Untitled Document

Forestry Burns Spark Anger

reads the headlines of the Mecury Newspaper, Tuesday 2nd April.

Click for larger image

Tourism operators and local residents are outraged over the weekends burn-offs of Forestry Tasmania's clearfells in the states south. A picture perfect Easter weekend of glorious weather was destroyed by several regeneration burns, causing visual, health and environmental pollution.

Forestry Tasmania says that around 15 000 hectares of land are being prepared for burning and subsequently poisoned with 1080 for preperatrion of young seedlings and regeneration.

Several events around the Huon ended in dismay after the sun was completely blanketed out by the smoke. The Dover swimming regatta was adversely affected with people leaving as soon as the smoke covered the sky. Other tourism operators were also affected, including Bed and breakfast operators who watched in dismay as tourists refused to stay whilst such activities were being conducted.

Forestry Tasmania has to pull itself into line over such issues. No public notices were issued in the Saturday's newspaper to warn people of the effects of such regeneration burns. This is not a sustainable use of Tasmania's natural resources. The cutting down of ancient forests, including rainforest, burning at high tempreatures and poisoning of native wildlife does nothing for Tasmania's image as a clean-green state. People come to Tasmania to see the natural world. Instead we are forced to bare witness to the final destruction of the worlds last great natural resources- old growth forests.

Forestry Tasmania can not use the excuses that the Southwood project will solve the problem of clearfell burn-offs. Forestry Tasmania will not be carting off to the woodchip power station truck loads of sticks, branches, mud and bark, it is economically not viable.

The answers are in the reshaping of the industry into that of a sustainable approach into native forest logging. The end of industrial clearfelling would see the regeneration burns of the magnitude we witness today, a thing of the past.


Home Articles Discussion Gallery Maps Links	Forestry Burns Spark Anger reads the headlines of the Mecury Newspaper, Tuesday 2nd April. Click for larger image Tourism operators and local residents are outraged over the weekends burn-offs of Forestry Tasmania's clearfells in the states south. A picture perfect Easter weekend of glorious weather was destroyed by several regeneration burns, causing visual, health and environmental pollution. Forestry Tasmania says that around 15 000 hectares of land are being prepared for burning and subsequently poisoned with 1080 for preperatrion of young seedlings and regeneration. Several events around the Huon ended in dismay after the sun was completely blanketed out by the smoke. The Dover swimming regatta was adversely affected with people leaving as soon as the smoke covered the sky. Other tourism operators were also affected, including Bed and breakfast operators who watched in dismay as tourists refused to stay whilst such activities were being conducted. Forestry Tasmania has to pull itself into line over such issues. No public notices were issued in the Saturday's newspaper to warn people of the effects of such regeneration burns. This is not a sustainable use of Tasmania's natural resources. The cutting down of ancient forests, including rainforest, burning at high tempreatures and poisoning of native wildlife does nothing for Tasmania's image as a clean-green state. People come to Tasmania to see the natural world. Instead we are forced to bare witness to the final destruction of the worlds last great natural resources- old growth forests. Forestry Tasmania can not use the excuses that the Southwood project will solve the problem of clearfell burn-offs. Forestry Tasmania will not be carting off to the woodchip power station truck loads of sticks, branches, mud and bark, it is economically not viable. The answers are in the reshaping of the industry into that of a sustainable approach into native forest logging. The end of industrial clearfelling would see the regeneration burns of the magnitude we witness today, a thing of the past.