Greenpeace prevented the export of woodchips from Tasmania’s ancient forests to Japanese paper companies - Oji Paper, Nippon Paper and Mitsubishi Paper Mills - at Tasmania’s Triabunna port.

Greenpeace environmentalists climbed onto the port’s loading gantry, preventing woodchips from being loaded. They hung banners in both Japanese and English urging the protection of the State's ancient forests.

(news report from Greenpeace)

Greenpeace prevented the export of woodchips from Tasmania’s ancient forests to Japanese companies Oji Paper, Nippon Paper and Mitsubishi Paper Mills with an action at Tasmania’s Triabunna port.

A team of seven Greenpeace environmentalists stepped up their campaign to protect the ancient forests of Tasmania’s Styx Valley by climbing onto the port’s loading gantry, preventing woodchips from being loaded. They hung banners saying “Stop global forest destruction” and “Protect Tasmania’s ancient forests”, in English and Japanese.

Greenpeace campaigner Rebecca Hubbard said, “We’re here to stop the ongoing destruction of Tasmania’s ancient forest by Gunns Ltd.

“For the time being we’ve halted export of woodchips from Tasmania’s ancient forests to Japan.

“The ongoing destruction of Tasmania’s ancient forests shows why governments meeting at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Malaysia this week must implement a global network of protected areas, and ensure that the earth’s biodiversity is protected for future generations,” said Ms Hubbard.

Japanese activist Sakyo Noda, who has been living in the world’s highest tree-sit, the Global Rescue Station, since November 12 2003 said, “We are sending a strong message to the Japanese paper companies that the Tasmanian people’s wishes for protection of their ancient forests are being ignored by the government.

“Oji Paper, Nippon Paper and Mitsubishi Paper Mills can help to protect these magnificent forests by sourcing woodchips from FSC ceritified forests or sustainably-managed plantations instead of ancient forest,” he said.

Mr Noda has witnessed first hand the destructive clearfelling methods used in the Styx.

Tasmania exports more woodchips from native forests than all other Australian states combined. Less than 20 percent of Tasmania’s original extent of untouched giant Eucalyptus regnans trees remain, with half under threat from logging.