Tourism Operators Call for Krushka's Logging Moratorium.
Dear Premier Gutwein,
The below signatories to the Open Letter to Premier Peter Gutwein calling for the end to native forest logging, and immediate protection of our High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Tourism Value (HTV) forests have joined forces to call for an immediate moratorium on the logging of Krushka’s forests that started on February 2, 2022.
The logging commenced after years of community and business calls to protect the forests of north east Tasmania from Krushka’s, Atlas, Weldborough through to the Blue Tier which are drawing new businesses to the area, and revitalising communities.
The decision to log Krushka’s forests is unfair, unjust and unconscionable, favouring the business interests of Sustainable Timber Tasmania over those of local businesses and the community dependent on tourism.
Logging commenced on the eve of the first international mountain bike competition, The Trans Tas Enduro, returning to Derby after the Covid shutdowns, and is in direct conflict with attempts to build the region into a world class location for international mountain bike, trail running and other nature based events if that are in conflict with logging. The tourism industry in Tasmania is built upon the clean, green, and clever brand. This brand is being undercut by ongoing logging and burning of our native forests that hold flagship tourism experiences.
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.
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.
Signed
Adventure Trails Tasmania
Architects Declare, Tasmania
Graham McLean, Basecamp Tasmania
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, Photography and FIlm
Joshua George, Eat the Wild
Sophie and Kurt, Esplanade Trail House Derby
Eudaimonia Tasmanian Cycling Tours
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
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
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
Tassie Bound Tours
Ben Rea, Tasmanian E-Bike Adventures
Aran Price, Tasmanian Safaris
Tasmanian Walking Company
C Booth & G Cashion, Tin Dragon Trail Cottages
Mark Playford, Trail View House Derby
Megan Rose, Trans Tas Enduro MTB
Holger Strie, Trek Tours Australia
Androo Kelly, Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary
Andrew and Anne-Marie Wallis, The Keep
Carole Beaumont, The Peak Forest Retreat
Steve Pearce, The Tree Projects
Candace Elms-Smith, Tracks Less Traveled
Lincoln Quilliam, Trail Ventures
Susie Aulich, The Trig Unique Accomodation on Mt Arthur.
Andy Crawford, Walk on Kunanyi
Sam Shillingford, We The Riders MTB Apparel
Ingrid Daniel, Whale Song Shack
Rob Blakers, Wild Island
James McCormack, Wild Magazine
Susanne Beatow, Wild Ocean Tasmania
Daniel Van Duinkerken, Wild Peek Au