Greens claim forestry blitz is happening amid coronavirus crisis

Have you noticed more log trucks on the state’s roads lately? The Greens say there has been an increase in logging, with more to come.

GOVERNMENT-OWNED forestry company Sustainable Timber Tasmania has increased logging dramatically in recent months, the Greens claim.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said there has been a noticeable increase in log truck numbers, and Sustainable Timbers had added more coupes to its logging plan recently.

Greens leader Cassy O'Connor. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

“Your GBE, so-called Sustainable Timbers Tasmania, continued its destructive native forest logging throughout the pandemic emergency. In fact, the evidence points to a significant escalation,” she said.

“We understand 19 new coupes have been added to Sustainable Timbers’ current hit list, something we have not seen before.

“We have received information that a coupe that was snuck in less than a month ago will be logged shortly. A number of those 19 coupes are of high conservation value. All of them are critical carbon stores.”

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said he was proud of the state’s timber industry, but did not answer the question despite several points of order from Ms O’Connor.

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

He said Sustainable Timber Tasmania would publish details of logging plans on the internet in a month or so.

Ms O’Connor also claimed the State Government was deliberately pursuing customers for the state’s forest products in China, where there was less concern about sustainable sourcing and certification of timber.

Mr Barnett described Ms O’Connor’s description of the state’s forest industry as “baseless and incorrect”.

The minister later clarified that no new contracts were signed as a result of the trade mission, exports had not increased and the volumes of harvesting would not rise.