Category Archives: Media Releases
Media Release: Jan 13th 2012
Tree-sitter vows to remain in tree as government locks in logging of high conservation value forests.
Today’s announcement of a so-called “conservation agreement” by the Tasmanian and Australian Governments that leaves out key areas of high conservation value forest, allowing continued destruction rather than offering protection for these areas. Conservationist Miranda Gibson, who has been sitting in a tree for over four weeks, vows to remain in her tree top perch until the area is protected.
“This forest that I’m sitting in was promised immediate protection as part of the 430,000 hectares ear-marked for future reserves. The Gillard Government today is breaching the agreement that was signed in August in order to lock out the Observer Tree forest and other high conservation value areas from the so-called conservation agreement” said Ms Gibson.
“I have been sitting in this tree for over four weeks, waiting for Julia Gillard to take action to protect this area as she promised. Time is running out with logging due to begin again on Monday. Today’s announcement has seen the Australian Government back flip on the original promise, as this ‘conservation’ agreement confirms that logging will be allowed to continue in this world-class forest” said Ms Gibson.
“This agreement has only strengthened my resolve. I am absolutely committed to remaining at the top of this tree until the forest receives a real conservation outcome and Tasmania’s globally recognised forests receive the long overdue protection that they deserve” said Ms Gibson
Media Release: 11-01-12
Conservationist has spent four weeks in tree-sit while PM fails to keep forest promise.
Today marks four weeks since conservationist Miranda Gibson set foot on the ground. Miranda Gibson, spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened, has spent the past four weeks 60 meters above the ground in the upper canopy of Mount Mueller’s forests, in Southern Tasmania. Miranda has vowed to remain at the top of the tree until Prime Minister Julia Gillard honours her word to protect the area in a conservation agreement.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be in Tasmania this coming weekend and Miranda Gibson has written to personally invite her to visit The Observer Tree.
“This morning I have written to the Prime Minister, inviting her to come and see for herself this forest that she promised to protect. This area has become known as “Julia’s Forest” in recognition of the role that Julia Gillard plays in the fate of these trees. The decision is in her hands, to keep her word and protect this forest, or to leave as her legacy a clear-fell and a failed promise” said Ms Gibson.
“I have been at the top of this tree for four weeks now. I am committed to remaining up here to watch over this forest, because the government has failed to do so itself. Logging is due to begin again next Monday. For this reason the Prime Minister’s visit is very timely. This is an opportunity for Julia Gillard to step in and halt any further destruction of the 430,000 hectares of forest that she promised would receive an immediate conservation agreement” said Ms Gibson.
“The Prime Minister’s failure to protect these forests places into question the very integrity of our democracy if the leader of our country can sign a document and then fail to deliver on that agreement” said Ms Gibson.
(Photo by Alan Lesheim)
Media Release: Tree top cheer as Santa Claus visits The Observer Tree
Forest conservationist Miranda Gibson was overjoyed this morning by a surprise visit from Santa Claus to her tree-top platform in Tasmanian’s southern forests. Today is Ms Gibson’s tenth day in The Observer Tree, where she is remaining to watch over the forest around her which remains under threat from logging. Mr Claus brought gifts and messages of support from the community. They shared a picnic lunch complete with Mrs Claus’s homemade plum pudding.
“Today’s visit from Santa was a great surprise” said Ms Gibson. “I have made a commitment to stay up in this tree to watch over this forest and to hold Julia Gillard accountable to the promise she made to protect this area. However, it is hard to be away from my family and friends at Christmas. It’s nice to know that Santa has paid me a special visit to wish me luck with the campaign.”
“I have asked Santa for a special gift this year – the protection of Tasmania’s ancient forests as was promised by Julia Gillard earlier this year. He said that although he can’t promise anything, he will try his best” said Ms Gibson.
“I have travelled all around the globe and these forests here in Tasmania are world-class. I am very disappointed in Julia Gillard’s behaviour this year. The destruction of this unique ecosystem is an international disgrace. These are the most precious gifts we have on earth and we need to take care of them for the children of the next generation” said Mr Claus.
Media Release: 22/12/2011: Still Wild Still Threatened welcomes UK boycott of Ta Ann’s forest destruction.
Today the good news was announced that UK company International Plywood has made a decision to suspend purchasing wood products from Ta Ann Tasmania. This was the result of a visit from representatives of Markets for Change and the Huon Valley Environment Center, who showed evidence of Ta Ann’s destruction of high conservation value forests in Tasmania.
“International Ply’s decision is a great victory for the forests of Tasmania. It is a real indication that people across the world are committed to purchasing wood products that are truly sustainable and do not come from the decimation of world-class native forests” Said Miranda Gibson, spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened.
“Today is my ninth day living 60 meters up in this giant tree in the middle of a forest that should be protected, but is being allowed to be logged to provide wood to Ta Ann. This tree sit – The ObserverTree- has begun to receive global attention. This growing international support is reflected in today’s announcement. Customers and businesses around the world do not want to buy wood from Tasmania’s irreplaceable forests” said Ms Gibson.
“The Prime Minister has failed to honor her promise to protect these world-class forests and destructive logging operations continue in order to supply Ta Ann. Now it is time for Julia Gillard to step in line with the rest of the world and protect Tasmania’s high conservation value forests” said Ms Gibson.
Check out Markets For Change report: Team USA training on Tamanian forest destruction.
Read more in the ABC online news article by Conor Duffey.
For more information on Ta Ann also check out this report by the Huon Valley Environment Center: Behind the Veneer- Ta Ann Tasmania’s lies.
Tree sitter calls on government to act on rescheduler’s report and deliver conservation agreement
Media Release: 19/12/2011
Tasmanian forest activist Miranda Gibson has called for the Tasmanian and Commonwealth governments to take urgent action after the release of an Independent Expert Schedulers report into the logging of forests within 430,000 hectares earmarked for immediate protection.
Tasmaian Senator Richard Colbeck today released the report which indicates that Forestry Tasmania intend to log at least 34 coupes within the 430,000 hectares of high conservation value forest that Julia Gillard promised would be immediately protected.
‘It is now crucial for the Federal and State Governments to honour their own commitment and provide compensation in order to save these thousands of hectares of forest from immanent destruction,’ treesitter and Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson, Miranda Gibson said.
‘Forestry Tasmania can no longer hide their logging behind the excuse of contractual obligations. Clause 27 of the Intergovernmental Agreement states unequivocally that 430,000 hectares of identified high conservaton value forests must be immediately protected and that any contracts unable to be met from outside this area, such as those listed in this report, must instead be compenstated’ Miranda Gibson said.
‘Pro-logging interests are seeking to manipulate the findings of this report to undermine the agreement, yet they have the gall to attack environmental campaigners who are simply asking the Government honor its own word,’ Miranda Gibson said.
“Today is my sixth day living in a tree-site in the middle of a logging coupe that slated for immanent logging. Through my daily blog, I have been able to show the world not only the conservation value of this unique forest but also the devastating impact of logging that is occurring. The irreparable damage being done to this area of forest is completely unacceptable and a breach of the IGA” said Ms Gibson.
ObserverTree Launched Today!
Still Wild Still Threatened activists will launch a new tool in the fight to protect Tasmania’s forests today, unveiling the ObserverTree, a 17-storey high tree sit and media centre equipped with the technology to record footage of logging operations and stream these images live to the world via the internet.
The ObserverTree is located in logging coupe TN044B, below Mt Mueller, in Tasmania’s western wilderness, part of the 430,000 ha of forest that was supposed to receive ‘immediate protection’ under the federal-state agreement on forests (‘the IGA’). Logging in TN044B commenced this Monday.
Teacher, author and forest activist Miranda Gibson has vowed to occupy the tree-platform continuously, until real protection is secured for Tasmania’s forests. Ms Gibson will maintain a daily blog and upload video updates during her stay in the tree, documenting the struggle to protect Tasmania’s forests to concerned people all over the globe.
‘In August, Julia Gillard promised ‘immediate protection’ for 430,000 hectares of high conservation value forest in Tasmania and promised compensation to affected contract holders. Yet Forestry Tasmania is blatantly disregarding the Prime Minister’s direction by persisting with destructive logging and roadbuilding within the nominated area,’ said Ms Gibson.
‘We have used the internet to connect this spectacular patch of threatened Tasmanian forest to the world. The ObserverTree will transmit images and information about the value of the thousands of hectares of forest that remain threatened if Julia Gillard does not keep her word. People across Australia and the globe will have the opportunity to view bear witness to the wasteful destruction of these forests and hear from the people fighting to protect them,’ said Ms Gibson.
T h e O b s e r v e r T r e e 