-tailed eagles company whilst they wait for their homes to be secured. It is vital that during this period we continue with informative and educational campaigns,” Miranda Gibson said.
“We will advocate other vitally important things that must come out of an agreement, in particular that the improvements to the Forest Practices Code are fully applied, to ensure that areas outside the 572,000 hectares subject to continued logging when negotiations are resolved will be treated in an environmentally responsible manner, and not suffer the brunt of dramatically intensified logging.”
The groups all reject calls made by the forest industry (through FIAT) to constrain the right to freedom of speech, the right to association and the right to non-violent protest.
“We absolutely reject the call for draconian anti-protest laws, which would undermine the basic principles of our democracy. We intend to continue domestic campaigns to build awareness and public pressure on delivering protection for these magnificent threatened forests,” said Ula Majewski of The Last Stand.
“A long lasting outcome cannot be achieved by imposing curbs on democratic freedoms,” concluded Ms Majewski.
T h e O b s e r v e r T r e e 