Help protect the Tiwi Islands from land clearing

The Tiwi Islands are a tropical paradise whose forests and wildlife are being destroyed for woodchips. Photo: ECNT

The Tiwi Islands are a tropical paradise whose forests and wildlife are being destroyed for woodchips.

The Tiwi Islands are located 80 kilometres north of Darwin and include two main islands, Melville and Bathurst.

Already 30 000 hectares of forests and woodlands on the Islands have been cleared and have been replaced by single species plantations that will be woodchipped and exported.

Worse still, another 70 000 hectares of these beautiful tropical forests are proposed to be cleared as part of a proposed, but not approved, Stage 2 of this ill considered project.

If Stage 2 is approved by the Northern Territory and Commonwealth Governments, approximately 1/8 of the Islands will be destroyed in Northern Australia’s single biggest land clearing operation.

Many traditional owners are opposed to this madness.

Marjorie Liddy is a senior traditional owner from Melville Island. Marjorie has called on the people of Australia to support her campaign to end landclearing on the Tiwi Islands.

In September 2007 Marjorie issued the following statement, “Please, people of Australia, help us to stop our trees getting knocked down, destroying our country.”

Marjorie was supported by another 100 Tiwi women who recently issued a petition which concluded “Our call is to stop clearing Tiwi land.”

If Stage 2 is approved by the Northern Territory and Commonwealth Governments, approximately 1/8 of the Islands will be destroyed in Northern Australia’s single biggest land clearing operation. Photo: ECNT

The clearing of these forests 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.

If Stage 2 of this project proceeds, approximately 13 300 000 tonnes of dangerous Green Gas Emissions will be released into the atmosphere.

An election promise

During the recent Northern Territory election, the Chief Minister, Paul Henderson, promised a full and public assessment of the environmental, social and economic implications of landclearing on Tiwi Islands, including the Greenhouse Gas Emissions emission impacts of landclearing, will be required before any approvals are granted for further landclearing in the Tiwi Islands.

Learn more:

• Watch The Wilderness Society 2008  Election Ad - 'End Land Clearing in the Northern Territory'
• Read article 'A plea to stop Tiwi Island land clearing'