Today in two locations in central and southern Tasmania, thirty forest defenders from the Bob Brown Foundation are halting the destruction of native forests, which are home to a range of rare and endangered creatures including the Grey Goshawk and Swift Parrot. Logging has stopped in forests of the Central Highlands and in the Southern Forests near Dover.
“Where we are protesting near Dover today, Swift Parrot nesting has regularly been documented by experts on the slope of this hill. Grey Goshawks are dependent on the forests of the Central Highlands. The habitat of threatened species has been shrinking due to destructive logging and these forests are among their last remaining breeding refuges,” Bob Brown Foundations Lisa Searle said.
Helena, a 24 year old from Launceston, is perched atop a destructive cable logger. The destruction of this forest has been stopped by this lone woman, whose treesit has also immobilised four machines, defending Swift Parrot habitat.
“Cable logging is destructive and allows the clearfelling of forests which are otherwise difficult to access on steep slopes. The use of cable logging is stripping these steep slopes to bare earth, accelerating topsoil erosion and profoundly disturbing the landscape ecosystem,” Bob Brown Foundations Lisa Searle said.
In the Central Highlands, behind numerous locked gates, the worst old growth logging in Australia continues, far away from the public’s view.
“There is no time for native forest logging in this current climate and biodiversity crisis,” said Bob Brown Foundations Jenny Weber.
“Tasmania’s forest defenders out here are not alone in wanting to see an end to this destruction. And we will not stop until native forests are protected,” concluded Ms Weber.
