Best Western Australia's Ancient Forests to Go to Japan as Woodchips
5/4/99
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Best of Ancient Forests to go to Japan as Woodchips
Source: Western Australian Forest Alliance (WAFA) and Conservation
Council of Western Australia
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: May 4, 1999
The Western Australian Government has decided to hand over the best of
the remaining unprotected ancient forests to be woodchipped and sent
to Japan by Wesfarmers, a major political donor.
The long awaited Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) for Western Australia
was signed in Perth today. The result is a disaster for old growth
forests.
The Wilderness Society's Peter Robertson says the RFA sets aside large
areas that the timber industry did not want anyway, handing the best
remaining tall forest for clearfelling woodchipping.
He says about 90 per cent of the current production karri forest has
been given up for logging.
Mr Robertson says the old growth forests in towns like Walpole,
Northcliffe, Pemberton, Balingup and Bridgetown will see their
surrounding forests devastated by the RFA.
He says the RFA is a slap in the face for the Western Australian
public.
87% of Western Australians do not want clearfelling in old growth
forests.
International support is essential to stop this environmental
vandalism.
More information:
Peter Robertson - Western Australian Forest Alliance (WAFA) and Beth
Schultz - Conservation Council of Western Australia share an office
conswa@iinet.net.au
http://wafa.org.au/
Phone 61 8 9220 0652
Fax 61 8 9220 0653
79 Stirling St
Perth Western Australia 6000
David Mackenzie - The Wilderness Society
wa@wilderness.org.au
Ph: (08) 9228 2811
Fax: (08) 9220 0671
79 Stirling St
Perth Western Australia 6000