5/2/2002

LOGGING ROAD OBSTRUCTION ENTERS SECOND DAY

Around 40 activists have awakened to their second day of a peaceful obstruction of work on a new logging road and bridge into the Weld Valley, in Tasmania’s Southern Forests. The Weld is an area previously recommended for World Heritage listing by the World Conservation Union and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service.

Adam Burling, from the Native Forest Network said at the site today, “A preserved Weld Valley would enrich Tasmania far more than what’s currently being planned for it by Forestry Tasmania.

“Not only is the Weld River south east Tasmania’s last wild river, but like the Styx Valley, the Weld’s forest have the tallest hardwood trees in the world: - people flock to the Airwalk just to be in forests like this.

“When you consider that around 8 cups of coffee at the Airwalk cafeteria are worth more than a tonne of woodchips, then surely even Forestry Tasmania and Mr. Bacon must realise that our current forestry policies can no longer be defended!

The protest camp has a spectacular tree-sit, linked by cables to the forestry gate on the road, and activists say they plan to stay as long as it takes to highlight the plight of this ancient valley.

(END: Contact Adam Burling or Jenny Weber; 0405 286 794, 6264 1286, 6266 4687 or email aburling@nfn.org.au <mailto:aburling@nfn.org.au> ).

__________________________________________

The Native Forest Network- The Southern Forest Alliance- The GAIA Foundation Tasmania.

For updates, see www.tasforests.green.net.au