Forestry Tasmania’s intent to seek tenderers to process and transport native forest biomass across northern Tasmania doubles down on destruction during a climate crisis.

“Dressing the idea that we burn more forests to provide energy as an ‘opportunity’ is lunacy in the face of the climate and biodiversity crises facing the world. Pretending this is somehow good for Tasmania is repeating the same lies used to justify woodchipping,” said Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaigns Director.

“Since 1998 we have been resisting burning woodchips in furnaces when one was proposed on the Huon River at Southwood. Now, two decades later, it’s an even worse idea to keep flattening native forests and burning woodchips in biomass furnaces. Shame on Forestry Tasmania for seeking expressions of interest for biomass and exacerbating the climate and forest catastrophes,” said Jenny Weber.

“Environmentalists are completely opposed to the idea of biomass and have firmly rejected the suggestion it is a renewable energy source.”

“Biomass burning not only destroys precious forest ecosystems but harms the climate at the same time.”

“The Premier must intervene to order Forestry Tasmania to abandon propping up its failing business model with this new climate vandalism and instead end native forest logging,” said Jenny Weber.