Climate Torch Relay’s Warburton leg calls for protection of Carbon Banks

The Wilderness Society (Victoria) Inc
Media Release     
2 September 2008

Get Up’s National Climate Torch Relay continues today, amid calls to protect Victoria’s native forests as carbon banks as a key part of Australia’s response to climate change.

Members of the Warburton community & The Wilderness Society are taking to the torch to some of the most carbon-rich forests on the planet, just one and a half hours north-east of Melbourne.

The Wilderness Society’s Victorian Forest Campaigner Amelia Young said, “The Australian National University’s (ANU’s) ‘Green Carbon Report’ released earlier this month shows that Victoria’s forests are amongst the biggest carbon banks on earth, and their protection must be a key part of our response to climate change.”

2 Climate Torch Relay events today:

1. 12 noon, Cement Creek Catchment, Cement Creek Rd, Warburton – From the Cement Creek Bridge, the climate torch will proceed to the catchment. Cement Creek, one of Melbourne’s water supply catchments, is earmarked for logging from December 1.

 “Prime Minister Rudd and Premier Brumby must consider forest protection as a key part of their plan to tackle climate change,” continued Ms Young.

“Protecting our forests is one of the first, easiest and most cost effective ways of achieving deep cuts in green house emissions.”

“Victoria is well placed to take this option, given we already have a plantation resource large enough to meet our wood and paper needs.”

“ANU’s research shows that Victoria’s forests store up to ten times more carbon than we thought. Logging reduces the size of these carbon banks and is a major emitter of greenhouse gases, making climate change worse.”

2. 2:00 pm Warburton Rotunda, Main St (Near Tennis Courts) – Mayor carries Climate Torch

Following the visit to the catchment, the Climate Torch will travel along Warburton’s Main St and be handed to Cr Tim Heenan, Mayor of Yarra Ranges Shire Council. Later, Wild Thyme Café will be offering bowls of soup.

Bianka Rich of Warburton said “We are privileged to live in such a beautiful environment here in the Yarra Valley and this event is a chance to take a moment and appreciate what we have. We are responsible for ensuring future generations can also enjoy this unique place.”

“As a Warburton resident, I saw the Climate Torch Relay as a great opportunity to raise our awareness as a community to the urgent issue of climate change.” 

The next two months will determine Australia’s response to climate change for years to come. The Climate Torch Relay is a huge national movement calling on our government to set a strong climate policy that will halve Australia’s greenhouse pollution by 2020. Protecting Victoria’s Forests, including Cement Creek, must be a part of this solution.