T h e O b s e r v e r T r e e

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.