Grassroots Action Network Tasmania (GRANT) protested logging in the Huon Valley, south west of nipaluna/Hobart on January 14, responding to Uncle Jimmy Everett’s call to protect Country.
GRANT activist Hugh suspended himself on top of a log pile, attached to four logging machines in the threatened coupe. In this forest nestled on a hillside between Kunanyi and the Styx Valley, no trees were felled for more than 5 hours.
“I am here because I have a profound love for and connection with this island, and a deep hope that we can find another way forward,” Hugh said on GRANT’s Facebook page. “As long as we continue to desecrate this island and send it as plunder overseas in ships we can never truly belong.”
Logging, including the felling of “giant” trees, has destroyed habitat for threatened species. GRANT has recorded and reported swift parrots nesting in the area to the Forest Practices Authority. But logging has not ceased.
GRANT confirmed on January 10 that at least one stump was more than 4 metres in diameter — a “giant tree” — that should have been afforded a 100-metre buffer under Forestry Tasmania’s policy. But it was felled and sent to woodchippers.
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The Forest Practices Plan, a legally binding document under the Forest Practices Act 1985, states that habitat trees of more than 1 metre in diameter must not be logged.
GRANT has recorded countless stumps over this size, which have been cross checked with previous aerial surveys and confirmed to have been hollow-bearing.
The Forest Practices Authority has stated in writing that all felled trees over 1 metre were cut for “safety reasons”. But this is untrue.
lutruwita/Tasmania has already lost the vast majority of its old forests to native forest logging. This is irrevocably damaging water catchments, destroying biodiversity, ruining carbon stocks and making communities more vulnerable to fire.
The main product from native forest logging are woodchips for export to Asia.
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GRANT spokesperson Fergus said: “As long as we continue to plunder Country and act as conquerors on this land, we can never truly belong.
“A transformation of our relationship with this island is not only possible, but necessary for our health, spirit and a safe future.”
Fergus said the failure to follow “even the blatantly biased and broken system”, to follow the Forestry Practices Act, shows that “the regulator has been co-opted by Minister Eric Abetz”.
He said the system is designed to “maximise profit at the expense of people and planet”.
Fergus said the alternative is to protect Country, saying: “We echo calls from Uncle Jimmy Everett and call on everyone to stand up for a just, free and truly sustainable alternative pathway for our society.”
[GRANT is holding a Forest Fest in the southern forests and invites the community to come along on January 19.]