The Wilderness Society invites walkers and climbers to an info night unpacking the potential threat of logging to reserves in the north of Lutruwita / Tasmania. 

Reserves in the north of the island are under threat from logging. There are a number of popular hiking tracks and climbing locations that could be affected. Come along to Ferntree Tav at 6pm Friday 30 May, to hear from TWS crew and community members about what the deal is and how to take action.  

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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 collaboration 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 forests are located at Ben Lomond, Mount Arthur, Mount Barrow, Fingal Tier, Leven Canyon, Mathinna Plains, Mount Saddleback, Pyengana, Mt Victoria, Evercreech, Mount Victoria, Panama, The Towers, Carneys Creek, and Mount Maurice. The full interactive map is available here.. 

In March we received another ‘Right to Information' document via the Tasmanian Greens, which showed the Government is prioritising 5 lots for immediate release at Ben Lomond, Mt Arthur, and Mt Barrow. ABC covered this at the time - read here. 

Information for hikers and climbers: There are a number of popular hiking trails and crags that will be affected by these potential changes in land tenure. The threats range from access and landscape integrity, to encapsulation of entire locations. This will all be discussed in detail at the 'info night' - RSVP today. 

See images below for a few examples:

Turapina / Ben Lomomd:

Stacks Bluff: 

Ragged Jack: 

Mount Saddleback and Mount Victoria: 

Fingal Tier / Bare Rock: 

Mount Arthur: 

This event is being held at a licensed venue - all underage attendees must have a guardian present.