Tasmanian and Global Outdoor Adventure and Tourism Businesses Call to End Native Forest Logging

Today an Open Letter to the Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein, The Hon S. Courtney (Minister for Tourism), and the Hon. R. Jaencsh (Minister for Climate Change) was tabled to Parliament calling for the protection of Tasmania’s native forests to safeguard our nature-based tourism sector and Brand Tasmania, as part of taking practical action on climate change and biodiversity loss.

More than 200 signatories including Patagonia, Paddy Pallin, Tas Gravity Enduro Mountain Bike competition, Spring Bay Mill, Derby Mountain Bike (MTB) businesses, and Derwent Valley Tasmania Tourism (representing over 100 businesses), have put their brands behind the need for urgent action to stop the logging of Tasmania’s native forests. With immediate focus on the logging planned in the two Krushka’s forests around the iconic Blue Derby MTB trail network, recognised as the jewel in the crown of Tasmania’s MTB industry, scheduled to start any time in November.

Blue Derby Wild coordinator Louise Morris said, ‘’We’ve been overwhelmed with support from businesses and outdoors adventurers who understand the importance of protecting Tasmania’s native forests for the critical role they play in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. We’re seeing with the COP 26 meeting taking place in Glasgow right now, that the world is demanding action on climate change. Tasmania can achieve true zero emissions by protecting our native forests which is an attainable and a practical part of that picture. Immediate action needs to involve protecting the Blue Tier glacial refugia forests and removing the three Blue Derby Gondwana native forests of Krushka’s (CC105A and CC119A) and Atlas (CC120B) from logging and burning plans.”

‘’There's no doubt Tasmanian's accessible wilderness areas and our nature-based attractions are our state's biggest tourism drawcard (TRA 2014). As operators we've witnessed first-hand how extremely vulnerable the Tasmanian tourism industry is to the current challenges of the pandemic and the impacts of the intense 2016, 2019 bushfires that swept through Tasmania burning over 100,000 hectares of World Wilderness Heritage Area combined. Protecting our native forests will protect the Tasmanian brand, retain carbon, stop carbon emissions from logging and burning and protect biodiversity in the region. This will also be a practical step towards meeting our ambitious tourism target; to establish Tasmania as a global leader in responsible and sustainable tourism and to become a carbon-neutral destination. If we’re going to reach this goal, we need to take action today,’’ said Fiona Weaver, Tassie Bound Adventure Tours

“To think logging of native forests goes unnoticed by visitors to Tasmania and that this outdated practice doesn’t damage our growing brand is something the current government needs to have a good hard look at. Once a brand is damaged it can be hard to repair. Not to mention that preserving these forests will have huge benefits for endangered wildlife habitat, carbon storage and providing clean air and water that benefit us all. I believe Tasmania is nearing a time where we transition from destructive industries and become a leader in sustainability. Ending logging in high conservation forests is a no-brainer, I hope the Gutwein government has the foresight to show real leadership on this matter,” said Kenna Reid-Clark, Vice-president of the Tasmanian Wilderness Guides Association.

The Tassie Tourism and events sector has been hit hard over the last two years. We have huge potential to value the pristine and wild Tassie brand to delight customers coming into the state. Protecting and celebrating our natural values alongside the tourism attractions is crucial to make sure we put our money where our mouth is. Customers and visitors will be savvy to the environmental impact of our industries and are expecting us to value protected environments and ecosystems. We call on the state government to work smartly to consider the huge blossoming potential these special places hold for the rebound of the tourism sector and the long-term sustainability of our clean green state,” said Joe Pickett, General Manager, Spring Bay Mill

‘Protecting the carbon dense forests of the iconic Blue Derby MTB tourism destination area has the immediate impact of stopping the carbon emissions associated with logging and burning native forests, protecting local biodiversity and our forests will help safeguard the Blue Derby brand which is the jewel in the crown of Tasmania’s MTB industry.’’ Julia Seymour, Owner Pinned Property Management, Derby.

“The current destruction of Tasmania’s unique carbon rich forests needs to end. Tasmanian eBike Adventures stands proudly with other aligned tourism businesses, environmental campaigners and adventure brands to call on our government to intervene and halt the proposed logging of the Blue Tier forests, and globally iconic Krushka’s Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trails. Even on this little island at the bottom of the earth we cannot ignore the urgent, environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change. The perception of Tasmania as a haven of wilderness and beauty is symbolized and embodied in our wild forests. It is time to work together as a community to protect what these forests represent in the fight against global climate change and biodiversity loss. If we genuinely have a vision for Tasmania as a world leading environmental tourism destination, we must protect our authenticity as a destination by caring for the special environmental and social values that underpin our brand,” Ben Rea, Owner Tasmanian eBike Adventures.

Copy of Letter Below:

The Hon Premier Peter Gutwein,

Hon Sarah Courtney MP, Hon Roger Jaench MP.

Level 9, 15 Murray Street

HOBART, TAS 7000

Dear Premier Gutwein; Hon S. Courtney MP and Hon R. Jaensch MP:

As nature-based tourism operators and outdoor adventurers passionate about growing Tasmania’s unique natural assets and native forests, we call on you to protect our High Conservation Value (HCV) native forests from logging.

The tourism industry vision for a response to climate change is ambitious and genuine in its goal for Tasmania to be a carbon-neutral destination. This is aligned with the Tasmanian Government Climate Action 21 agenda.

As The Premier and Ministers for Tourism and Climate change respectively it is incumbent upon you to position Tasmania to take meaningful action on climate change, which includes protecting our public native forests - nature's living carbon capture and storage banks. These same Gondwana remnant native forests are one of the most notable draw cards for visitors and nature-based tourism experience seekers. These forests are the foundation for a vision for Tasmania that celebrates and nurtures our public forests, unique biodiversity and natural assets.

The vision for Tasmania is to be a carbon-neutral state, aligned with the Tasmanian Government Climate Action 21 agenda. There are measures we can introduce quickly to achieve this goal; immediate and practical action including removing the three Blue Derby Gondwana native forests of Krushka’s (CC105A and CC119A) and Atlas (CC120B) from logging and burning plans. Protecting the carbon dense forests of this iconic tourism destination area has the immediate impact of stopping the carbon emissions associated with logging and burning Gondwana native forests, protecting local biodiversity and will help safeguard the Blue Derby brand.

The tourism industry in Tasmania is built upon the clean, green, and clever brand. This brand is being undermined by ongoing logging of our native forests that hold flagship tourism experiences such as the Blue Tier, Blue Derby, Ben Lomond, The Styx Valley of the Giants, Maydena, the Weld/Tahune forests and the takayna/Tarkine.

Brand Tasmania promises an island at the bottom of the world where ancient forests and wild rivers await to reconnect people to their wild side, through nature based tourism experiences found nowhere else on earth. Logging these publicly owned native forests takes away the promise of wilderness experiences, replacing it with industrial logging operations.

The Tasmania Visitor Economy Strategy (T21) vision for Tasmania includes responsible stewardship of our natural environment and protected areas, positioning Tasmania as a global example of environmentally and socially sustainable tourism

We welcome the opportunity to speak with you on how we can build a win/win plan for the future that protects our native forests for climate action, biodiversity and building a truly sustainable and responsible future for tourism in Tasmania that values our forests and natural assets.

Adventure Trails Tasmania

Architects Declare, Tasmania

Graham McLean, Basecamp Tasmania

Beautiful Isle Wines

Marcus Enno, Beardy McBeard

Megan Lourie, Ben Lomond Alpine Hotel

Simon Holmes, Big Shed Studios

Adam Campbell, Big Mountain Derby

Black Cow Bistro

Tara and Steve Howell, Blue Derby Pods Ride

Louise Morris, Blue Derby Wild

Greg Irons, Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary

Jo Lee, Cedar House Derby

Anthony O’Hern, Cradle Mountain Canyons

Christiaan Bradley, Christiaan Bradley Surfboards

Dean Lucas, Dean Lucas Racing

Damien Neilson, Derby Bike Shop

Aleks and Justine, Derby Church

Peter , Derby Forest Cabins

Derwent Valley Tasmania

Tourism: A collective of over 100 local tourism operators

Jane Hilliard, Designful

Wade Anthony, Devils @ Cradle

Tom Wrigley, DHarCo MTB Clothing

Dialled in Derby

Jo Lee, Cedar House and Cottage

Sarah Williams, Cedar Cottage Meander

Dan Broun, Photographer & Filmmaker

Joshua George, Eat the Wild

Sophie and Kurt, Esplanade Trail House Derby

Eudaimonia Tasmanian Cycling Tours

Evolution Mountain Bike

Elias Eichler, Franklin River Rafting

Alissa Ward, Find Your Feet

Hillary McAllister, Director, For Wild Places

Sean Cadman, Forest Walks Lodge

Elias Eichler, Franklin River Rafter

Susan Carrins, Freycinet Adventures

Y.D Bar-Ness, Giant Tree Expeditions

Giants Table Cottages Maydena

Liz Virtue, Glen Derwent Accommodation

Julie Porter and Charles Burns, Heritage Sailing Tasmania

Jane Hilliard, Homeful, by Designful

Rebecca & Tristan Campbell, Honey Tasmania

Dr Tonia Cochran, Inala Nature Tours

Josh Pringle, Keep Tassie Wild

Katarzyna Lagodzka, Kersbrook Cottage

Greg Murray, Kooparoona Niara Tours

Brown Family, Krushka’s Cottage Derby

Jimmy Cordwall, Making Tracks

Marions Vineyard

Simon French, Maydena Mountain Bike Park

Jo Morin, Maydena Mountain Cabins

Moonbird Beach Shack Tasmania

Outdoors People for Climate Action

Tim Pallin, Paddy Pallin Pty Ltd

Charles Thompson, Park Trek Outdoor Experiences

Shannon Bourke, Patagonia

Patrol MTB

Pedalheads MTB St Helens

Caleb and Naomi Buster, Pilgrim Blue

Julia Seymour, Pinned Property Management

Josh Fletcher, Protect Our Winters Au

Dr Nicole Anderson, Scenic Wilderness Photography

J. Brakey, G. Eckel, J. Walton, Raida Restaurant St Helens.

Paul O'halloran, Rare Earth Tasmania

Jennifer Cossins, Red Parka

Roaring 40’s Kayaking

Toby Shingleton, River Cabins Derby

Matthew Newton, Rummin Productions

Cathy Fitzgerald, Secret Bank Society

#1800 Sendit

Shred Map Jerseys

Joe Pickett, Spring Bay Mill

Bianca Welsh, Stillwater Restaurant

Richard Tebb, Stoke Wizard Media

Surfrider Foundation Tasmania

Danny King, Tas Gravity Enduro Series

Mark McCAnn, Tailored Trails

Sam Burke, Tarkine Running Co

Nicholas Scharm, Tarkine Trails

Kenna Reid-Clarke, Tasmania Wilderness Guides Association

Fiona Weaver, Tassie Bound Tours

Ben Rea, Tasmanian E-Bike Adventures