Critical Times

This morning, forest activists from Still Wild Still Threatened continued their tree top protest in the Styx Valley. Right now, activists are perched high in the giant Eucalyptus regnans of the Styx to raise awareness and to protest against the continued destruction of these unique old growth forests.

“We are speaking out against the systematic eradication of some of our most significant carbon sinks at the hands of local climate criminals Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Ltd., and are calling on Senator Penny Wong to take immediate action and halt this rampant woodchipping of our unique ancient forests” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski.

The Bali climate conference has reinforced the critical importance of halting the degradation of carbon sinks. Eucalyptus regnans old growth forests, such as those located in the Styx Valley, have been shown to store huge amounts of carbon.

“Right now, in the globally renowned forests of the Styx Valley, ancient ecosystems are being devastated and new roads are being pushed into high conservation value wilderness areas. In this era of dangerous climate change, Tasmania’s logging industry is an international disgrace” said Ms Majewski.

Forest defenders will continue to take a stand against the destruction of old growth forests located in the Styx, Weld and Upper Florentine Valleys.
MEDIA UPDATE
Tuesday 29 January 2008

Anti-logging protest continues as one activist is arrested in the Styx Valley, Tasmania

One community activist was arrested on the ground in the Styx Valley this afternoon. However, forest defenders are still occupying tree sits high in the canopy as they protest against the logging of old growth forests located in the area. Activists blockaded coupe SX10F early this morning as part of a series of non-violent direct actions that have been occurring in the Styx Valley over the last month.

“We will continue to speak out against this needless devastation of some of our most precious natural heritage. The ancient forests of the Styx Valley are being ripped apart as we speak. These forests are some of the island’s most significant carbon sinks and we are calling on the Rudd Government to take some serious climate action and halt this ongoing destruction” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski.

Activists will continue to take peaceful action against the logging of pristine ecosystems located in the Styx, Weld and Upper Florentine valleys.

MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 30 January 2008

Forest defenders halt another road to climate chaos in the Styx Valley, Tasmania.

This morning, community activists from Still Wild Still Threatened continued their protest against the destruction of old growth forests in the Styx Valley. Two forest defenders attached themselves to machines to halt roading operations into pristine wilderness areas located in the South Styx, near Jubilee Road.

“As we speak, Forestry Tasmania are using taxpayers dollars to smash roads into some our most precious natural heritage. This roading will open up vast tracts of carbon dense Eucalyptus regnans old growth forest to industrial scale devastation at the hands of woodchipping barons Gunns Ltd.” said Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski.

Old growth forests play an essential role in the global carbon cycle, soaking in and storing huge amounts of carbon from our atmosphere. Studies have shown that Eucalyptus regnans forest, like those typical of the Styx Valley, store up to 1200 tonnes of carbon per hectare when fully mature.*

“The woodchipping of the ancient forests located in the Styx Valley is an issue of global importance. We are calling on the Rudd Government to honour their international obligations and to take immediate action. Protecting Tasmania’s ancient forests is a simple, cheap and effective solution to dangerous climate change” said Ms Majewski.

Two activists were arrested late this morning and released from New Norfolk police station. Forest defenders will continue to take peaceful action to highlight their critical concerns with the destruction of Tasmania’s ancient forests.

• Dean, C., Mackey, B.G., and Roxburgh, S.H. (2003). “Growth Modelling of
  Eucalyptus regnans for carbon accounting at the landscape scale.” In
  Amaro, A., Reed, D., Soares, P. (Eds.), Modelling Forest systems, CABI
  Publishing, Walliford, U.K.

MEDIA UPDATE
Wednesday 30 January 2008

Peaceful forest defenders threatened in the Styx Valley, Tasmania.

Last night, peaceful forest defenders were threatened with shotguns and machetes in the Styx Valley. A female activist had explosive charges detonated at the base of the tree in which she was sitting, with the unknown assailants threatening her life by dragging a life supporting tripod structure with their vehicles.

“Two forest defenders were also run off the road after unknown assailants attempted to ram their vehicle. An activist who was attached to roading machinery this morning on Jubilee Road was also sexually assaulted multiple times by a policeman who has been previously under investigation in relation to incidents involving forest activists” Still Wild Still Threatened spokesperson Ula Majewski said.

“This is just the latest in a series of violent incidents aimed at peaceful forest defenders. The TCFA, Forestry Tasmania and the Tasmanian Police should condemn this violence” Ms Majewski said.

“Well trained and committed forest activists work to ensure the protection of ancient forests such as the Styx and Upper Florentine. This violence distracts from the real issue – the decimation of carbon dense wilderness in Tasmania’s Southern Forests” Ms Majewski said.
See also:
http://www.myspace.com/stillwildstillthreatened
http://campflorentine@gmail.com