The world’s tallest tree-sit ends today after five months of campaigning by Greenpeace and the Wilderness Society to save Tasmania’s Styx Valley – home of the world’s tallest hardwood trees.

The campaign now moves into its second phase of focusing on the ballot boxes of the coming federal election and increasing international pressure overseas. more >

TAKE ACTION by emailing the Japanese companies buying woodchips from the Styx.

Well, this is it. The last day up Gandalf’s staff. There are seven of us to take down the last platform, everyone wants to be up the tree, and no one wants to go down.

There is an unbelievable spiders web of ropes, haul systems and sit rigging that all has to be done really well as there's a bunch of media cameras watching from below. Thank god the weather's ok, not too much wind or rain.

It's a strange mix of feelings. It's nice too feel that we got out without anything going wrong but on the other hand it's really sad that this phase of the campaign is at an end. The friendships and teamwork have been absolutely amazing, I feel so lucky to know these people and to know that they will be out there fighting for what is undoubtably right!

The worst thing about today though is the burning clearfells. The chopper with its load of firebombs is busy. There are four big mushroom clouds the size of mountains rising up just outside our valley. I truly hope and pray that it is not the fate of this beautiful place we call the Valley of the Giants.

Thanks to you all who wrote us such supportive emails, and all who have given so much of themselves for this campaign. It's not over though, so if you can, try to do more. We (well, not me, I have to leave for now) are still in the forest and still need activists to come and help, so if you're in Tasmania, come out to 13c and spend some time in one of the most beautiful places on earth, with some of the best people I know.

SAVE TASSIE'S OLD GROWTH!

> Adam

Well I finally made it to the Global Rescue Station and I can’t believe that I am writing this message to you all 84.5 metres up the Giant Swamp Gum tree deep in the ancient forests of Tasmania.

I figured it was important that someone from Greenpeace International visited this amazing long running tree sit before it comes down. It is stunning that the dedicated team of activists have been at this site since the end of October - that means that this action to protect these ancient forests has been running over five months - this is a wonderful achievement. I take my hat off to the people from Greenpeace Australia/Pacific, the Wilderness Society of Australia and the countless volunteers who have made this impressive action happen.

It was a once in a lifetime experience climbing up this tree. As you ascend you realise just how one dimensional your view of the forest is when you spend all your time on the ground. It is almost like diving as you enter a whole new world. The sheer size of this tree is overwhelming - it is as tall as a 20-storey building. I have seen many trees of a similar size in this forest nearby.

It is hard to get your head around the fact that this tree began life around the time that the Dutch first came across Australia at the end of the 17th Century. It is even harder to imagine that the logging company Gunns wants to trash this whole area and fell this tree. Looking out from the Global Rescue Station I can see clearcuts and burnt areas in the distance - the destruction is not too far away. In fact in many ways the scene around me reminds me of the devastation that I have witnessed in the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia. It is the same mindless destruction.

This occupation has no doubt saved this small area of ancient forest for the time being. Some of the world's tallest trees have been saved for the moment but it is like they are on death row - the chainsaws are still there waiting until this company abandons its Stone Age practices.

I also learned from the friends I have made here just how appalling the whole logging operation is here. Consider this - the tree that I am from will be mostly burnt because it is too big for the loaders used by Gunns. Can you believe this? Once the whole area is cleared incendiary bombs are dropped and what remains is ignited - this is like a scorched earth policy. This is not all, once the area is replanted by the company the area is baited with 1080 poison impregnated into carrots so that all the displaced animals wandering back into their former forest home, which has now been levelled, die a painful death - wombats, possums and wallabies.

I feel privileged to have had the chance to get to know this gentle giant. I just hope that I have the chance to meet up with this giant in the future in the wild. As I finish this note the sun is streaming through the canopy below me, a flock of Black Cockatoos glide past metres from me - this is their world and what right do we have to destroy it?

Goodbye from Giant Swamp Gum Tree at the Global Rescue Station.

> Tim Birch
Greenpeace International

April 3

It's coming to an end for me and I tell you it's not easy. I feel bound to this place. We lived with it; the forest, the trees, this tree, the birds and we've suffered with it, having to watch the immense destruction going on. It’s hard to leave these people who will remain here through winter, who will keep the fight up for these trees. I just hope I can come back one day and find the area protected!

I honour those who will stay. In the last week we've been checking out more uncontrolled forestry burns and the first one we told you about was still burning underground two weeks later. We sure know why we're here we've got the land grab going on around us, and the government is watching!

I wish Tasmania has a political change soon, or should I say a change in the forestry business – well same thing. Tasmania’s ancient land is falling to profit for just a few.

The other day we put up a traverse system for a hammock between this tree and another giant. We hang 65m high in a hammock surrounded by the lushest temperate rainforest on earth - it is beautiful.

The winter camp is getting built and it’s getting a bit stormy. On Thursday we had gusts between 120 and 160 km winds and up here that is very exposed. It was exiting but the nearly frosty temperatures were the worst.

My last call from the global rescue station goes out to the children around the world, it's your future. The greed of a few is destroying the remains of the wilderness around the earth. Nature, our planet is getting wasted for profit, to make the rich even richer.

Thank you so much to all awake people out there and keep it up - spread the word, attend demonstrations, take photos, write letters and emails, get out there and be active.

The Global Rescue Station has been a wonderful and very beautiful, stormy time.

Thanks a lot to the GRS crew.

> Jannes