A plea to stop Tiwi Islands land clearing

Google Map - The Tiwi Islands (Melville and Bathurst Islands) are located approximately 80 kilometres north of Darwin.

The Tiwi Islands (Melville and Bathurst Islands) are located approximately 80 kilometres north of Darwin.

In 2005, the Northern Territory Parks and Conservation Master Plan identified that all of the Tiwi’s contained conservation values of international significance for biodiversity.

Since 1998 approximately 30 000 hectares of tall forest on the Tiwi Islands have been cleared by Great Southern Plantations and their predecessor, Sylvatech, on Melville Island.

The clearing has been undertaken to create plantations of Acacia mangium for export woodchip.

This is the single largest native forest clearing project in the whole of Northern Australia.

Between 50 000 – 70 000 hectares of forest on both Melville and Bathurst Islands have been earmarked for further clearing and conversion to plantation mono cultures.

This will mean that approximately 80 000 – 100 000 hectares of the 800 000 hectares, or 1/8, of the Tiwi Islands would be converted to plantations for woodchip.

The destruction of the forests and woodlands of the Tiwi’s also has a climate change impact. Photo: ECNT

Majorie Liddy's plea to stop Tiwi Island land clearing

Marjorie Liddy is a respected traditional owner from Melville Island. In September 2007, Marjorie made a plea to the Australian people to help stop the clearing of the Tiwis:

 “Please, people of Australia, help us to stop our trees getting knocked down, destroying our country.”

Also in 2007, 100 Tiwi Island women signed a petition that said;

“We, the undersigned, are women of the Tiwi Islands and we would like to express our concerns over the clearing of our native forests…

“Our forests provide not only food source / bush tucker for our people but also our ceremonial items and craft…

“You may be aware that ours is traditionally a matriarchal society although our voices are seldom heard.

“We have no representation on the Tiwi Land Council. We are not consulted properly and never in Tiwi language. We hear promises of jobs and financial benefits for our people, yet have not seen any results.

“Most Tiwi do not benefit from royalty payments. In the meantime our forests are still being cleared at a fast rate.

“Our call is to stop clearing Tiwi land.”

The impact of land clearing on the Tiwi Islands as seen from the air. Photo: ECNT

Since 2007, the Commonwealth Government have been investigating a series of alleged breaches of the environmental conditions by the company that has cleared the forests and is establishing the plantations.

The destruction of the forests and woodlands of the Tiwi’s also has a climate change impact.

The Northern Territory Government has found that one hectare of clearing of tall forests on the Tiwi Islands releases approximately 190 tonnes of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

On this basis, the further clearing of another 50 000 hectares of forest will release approximately 9 500 000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and the clearing of another 70 000 hectares will release approximately 13 300 000 tonnes. These are significant figures.

Clearing and destroying the Tiwi’s for woodchip plantations does not stack up environmentally or economically and is opposed by many traditional owners.

It is important that real and sustainable economic development opportunities are pursued for the people of the Tiwi’s, including opportunities to enter the carbon economy, to support international renowned art and cultural industries and to provide ongoing support for land management activities such as fire and weed management and other ranger activities.

Learn more:

• Watch The Wilderness Society 2008  Election Ad - 'End Land Clearing in the Northern Territory'
• Read article 'NT Election - put an end to destructive land clearing'