One giant leap for Gunns – one small step forward for Tasmania’s forests

A step in the right direction

The New Year has brought about a new attitude from logging company Gunns Limited – with help from a bit of pressure applied by conservationists like you!

The Tasmanian Government has signed away 20 years access to public native forests, promising the pulp mill 1.5 million tonnes of woodchips each year. The Upper Florentine. Photo: Rob Blakers

Gunns has spent the past five years insisting that their proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill has got to use large amounts of native forest timber. But on 6 January this year, Gunns announced that they will start mill production using 100% plantation timber. This is a great step forward, meaning we are one step closer to ensuring Tassie’s native forests will be safe from being chainsawed and bulldozed to feed the hungry pulp mill. In the meantime, Gunns is still logging these forests for its other operations.

Gunns Chairman, John Gay, announced that Gunns had "always intended" to use plantation timber. But the Wilderness Society can confirm it was the efforts of concerned environmentalists like you who brought about this change of heart. "This decision should mitigate any concerns of stakeholders regarding fibre supply to the … mill," Gay said – making it clear that persistent pressure on investors was the main reason for Gunns’ change of heart.

You made the difference

When Swedish pulp and paper company Södra considered investing in the mill, environmentalists like you were quick to make it clear that chopping down Tassie’s native forests to feed the pulp mill was not an option.  More than 4,000 supporters signed our online action to Södra prompting them to release a statement making it clear that any involvement it has with Gunns Ltd's pulp mill would only occur if 100% Forest Stewardship Council certified, plantation timber is used.

This breakthrough came about because people like you took action. Donations from committed supporters helped to make sure our pulp mill campaign had the people and the dollars to keep on top of Gunns at every step. Thank you for standing up for Tasmania’s environment! But more action is needed if we are to avoid an environmental disaster in Bells Bay.

More to do

Wilderness Society Pulp Mill Campaigner, Paul Oosting explains: “Given Gunns’ past record, we will need to see proof that Gunns is genuine about an end to their native forest-based wood supply deal with Forestry Tasmania. Gunns’ wood supply deal currently locks in the annual supply of over 1 million tonnes of native forest wood for the next 20 years – an unsustainably huge amount of native forest stock.”

Unfortunately, even using plantation timber, Gunns’ mill still threatens Tasmania’s environment and community in several ways – and it’s up to us to make sure they do something about it.

One of the other conditions set by Södra, one of the potential financial backers, is that Gunns’ pulp mill must use totally chlorine-free technology. At the moment, Gunns still intends to use an old-fashioned, polluting chlorine based technology to bleach their pulp. Chlorine-laced effluent from the mill could pollute the Bass Strait, threatening marine life like fish and sea lions. The pollution will also threaten businesses dependent on a clean, toxin-free Bass Strait, like the local fishing industry.

Gunns has also not acquired FSC certification which is a crucial requirement of Södra’s. To get full FSC certification Gunns would have to end their destruction of Tasmania’s irreplacable forests including old growth and rainforest.

There is also the important matter of the pulp mill’s location – the tourism friendly Tamar Valley.  There are other places it could be built that would be much more environmentally friendly than Bell’s Bay – like Hampshire in north-west Tasmania, where the mill would have far less impact on people, wildlife, water consumption and air quality.

By continuing to support the Wilderness Society, you can help build on this important success and make sure that Tasmania’s environment is protected from a worst-practice Gunns’ pulp mill.

Further reading

Nordea Backs Away From Gunns’ Pulp Mill
7 January 2010
For the first time, Nordea bank announced today that it would not finance the Gunns’ pulp mill in Australia if its widely publicised environmental impacts were not curbed. More >>

Gunns announce No Native Forests for Pulp Mill: Proof needed
5 January 2010
The Wilderness Society today called Gunns’ announcement that the pulp mill would be 100% plantation based at start-up a step in the right direction, but warned that the destruction of Tasmania’s native forest was set to continue unless further steps were taken. More >>

Gunns' proposed pulp mill; five years on
14 December 2009
Five years ago this December, Gunns Limited announced plans to build a pulp mill fuelled by Tasmania’s native forests. For five years, committed people just like you have stood between these native forests and complete annihilation. More >>