‘A forest a day’ project compiled in new report!
There has been continuous logging in forests across Tasmania that were earmarked for protection and which have been independently verified as being of world heritage or national heritage value, despite promises of a comprehensive moratorium on logging these high conservation value forests whilst their long term future is negotiated.
During July, we launched a new online project on www.taann.net and www.observertree.org called ‘A forest a day’. This important project showcases some of Tasmania’s most significant forested ecosystems, and documents their ongoing destruction. Throughout July, a new area of forest on the current logging schedule was profiled each day. These forests are under imminent threat or had been logged in the period of time when they should have been under a moratorium. We’ve compiled the online project into a report, which you can download HERE (for screen viewing) or HERE (for printing).
Forests whose future protection has been under discussion have been falling to the chainsaw because of the influence of the forestry industry and the failure of decision makers to restrain Forestry Tasmania. Forestry Tasmania has failed to reschedule all logging to occur outside of the forests nominated for protection.
A major driver of this logging is Ta Ann’s wood supply requirements, according to official documents. Please take action to help stop this destruction by sending a message to Ta Ann’s corporate customers in Japan HERE.
Miranda’s Daily Blog: 249
It was great to have guests visiting the Observer Tree this week, all the way from Japan. And it was so great to finally meet Akira Harada, from Japan Tropical Forest Action Network (JATAN). We have had many emails back and forth over the past eight months and some talks over Skype, collaborating on the campaign for forest protection. For grassroots groups in Tasmania and Japan to work together has been so valuable in exposing the truth to the Japanese customers of Ta Ann.
A large amount of Tasmania’s high conservation value forests are ending up in Japan. Malaysian company Ta Ann are selling these products to their corporate customers in Japan, labelling them as “eco,” environmentally friendly. Please take a moment to send a message to those customer companies about the destruction of Tasmania’s forests: click HERE.
Although we were only able to talk over the walkie talkie, separated by 60 meters, it was great to meet Akira and his associates. While they were here they made me a warm soup for lunch and sent up some lovely presents. I hope that we will continue to work together, from Tasmania to Japan, to help protect these precious forests.
I hope you enjoy this video blog:
From Thursday’s media release:
Mr Akira Harada, a spokesperson for Japanese ENGO JATAN who is currently in Tasmania inspecting the logging of high conservation value forests that were exempted from a logging moratorium, said “I am not happy to witness the logging destruction of Tasmania’s magnificent forests that are of global importance. It is not acceptable for the market in Japan to buy the product of such forest destruction sold as ‘eco’ wood.”
“It is vital that such forests are protected, and that Japanese customers of Tasmanian product such as that sold by Ta Ann can then have confidence that their product is from acceptable sources. This is not yet the case,” Mr Harada said.
Media Release: Conservationists concerned about delays in forest protection
Media Release: 15 – 08 – 2012
Today’s announcement from the signatories to the forest negotiations has added uncertainty to the future of forest protection in Tasmania. Environment groups Still Wild Still Threatened and the Huon Valley Environment Center are raising concerns about the failure of negotiations to deliver conservation outcomes.
“Today’s announcement has left the future of Tasmania’s world-class forests uncertain. The interim agreement has given no clear outcomes or commitment to protect the full verified area that has been recommended for protection as world heritage and national heritage value forest. The forest that I have been living in for the past eight months remains under threat, as logging of high conservation value forests appear set to continue in the immediate future” said Miranda Gibson of Still Wild Still Threatened.
“Today’s announcement is yet another delay that will see key areas of high conservation value forest logged while talks continue over the coming weeks. This is nothing more than the window dressing as the critical issues have not been addressed. In the forest logging continues in areas with conservation values. Ta Ann continue to be a key driver of this logging, while misrepresenting the source of their timber in international markets. Tasmania’s forests need secure conservation outcomes immediately. Nothing else will suffice” said Jenny Weber of the Huon Valley Environment Center.
Donations Needed
The Observer Tree really needs your help to keep this project going and to continue the campaign to expose the truth behind Ta Ann’s forest destruction.
Any contributions however big or small will be very gratefully appreciated.
Please direct deposit donations into the Observer Tree bank account:
Bendigo Bank
Account name: Still Wild Still Threatened
Acc Number: 144673571
BSB: 633000
Miranda’s Daily Blog: Day 239 & 240
It’s snowing! What a beautiful experience to witness this forest in the snow. Although it has snowed quiet a few times throughout winter now, this week was the first time that the snow settled properly on the tree tops. It was like a winter wonderland up here! I hope you enjoy my photos. (And stay tuned for a little video blog coming soon too).
Help protect this amazing forest from industrial scale logging… click HERE.
Miranda’s Daily Blog: Day 237
Today is the anniversary of the day on which this tree was promised protection. One year on and the forests are still waiting.
On this day last year the Tasmanian Forest Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) was announced. Lara Giddings and Julia Gillard signed the document that promised an “immediate conservation agreement” would be placed over 430,000 hectares of Tasmania’s high conservation value forest. This was meant to be the first step towards eventual formal protection of that area and other high conservation value forests (572,000 hectares of proposed new reserves).
The tree that I am sitting in today should have been protected by that conservation agreement, yet it remains under threat. As does the forest around me. Luckily this forest has survived so far. However, a lot of damage can be done in one year when it comes to industrial scale logging in Tasmania. And so, as we mark the anniversary of the IGA announcement today, it is a day of remembering the forest that could have been saved that has now been irreparably damaged. Globally significant forests like Butlers Gorge, the Picton Valley, the Tarkine…. the list goes on as the destruction continues around the state.
Forest negotiations have been going on now for well over two years. The question remains, when will this process lead to forest protection? With another deadline coming and going yesterday, and still no final outcome, it is very worrying. Because while they are talking the industry is still logging the very forests that are the subject of those talks, and every day that those talks are extended means more and more hectares of forest lost.
The signatories to the talks announced yesterday that they had come to no agreement as of yet, but that they were still hopeful. The sticking point appears to be that the agreed reserve area and wood supply data did not match. Two weeks ago the signatories submitted to Forestry Tasmania their agreed outcomes, to be modeled. While the public has been kept in the dark about the exact hectares and wood quotas that are on the table, it is clear that whatever was previously agreed has turned out to be unworkable. It is back to the drawing board, this time with the assistance of the government who will join in the negotiation process of Friday to help nut out the final outcome.
This new development is ringing alarm bells for the forests. Will the forests be made to suffer because of the over-cutting and unsustainable industry practices? Will the contract of an overseas company involved in corruption, human rights violations and environmental destruction be prioritised over Tasmania’s unique environment? The forests don’t have any “room to move” left, because the fact is that these ecosystems have been forced to compromise over and over again for decades. In that time, thousands and thousands of hectares of high conservation value forest, critical endangered species habitat and globally significant ecosystems have already been lost in Tasmania. And enough is enough. It is time for the full area that has now been scientifically verified as national and world heritage value to be reserved.
And so, this week will be a long week, as the forests stand by awaiting their fate. Let’s hope Tasmania’s world-class forests will receive the protection they deserve and so urgently need.
Click HERE to take part in the cyber action, and help protect Tasmania’s ancient forests.
Media Release: Environment groups worried about Forests Agreement failure to reach deadline.
Still Wild Still Threatened and Huon Valley Environment Centre are expressing concern about the Tasmanian Forests Agreement failing to be reach a resolution yet.
“It’s worrying that an agreement has not been reached. We hope there will not be any concessions made on the full reserve ask and secure conservation outcomes. We are hopeful this process will provide significant conservation gains. At this final stage as agreement between the forestry industry and some environment groups is appearing difficult, we hope that the threatened forests with important conservation values are not left open for logging,” Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber said.
“With the government’s failure to implement a moratorium, every day that talks continue more and more of the high conservation value forest that is the subject of those talks is in fact being lost to logging. We remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached soon that will see an end to the destruction of these forests. It is critical for the conservation of Tasmania’s unique environment that the full verified area of world heritage and national heritage value forests receives formal legislated protection” said Miranda Gibson spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened.
Miranda’s Daily Blog: Day 234
Check out this video blog about a visit I had this week from the United Nations Youth Representative for Australia.
A forest a day … when will the logging of our spectacular forests actually cease?
A cloud of concern hangs over 563 000ha of forests that have been independently verified as world heritage and national heritage value. If a deal is reached between the forestry industry and some environmental groups in Tasmania, the question remains; when will the logging of forests that are ear-marked for protection actually cease?
Logging coupe CO003A.Image by Rob Blakers
In the past two years the State and Federal Governments have failed to deliver on their promises of protection for Tasmania’s high conservation value forests. This inadequacy has been due to the influence of the forestry industry, with a major player being Ta Ann. In addition Forestry Tasmania (FT) has failed to perform forward rescheduling out of the forests nominated for protection. Deputy Premier Bryan Green, who is the minister responsible for overseeing FT, has played a weak role in directing the agency to reschedule. All of this had led to the ongoing destruction of forests that should have been provided the protection of a moratorium over a year ago.
It is a pressing concern for environmentalists, especially when Bryan Green only this morning stated on ABC radio, that securing wood supply is the priority for any agreement on forests, knowing that this argument has been used to justify continued logging of areas previously promised protection. What Tasmania needs is a strong conservation outcome, in order to adequately protect our unique environment and endangered species for the future. The independent verification group, endorsed by the government, made it clear through their research that protection of these forests is critical. Conservation science needs to be a driving force behind the forest agreement, not sidelined while industry demands are given precedence.
Endangered Tasmanian devil in the threatened Tarkine forest.
Right now there are forests being logged that have been proven to be core habitat for a range of endangered and threatened species. These are the species that we risk losing if these forests are excluded from protection.
And so our blog over the past month in July has been a unique opportunity for people around the globe to bear witness to the ongoing logging of Tasmania’s world heritage value, globally and nationally significant forests. Never before has there been an intensive account of the areas being logged or those areas that remain threatened in Tasmania’s forests. Throughout July we have documented 29 logging coupes in forests that were due for protection under the moratorium but are on logging plans instead. Of these, 15 have already been impacted by logging. This is just one small sample of significant forests around the state that are on the logging schedule right now.
BT-13A, Butlers Gorge
The end of our Forest A Day project occurs at a time when the future of 563 000ha of independently verified forests is uncertain. There are great concerns about whether adequate protection will be provided for these areas. In particular, there is no certainty that Forestry Tasmania has done the forward planning required to reschedule out of the proposed protected areas. If not, will Tasmania’s high conservation value forests be facing another 9 – 12 months business as usual onslaught of industrial scale logging? And what impact will this have on these areas that have been recommended to be our future national parks and world heritage areas?
Protection for these forests is long overdue. Not only are there concerns as to whether Forestry Tasmania have begun the rescheduling work needed to cease logging in the verified high conservation value forests, but in addition, there are uncertainties regarding wood supply modelling as Forestry Tasmania are the designated architects of modelling future wood supply to industry. Currently they are entrusted with providing a solution for wood supply that will enable the protection of the 563,000 hectares of forests, despite their interest in the continued control of as much forest as possible for logging. At the end of all of this, will verified high conservation value forests inside the 563,000 hectares continue to be decimated by logging in order to meet wood supply demands?
Logging in the Catamaran forests. Image by Emma Capp
Moreover, it is Ta Ann who have played a key role in driving the ongoing destruction of those forests nominated for protection. Our question then is this: will Ta Ann continue to source wood from forests that have been verified as world heritage and national heritage value? And will Ta Ann’s wood supply continue to be a key driver in the destruction of Tasmania’s forests, resulting in significant high conservation value forests being excluded from the recommended protection?
Tasmania has seen promises of forest protection made and those promises broken throughout this process. Will we see another repeat of the so-called “conservation agreement”; an agreement that actually allows further logging of areas due to be protected?
Tasmania’s high conservation value forests have been compromised enough over the past decades. Now it is time for real protection.
CLICK HERE to take action now for Tasmania’s magnificent forests.
For more information about the ‘A forest a day’ project, which has been a collaboration between Huon Valley Environment Centre, Still Wild Still Threatened, The Last Stand, Markets for Change and Code Green, please click HERE.
Written by Miranda Gibson and Jenny Weber
Miranda’s Daily Blog: Day 230
“I’m sorry” a voice crackled through the walkie-talkie radio. ” I tried to dry your slippers by the fire, but part of them melted.” This carefully chosen birthday present from my Mum had only arrived two weeks ago. When I pulled them up on the rope and looked at those crinkled up slippers, I felt like crying. “This is ridiculous!“ I thought to myself… “am I really crying about a pair of slippers?” But I knew in reality it wasn’t about that, it was the accumulation of eight months worth of loneliness, frustration, isolation. Of missing my family and friends. Of the monotony of every day confined to a small platform. And most of all, of looking out across this valley not knowing if tomorrow I will hear the sound of chainsaws and lose this forest forever. As I sat there in the rain, my usual optimism began to wane, as I thought to myself, “Can I really keep doing this?”
How do I go from this moment of feeling like I just can’t cope… to finding the strength it will take to continue this vital action on behalf of these forests? Well, my courage came in the form of a youtube clip. I know that might sound as bizarre as crying over a pair of burnt slippers! But, it’s true. Because watching an interview online with an Indigenous man from Sarawak put everything into perspective for me.
The Sarawak man being interviewed by Canadian news program “16×9” remained anonymous, for fear of the repercussions of speaking out. He had been involved in peaceful community protest against the logging of the forests that his people depend on for their very survivali. And so, if I am ever missing home comforts… I will remember what people in Sarawak will go without if logging continues to decimate their lands.
And if I ever feel lonely here… I will remember what many people around the world may face for taking a stand. Here I may be alone, but I have my phone and computer to connect to the world, support crew on the ground and a beautiful forest. Compare this to solitary confinement in a Malaysian prison. This is what the anonymous interviewee had suffered as a result of trying to stop logging.
Logging has been going on for a long time in Sarawak by a range of different logging companies. And so has the community resistance to it.
In recent times our attention in Tasmania has turned to the role that Ta Ann have in the industry, since the Sarawak-based company branched out to establish Ta Ann Tasmania, setting up two veneer mills here.
A recent statement was released by the Indigenous Penan people, fingerprinted by the chiefs of six villages in north Sarawak that are impacted by Ta Ann’s activities. The statement named Ta Ann and raised concerns about destruction of their lands, done without prior consent or knowledge and in contravention to the legal rights of the Indigenous people.
“this area should not be re-logged as it was being logged in the past which have made our livelihood difficult especially our food resources” the statement said.
“As a result of the previous logging activities our river are now muddy where as our traditional food are depleting and it is difficult to revived/rehabilitate.”
“Because of that, our present here are to inform all the stakeholders that we with one voice that we don’t accept any type of logging to take place within our Native Customary Rights Land.”
Sometimes people criticise my action by saying “Why don’t you go to Borneo instead?” But the fact is that destruction in Tasmania’s forests and the loss of Sarawak’s forests are both devastating and intricately linked.
It is clear that Ta Ann came to Tasmania in order to give environmental credibility t0 their company on an international level. After interviewing CEO Wong, it was reported in the Malaysian media “Due to Japan’s adoption of an eco-friendly lifestyle this will benefit resource-based group Ta Ann Holdings Bhd. Ta Ann stands to benefit as it has a 20-year log purchase agreement with Forestry Tasmania.”ii The misrepresentation of Tasmanian timber as “eco” friendly has implications both in Tasmania and Sarawak.
Right now Ta Ann’s “eco-ply” contains wood from forests that have been verified as world heritage and national heritage value by government-endorsed independent teams of scientific experts, and recommended for protection. In fact, it has been officially documented that this company is one of the key drivers of destruction in those forests. The timber produced from Ta Ann Tasmania does not comply with the guidelines for sustainable forestry that overseas customers expect” iii. You just have to scroll down the page on my website to see some of the amazing forests that have been or are due to be logged for Ta Ann.iv
There is no doubt that what happens here in Tasmania will have repercussions in Sarawak. Ta Ann can use their so-called Tasmanian “eco” wood to present themselves on the international market as good corporate citizens. Thereby glossing over the destruction of forests and disregard for indigenous rights elsewhere. Tasmania and the globally community must stand in solidarity with the people of Sarawak, by exposing the truth about Ta Ann’s activities in both places.
Please help by clicking HERE to send a message to the corporate customers of Ta Ann.
Take a look at this short film about Ta Ann:
Ta Ann Film from Dylan Grimwood on Vimeo.
T h e O b s e r v e r T r e e 