Hundreds pledge to protest forests under threat from logging

Two of the state’s leading environmental groups will ignore government warnings not to protest against forestry as hundreds pledge their allegiance to defending the front line.

• Charles Wooley: Blessed to be in the company of giants
• Anti-logging protest in Upper Florentine Valley attracts big turnout

HUNDREDS of conservationists have signed up to join the front line of forestry protests this summer if logging resumes in the forests of the Florentine Valley.

The area was the centre of long-running protests a decade ago, and the Wilderness Society says that should forestry resume in high conservation areas, hundreds will again turn out in opposition.

At the weekend, 300 people pledge to save a local forest giant known as the Home Tree and the rainforest in Florentine coupe TN005D, which is earmarked for logging this summer.

Wilderness Society campaign manager Tom Allen said the ”FlozFest” event.

Wilderness Society Tasmania campaign manager Tom Allen will deliver a HUGE letter, representing over 2300 people who signed a letter to AustraliaÕs Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, opposing the privatisation of Lake Malbena found inside Walls of Jerusalem National Park. Picture Chris Kidd

“The Gutwein Government claims that Sustainable Timber Tasmania doesn’t log rainforests, big trees or old growth rainforest but the public saw for themselves the truth – that it continues to log all three,” he said.

“Not only is this unforgivable, given the climate and extinction crises but it means wood that comes from High Conservation Value forests is tainted, unethical and unpopular. It’s like shooting elephants for ivory.

“The sooner Tasmania goes 100 per cent plantation forestry, the better.

“Attendees pledged to protect this forest and return if it is immediately threatened with logging by signing their handprint onto a pledge banner, which was then hung from a huge tree in the coupe.”

Deforestation in the Florentine Valley World Heritage.

The Florentine Valley was the scene of long-running protests over the logging of native forests which came to a head around a protest camp Camp Flozza in 2009.

Parts of the area were added to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area following a boundary extension in 2013.

Confrontations between police and protests saw dozens of arrests.

Smaller protests in recent years have focused on the Tarkine, in the state’s north west, and the Styx River Valley, although anti-forestry protests have largely wanned in recent years.

Claire Burgess from Extinction Rebellion Tasmania said there was an resurgent awareness of the need to protest forests.

“Citizens are rising because they want to be able to look their children in the eye and say they did everything they could,” she said.

Minister for Primary Industries and Water Guy Barnett addresses the media. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett, whose portfolio includes forestry, was not impressed.

“This is no surprise as we know the Greens and their allies will try everything to stir up conflict to suit their political purposes,” he said.

“However, we will not accept extremist protesters targeting businesses, workers and their families and stopping them from earning a lawful living.

“Our forestry industry is world-class and sustainable and we will continue to back it to the hilt as it employs thousands of Tasmanians, injects more than $1.2 billion into our economy and supports regional communities and families across the state.”

Follow @DavidJKillick