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March,21–Two conservationists have been arrested this evening in Tasmania’s far south, after spending twelve hours perched in tree sits. The tree sits made up two blockades that were situated on the Peak Rivulet rd, and prevented logging in three high conservation value forests today,” Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber said.
On the next day the Huon Valley Environment Centre began conducting a walk in on logging operations at West Wellington. 15 Conservationists walked in to an old growth logging area in the West Wellington region of Tasmania’s southern forests.
“These forests that are being logged every day in the West Wellington were started during the three month phase out period from December to March. If the State Government had acted to implement a progressive moratorium and no new logging roads were permitted after the 15 December, these high conservation value forests would have been saved,” Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber said.
“Conservation values of the forests that the community has walked in to today, include endangered species habitat and water catchment for the Judds Creek community. The ongoing loss of unique old growth forests is due to the State Government prioritising timber barons with wood supply security rather than rural communities who are asking for their livelihoods, health and environment are protected,” Jenny Weber said.
“A large tract of unlogged and unroaded forest was defended today by thirty five campaigners. Huon Valley Environment Centre is committed to an ongoing campaign to stand up for the rapidly vanishing ancient forests in southern Tasmania. There is an urgent need to protect these endangered species habitats and valuable wild forests,” Jenny Weber said.
Visit www.nativeforest.net for more about Tasmanian forest defense