Posted on 13-3-2002

Conservationists Arrested In Australia

MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia, March 11, 2002 (ENS) - Logging and
woodchipping in the old growth Goolengook forest in East Gippsland began in
two areas Saturday over the loud protests of conservationists. They have
tried for years to safeguard the remote area, six hours from the nearest
city, Canberra. One of the last areas of untouched old growth forest left
in Australia, the Goolengook is rated as a Site of National Significance
for its rainforest values, a rare mix of warm and cool temperate rainforest
species.

The loggers were protected by state police and Department of Natural
Resources and Environment (NRE) personnel. Today, 10 people were charged at
the front gate at Goolengook, bringing the total number of people charged
to 19 for the first week following the dismantling of the Goolengook fort.
Heavy-handed tactics by the police and NRE staff have escalated the
conflict together with the apparent suspension of public access laws. The
Wilderness Society reports police are using floodlights and infrared
tracking devices in an attempt to keep the public from scrutinizing logging
activity in the Goolengook forest. "I am absolutely appalled public roads
have been locked and at the total unaccountability of the NRE. Media have
been denied access and logging continues behind locked gates," said Peter
Barnes, former senior executive engineer for Shell Energy. Fiona York of
the Goongerah Environment Centre says the NRE is "out of control."
"Overnight we have seen the escalation of the conflict with the
confiscation of people's basic life sustaining supplies, whether or not
they are in restricted areas and the removal of name badges by both the
police and NRE," she said. "This thuggery clearly demonstrates that the
department is determined to push through their agenda of logging behind
closed gates despite the ongoing public protest," said York.

Conservationists point out that the cost to taxpayers of the police action
far outweighs the profits from the woodchips which sell for A10 cents a
metric ton. Conservationists are mounting a sustained campaign of civil
disobedience with hundreds of people coming in from all around the country
to take part in the campaign to halt logging in this pristine area of old
growth forest. Gavan McFadzean, Victorian campaign manager for the
Wilderness Society, said, "This is a sad day for all Victorians. Arguably
Victoria's highest conservation value old growth forest, and an icon for
the environment movement, is being destroyed for as little as 10 cents per
ton. It is utterly senseless destruction." Sunday a documentary filmmaker
was assaulted by an NRE officer and the Aboriginal owners of the area made
a dramatic plea for its preservation. Community members managed to gain
access to the area by walking over 15 kilometers (nine miles) to areas of
logging.

The area is home to rare and threatened animals such as the spot-tail
quoll, long-footed potoroo, the sooty owl and the powerful owl, as well as
large old-growth trees and rare plants, such as the slender tree fern, and
the green bird orchid. The Department of Natural Resources and the
Environment justifies this logging operation as the East Gippsland
Management Plan and rezoned the area into a General Management Zone - which
allows it to be clearcut with no further plant or animal surveys. This was
later reinforced by the Regional Forest Agreement between the federal
government and the state of Victoria. Green groups, members of the public
and the government's own scientists have all publicly condemned the
re-zoning and subsequent logging.

To protect the Goolengook the most hard core blockade ever constructed was
built, and it proved to be the longest running in Australia. It was January
1997 when the road was first blocked by a small tripod, and since then has
seen countless structures, lock-ons and protests. On June 5, 1997, World
Environment Day, the clearfelling of the National Biological Site of
Significance known for its rainforest values began. Since then the blockade
has been busted and re-constructed at least 50 times, and over 160 people
have been arrested. "On February 21, Premier Steve Bracks announced that
sawn timber supply would be reduced in East Gippsland by 43 percent. This
should mean that areas of old growth forest and rainforest should be spared
from the chainsaw," said McFadzean. "Our concern that the Premier's recent
announcement would have no impact in protecting old growth forests have now
been tragically justified, as the needs of the woodchipping industry
continue to determine the fate of our forests. "We are extremely concerned
about the safety of conservationists in the area who, through civil
disobedience, are attempting to stop the destruction," said McFadzean.
"Environmental groups are committed and trained in the principles of
non-violent action. We call on the logging industry to make the same
pledge, and for the police and DNRE staff to act impartially and ensure the
safety of conservationists at Goolengook." Conservation groups have been
calling for Goolengook to be added to the adjacent Errinundra National Park.

In Parliament, conservationists are urging a no vote on what they say is a
flawed Regional Forest Agreement bill which exempts the native forest
logging industry from national environment laws. It commits the Australian
public to huge compensation payouts to industry if a future government
decides to increase protection for endangered forest wildlife. Senator Bob
Brown, a Green Party member, says the legislation will give backing to the
destruction of the tallest trees in the Southern Hemisphere, in the Valley
of the Giants on the island state of Tasmania. The bill comes into the
federal Senate for debate this week.