Wild Wielangta

Wielangta Forest has been at the centre of Senator Bob Browns 3 year long legal battle that concluded in May this year.

A Federal Court Judge in 2006 found that logging in Wielangta Forest – in particular Coupe 19D – would send 3 endangered species to the brink of extinction:
Swift Parrot
Tasmanian Wedge Tailed Eagle
Wielangta Stag Beetle

This finding hurtled the former Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon and the former Prime Minister John Howard into action.  They changed the words in the Regional Forest Agreement without parliamentary approval, to remove any requirement for Forestry Tasmania to really protect endangered species.

This leaves endangered species in Tasmania protected by national legislation everywhere except in vast areas of native forest subject to logging by Forestry Tasmania.

SO
Forestry Tasmania is about to log Coupe 19D.  Coupe 19 D is at the top of the hill behind us.  Contractors have been at work during the past week preparing the road – cutting down so called dangerous trees on the road edge that were clearly perfect swift parrot breeding trees.

An exclusion zone has been put in place prohibiting any member of the public from entering this area without a permit.

The community – you and me – are now preparing to take off where the court case left off.

The only option left for Wielangta is a political change of heart and the only way to achieve this is by pressuring the State and Federal Governments to see the madness of their decision to log Wielangta.

Wielangta is the home to 3 endangered species – the highest conservation value forest and according to Forestry Tasmania will be wood chipped – the lowest possible outcome.

Swift Parrot
In the next few weeks the nationally endangered Swift Parrot will be arriving back in Wielangta Forest to breed.  Some of these migratory parrots have flown from as far away as Queensland to seek out what is known to be some of their best habitat – just up the road from her in Coupe 19D
What will they return to find?

Century old trees full of hollows, perfect for nesting in or a scene of devastation.  Less than 1300 breeding pairs are thought to survive in Australia

Millions of dollars have been spent on the mainland to protect their winter habitat yet the crucial breeding habitat here in Wielangta is to be logged and wood chipped.

Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle
There are 3 known nest sites of the Tasmanian Wedge Tailed Eagle in the vicinity of Coupe 19D.
With less than 400 breeding pairs surviving in 2008 – every nest site needs to be protected.

They are known to be very sensitive to any disturbance around their nest so require extensive undisturbed forests to breed.

Wielangta Stag Beetle
Is a flightless beetle that has connections right back to the ancient continent of Gondwanaland.
It is found nowhere else in the world but here in Wielangta and a small population on Maria Island where it lives amongst old decaying logs that are found on the floor of old growth forests.

And then there’s the issue of climate change and the integral role that native forests play in the storage of carbon.

When you get to see Coupe 19D it becomes very clear that sawlogs are few and far between – that this old growth forest – home to endangered species – is to Forestry Tasmania only good for woodchips.