The Wilderness Society invites you to our first 'Threatened Forest Open Day' in the North East! Join us in Evercreech forests for a day of walks, talks, and citizen science.
Exact Location - https://maps.app.goo.gl/QWcHzBbU64QLfyRA8 // -41.419606, 147.962987
The background information: Back in December 2024, we obtained documents through a ‘Right to Information’ (RTI) request by Birdlife Australia, revealing that in 2022 the Tasmanian Government and Forestry Tasmania began secretly collaborating on the transfer of reserved forests to the 'permanent timber production zone' (PTPZ).
During the 2024 State Election, this conspiring was eluded to through the Liberals promise to ‘unlock the woodbank’, and give 40,000ha of native forests to the logging industry.
These newly threatened native forests were promised protection in 2012 through the ‘Tasmanian Forest Agreement’, where the logging industry was paid hundreds of millions $$$ by the taxpayer to not log them. Yet in 2014, the newly elected Liberals rebranded these forests as ‘Future Potential Production Forest’ (FPPF).
December’s ‘Right to Information’ document revealed that Forestry Tasmania is demanding 40,000ha of forest in 27 ‘lots’. Our analysis has revealed these North Eastern forests are located at Ben Lomond, Mount Arthur, Mount Barrow, Fingal Tier, Mathinna Plains, Mount Saddleback, Pyengana, Mt Victoria, Evercreech, Mount Victoria, Panama, The Towers, Carneys Creek, and Mount Maurice. The full map is available here.
Our efforts to protect these forests: Over the past months, we have been campaigning to notify local communities of the Liberals logging plans and activate a strong opposing voice. We have scouted the forests extensively and held a series of community meetings. Locals are now mobilising themselves, getting in the forests, contacting decision makers, recording values, and escalating the case for permanent protection.
Join us in Evercreech! This 'threatened forest open day' will be our first public event in the newly threatened north east forests. Our intention is to gather critical information on values, bring together local communities across the North East, and share a blueprint for locals to host their own forest events. RSVP today!
What to expect:
Giant white gums, the meandering Robinsons Creek, tree ferns and rainforest. We have been working to set up a rough track, and have a meeting place established in the forest. Along the way, we will be recording species, measuring trees, and having yarns. We will end with a discussion hosted by Hughie featuring Alice Hardinge (TWS TAS campaigns manager), Todd Dudley (North East Bioregional Network) and Cody Gangell (Pakana Activist and Cultural Practitioner).
What to bring:
Bring everything you need for a day in the forest. A packed lunch, water, and suitable shoes/clothing/equipment. If you have a smart phone, also take the time to download 'inaturalist', and register for our 'North East Threatened Reserves' project here.
How to get there?
The event is NOT being held at Evercreech forest reserve, but nearby at Robinsons Creek. We will be meeting where the bridge goes over Robinsons Creek on Robinsons Rd - exact location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QWcHzBbU64QLfyRA8 // -41.419606, 147.962987 . See driving directions from Fingal and Mathinna below. We will also have signs out :)
If you are traveling from Launceston and would like to carpool, email [email protected].
From Fingal:
From Mathinna:
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
--------
This event will be held on stolen Plangermaireener land. We acknowledge and pay our respects to the many generations of staunch warriors and activists whom have been fighting for Country since colonisation began. We particularly pay our respects to Uncle Jim Everett - puralia meenamatta, a proud Plangermaireener, elder, and senior knowledge holder in Tasmanian Aboriginal Community. Sovereignty was never ceded, and we commit to embracing Law in Country as essential to the path froward.