Opinion Poll Backs Tasmania Together Plan on Oldgrowth Forests

The Wilderness Society has called on Tasmanian Premier Jim Bacon to halt the devastation in the Styx, Tarkine and other key oldgrowth forests following the release of an opinion poll showing 70% support for protecting tall oldgrowth forests and curtailing woodchipping.

The poll also shows 69% support for the Tasmania Together plan to end clearfelling in oldgrowth forests of high conservation-value by the end of 2002. Only 21% opposed it; 10% didn't know.

"The Premier has an overwhelming mandate to stop the destruction in the Styx, Tarkine, north-east highlands and other areas," said Wilderness Society Tasmanian Campaign Coordinator, Geoff Law. "First, the Community Leaders Group, and now 70% of the public want him to act to protect tall oldgrowth forests."

The poll is also a blow to the Southwood development, with only 2% of respondents supporting an increase in woodchipping.

The telephone poll was carried out by well-known political commentator and pollster Dr Richard Herr on the nights of 5, 6 and 7 September. 535 people around Tasmania were asked three questions about forests. The precise questions and results are attached. The polling occurred immediately following the launch of the Tasmania Together plan, which calls for an end to clearfelling in the Styx, Tarkine, North East Highlands, Great Western Tiers, Eastern Tiers, Tasman Peninsula, Reedy Marsh areas and proposed extensions to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and Ben Lomond National Parks by the end of 2002.

The poll shows that:

* 69% of people support the Tasmania Together recommendation for an end to clearfelling in forests such as the Styx and Tarkine by the end of 2002 (21% oppose, 10% don't know); * 70% believe that Tasmania's tall oldgrowth forests should be either fully protected (41%) or mostly protected (29%) from logging (23% say 'some', less than 2% say 'none', 6% don't know); * 67% believe that the current rate of woodchipping is either definitely (40%) or probably (27%) too high (23% 'about right', 2% 'could increase', 8% don't know).

"The Government has tried to duck the forests issue by describing it as divisive," Mr Law said. "But this polls shows a strengthening community consensus about the need to protect oldgrowth forests from woodchipping."

"Yet, behind Forestry Tasmania's padlocked gates, the destruction goes on."

Further information: Geoff Law (03) 6224 1550, 0409 944891. Richard Herr (03) 6229 3432

ATTACHMENT: Phone Poll for The Wilderness Society September 2001

The opinion poll was carried out by telephone on the nights of 4, 5 and 6 September by political commentator and pollster Dr Richard. 535 people all over Tasmania were asked the following questions:

1. One of the Tasmania Together recommendations is for an end to clear-felling in such old growth forests areas as the Styx Valley and the Tarkine by the end of 2002. Do you support the Tasmania Together recommendation regarding the ending of clear-felling in these areas?

68.6% _YES 20.9%__NO 10.5%__Don't Know

2. Another area of concern has been the TALL old growth forests. How fully do you think Tasmania's tall old growth forests should be protected from logging?

40.9%_Fully 29.4%_mostly 22.6%_some 01.6%_none 05.5%_Don't Know

3. The Australian Bureau of Statistics puts the level of woodchipping in Tasmania in the Year 2000 at the highest level ever recorded. Regarding the State's native forests, do you believe that the current rate of wood-chipping is:

40.2%_Too much 26.7%_probably too much 23.0%_about right 02.1%_could increase 08.0%_Don't Know