Media
Trees have the answer to everything
The Age , Aug 4, 2011
A clean source of fuel is just one of the promises held out by scientists on a mission to emulate trees' ability to harness and store sunlight, writes Deborah Smith.
The answer to many of the world's problems lies all around us, gently waving in the breeze.
Trees, with their green leaves, are not just things of grace and beauty, they are the smart end product of more than 2 billion years of evolution, producing food and fuel almost out of thin air, from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. They have a lot to teach us. And some scientists - led by an Australian researcher - believe it is time for a global project to emulate their impressive natural feat as quickly as possible.
Tigers, orangutans and our own Leadbeater's Possum at risk from logging
Logging is endangering species around the world, not just here at home. As we fight to maintain habitat for our endangered Leadbeater's Possum we also have to ensure that timber being imported from overseas is sustainable. Illegal and immoral logging practices worldwide are being highlighted more often it seems. Lets hope this increase in awareness will bring much needed change both here and around the world. Remember, without demand there will be no drive to supply.
Click here to see an clip from the ABC's 7:30 Report about the protecting the orangutan's habitat
Click here to see a clip from the ABC's Foreign Correspondent titled Paper Tiger featuring the threat to the Sumatran tiger.
Treasury officials to front timber inquiry
Posted August 03, 2011
Treasury officials will face a South Australian parliamentary inquiry today on the planned forward sale of forest timber in the south-east.
There was a hearing at Mount Gambier recently at which former forests minister Rory McEwen said the decision to sell more than a century's worth of harvesting rights had been made by Treasury zealots.
No agreement on paper
Ben Butler
August 3, 2011
THE owner of Australia's best-known brand of paper, Reflex, has fought off environmental groups to gain a one-month extension to its international green certification.
But the price of the one-month extension granted to Reflex's manufacturer, Australian Paper, has been to open deep divisions within the certification system, with international governing body the Forest Stewardship Council attacking Australian Paper's auditor, SmartWood, over the decision.
Man arrested as anti-logging protesters target Toolangi
1 Aug 11 by Alex Munro
The Lilydale and Yarra Valley Leader
UPDATE 3.05pm: A GREENS candidate who ran for the seat of McEwen last year was arrested at an anti-logging protest today.
Healesville environmentalist Steve Meacher was supporting a treetop protester in a logging exclusion zone at Sylvia Creek, Toolangi, when he was arrested by Department of Sustainability and Environment officers at 8am.
Protesters have targeted a logging coupe in Sylvia Creek for the past three weeks, saying it is one of the few old forests to survive Black Saturday and contains the endangered Leadbeater’s Possum.
A press release from The Wilderness Society said a man was also arrested on Friday “after staying high in the canopy and preventing any work from proceeding”.
A tree sitter was removed from the same site earlier this afternoon and the contractor is preparing to resume work late today or tomorrow.
The Department of Sustainability has confirmed that 10 protesters were escorted peacefully from the site, three were arrested and removed after refusing to leave and two were charged under the safety on public land act.
The possum's best mates - article text
Article by Kath Gannaway published in the Mountain Views Mail (page 5) 2nd August, 2011
The possum's best mates
Article by Kath Gannaway published in the Mountain Views Mail (page 5) 2nd August, 2011
Ecological consultant Jacques Cop and a team member prepare to do a documented survey at Sylvia Creek.
Logging arrests
Kath Gannaway
Mountain Views Mail 2nd August 2011
ARRESTS have been made at Toolangi as a campaign to stop logging at the Gun Barrel and Freddo coupes on Sylvia Creek Road enters its third week.
Toolangi resident and chair of Healesville Environment Watch Inc (HEWI) Steve Meacher was arrested at the coupe on Monday morning along with another protester.
Tree hugger on top
Article by Kath Gannaway published in the Mountain Views Mail Newspaper 26th July 2011
Strzelecki koalas suffering from logging: inquiry
AAP
August 01, 2011
A Victorian population of koalas is being threatened by logging, a Senate inquiry has heard.
Friends of the Earth is calling for the Strzelecki Koala to be recognised as a threatened species because its natural food source is being eroded.
Land use researcher Anthony Amis from Friends of the Earth says mountain ash trees felled in the Strzelecki Ranges in South Gippsland are being replaced by shining gums in plantation areas after harvest.
"Mountain ash is a koala feed source, shining gum is not," Mr Amis told the hearing today.