Protect Tassie Forests

In the week before the election the Howard government promised the following protections for Tasmanian forest:

immediate protection of an additional 76,100 hectares of rainforest in the Tarkine, Southern forests (including the Huon and Weld Valleys) and North East Tasmania;
immediate protection of 18,700 hectares of old growth forest in the Styx and the Florentine along the Eastern Boundary World Heritage Area;
immediate protection of an additional 29,600 hectares of old growth forest on the Eastern Tiers, Tasman Peninsula and North East Highlands (including the Blue and Great Western Tiers) and Central Highlands;
immediate protection of 1,300 hectares in the sub alpine areas
immediate reservation of an additional 43,200 hectares of private land to the CAR reserve through voluntary sale or convenanting.

Following yesterdays announcement that some of the areas will be partly protected The Wilderness Society said they "welcome protection of important forests in the Tarkine and Styx valleys, many magnificent old growth forests will still be sacrificed to the woodchipping industry under the forest plan."

"The Tarkine has received impressive protection, consistent with its world heritage status, and the Styx will be partially protected, but forests in the North East highlands, Blue Tier and Western Tiers remain open to logging. For some key areas like Ben Lomond, new protection is virtually non existent" said Sean Cadman, National Forest Coordinator.

Wilderness Society page. Protest pics on www.moz.net.nz Forest pics at www.tarkine.org/