Thread: The battle to save Tasmanias forests

Seeing the other thread was both liveley and informative and there is recent and ongoing news on this issue, I figured we might as well start another thread for the discussion and views on Tasmanias forestry practices.

It's probably better to leave out any comments about forum members credibility or other personal comments and try and stick to the topic. I also think its fair for any Australians to comment on Tasmanian issues as its part of Australia and I hope that any sites referenced by postees can be taken for their information value not a percieved bias of left/right/green/red ect etc etc. Might save the moderators the trouble of closing the thread, for a while ;-)

It seems Forestry Tasmania has lost recent woodchipping contracts and is 'blaming' the greens even though any decisions to terminate contracts would be solely up the directors of the companies holding those contracts. Still its another step in what is turning into a long term and full scale 'war' to save remaining old growth from the woodchipper. In the middle are some of the worlds finest cabinet timbers and many woodworkers who hope for a stable and cost effective supply of these timbers.

recent news

http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story...5-3462,00.html

A CLOUD hangs over forthcoming union enterprise bargaining agreement negotiations with Forestry Tasmania because of its poor financial results.
Community and Public Sector Union general secretary Tom Lynch said Forestry Tasmania had extensively briefed unions on its outlook.
He said the business was looking at carrying over the existing EBA with basic increases and even no guarantee of jobs.
Already some workers have been paid out redundancies.
Mr Lynch said he was surprised to hear in one news report already there had been 50 redundancies, in view of the business's small workforce.
"Forestry Tasmania has been very open with us and have told us of the contracts lost," he said.
"They are very clear greens have turned away business and lost contracts through lobbying in Japan."

My view is not right or left on this one, I watch the developments with interest, personally In hope that both long term employment prospects and long term retention and use of as much valuable timber as possible is the eventual outcome.

I am concerned about the management practices of the Tassie Gov and I am concerned to read the article in the last Aussie Wood Review where Duncan from Gypsy timbers states that supplies of figured blackwood and red myrtle are getting harder to come by.

I would argue that true sustainability would mean that supplies of rare timbers be protected and ongoing , not prone to 'disappearing'. Any 'woodchipping' of high grade timbers would be a waste and counter productive to their continued long term supply.

I hope members can post freely on this topic but please keep it civil.

;-)