Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Following the historic passage of the Forest Agreement legislation on Tuesday, the FPS joined other member organisations of Environment Tasmania in releasing the attached media release.  1-5-13-Media-Release

(from the Tasmanian Forests Agreement website)

4th February, 2013

The Federal Environmental Minister, Hon Tony Burke MP, has announced the nomination of nearly 170 000 hectares to be added to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.  The area includes the 123 650 hectares identified by the Reference Group of Signatories as a part of the Tasmanian Forest Agreement. An additional area of 50 000 hectares of current reserve land has been added to the nomination, the Australian Government has indicated that this will improve the integrity of the World Heritage Area boundary.

The nominated area doesn’t include areas that impact on mining in the north-west of Tasmania. It is expected that the nomination will go before the World Heritage Committee in June of this year.

Progress is continuing with the implementation of the TFA. The Minister also announcing the release of $3 million to aid in the development of a management plan that will support the special timbers industry and to explore options for dealing with the timber residues in the short-, medium-, to longer-term. The funding will also support the start of the process to obtain forest stewardship council accreditation (FSC).

The Government is also progressing the High Quality Sawlog Contract Voluntary Buyback Program, with expressions of interest sought and provided before the end of 2012.  An  amount of $15 million has been allocated to this program.  The expressions of interest are now being considered and negotiations are expected to commence shortly. It is envisaged that contracts can be concluded over the next month or two, though settlement  of payments cannot occur until after the  Bill has passed Parliament, as this is a condition of the Australian Government that is funding the program.

In support of clause 15 of the TFA, the Government intends to provide structural adjustment assistance to regional sawmillers who wish to either exit the sector or try and secure more certain supply. An amount of $10 million has now been committed to the regional sawmillers’ structural adjustment program. Negotiations are well advanced with the Tasmanian Sawmillers’ Association (TSA) around the guidelines for the Regional Sawmillers’ Structural Adjustment Program. The Government remains committed to releasing this program as soon as possible, so that, if the Tasmanian Forests Agreement Bill is passed, then the funding will be able to be rolled out quickly to eligible applicants.

TWWHA Nomination map – Please note that this map is large scale. The Australian Government will be providing a more detailed map to the World Heritage Committee by 28 February 2013.

Map available here http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world/tasmanian-wilderness/pubs/proposed-extension-map-jan2013.pdf

 

The Florentine Protection Society congratulates Minister Burke and the Federal Government on the World Heritage Modification proposal currently before the World Heritage Committee.

“This nomination recognises the values of the remarkable Upper Florentine region and unites it with the Mt Field National Park.” said Elizabeth Perey, President of the Florentine Protection Society.

“The Upper Florentine including Timbs track, the long fought over Camp Floz, Nanwoon Cave and the restored Churchills hut along with the underlying karst system will be protected through this extension to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The Florentine Protection Society looks forward to the ratification of this nomination. We also wish to cooperatively assist in the rehabilitation of the logged areas and the development of existing tracks and signage to allow better public access to this area of our wonderful state.” Ms Perey said.

For further information please contact: Angie McGowan  phone: 0435 308 615

This is our submission urging the Legislative Council to pass the Tasmanian Forests Agreement Bill 2012 without amendment.

Leg-Co-subm

JO QUAIL – GEOFF LAW – FLORENTINE PROTECTION SOCIETY CONCERT – 16 January 2013 7pm
Battery Point Community Hall
52 Hampden Rd cr Francis St.

$18 – general public online and door.
$15 – FPS members use code ‘ FPS’ at online checkout and show credentials at door.
http://www.trybooking.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary.aspx?eid=38933

JO QUAIL: stunning UK electric cello player is returning to Tasmania in mid January. Since her visit to the Upper Florentine 4 years ago Jo has supported the campaign to save this magnificent temperate rain forest. She is giving this special concert for the Florentine Protection Society at which she will perform ‘Tu Florentine’, a piece she composed and has dedicated to the Society.

Geoff Law: highly respected forest protector and environmentalist will give a short talk with photographs on the Upper Florentine Valley.

I will be performing at the Battery Point Community Hall in Hobart, to raise awareness and support for The Florentine in Tasmania. This beautiful rainforest inspired my piece ‘Tu Florentine’ on my debut album From The Sea, and I shall be performing this piece, as well as other tracks from this album and several new works as well. In the first half I will perform a Bach Suite for solo cello, this is my ideal night of music! I would love to play for you, so please come if you can, and support this beautiful forest. ” Jo Quail

joquail2013

http://florentineprotection.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/joquail2013.jpg

 

We visited Miranda on her tree on Sunday, 30 September 2012.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

And here is an excerpt from her blog: http://observertree.org/2012/10/01/mirandas-daily-blog-day-291/

A report about our visit from our President, Elizabeth Perey

A shortened version of a letter some of us wrote appeared in the Hobart Mercury a couple of days after our walk in. Then the full version on Tasmanian Times,   http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/article/councils-united-in-battle/

An article by John Biggs

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.