Tasmania has been working in the name of preserving and protecting forests for decades -- but now, these forests are at risk of destruction.

It’s expected that 400,000 hectares of previously protected, high-conservation value areas would be opened for logging as early as July of 2018. Not only would this undo over 30 years of work done by advocates and state governments, they’re doing it just in time for the next election that year.

Let Tasmania know that you don’t support their unsustainable forestry policies -- and to stop undoing decades of forest conservation.

The state’s plan for distributing timber relies on major businesses to purchase their timber -- and many are choosing to stay far away from this abhorrent practice. The Forest Industries Association of Tasmania is the main body for forest processors in Tasmania. From their CEO, Terry Edwards: “We have advised the government that we are unable to support the bill... as it will create unnecessary sovereign risk in log supply and problems in our markets and a return to the ‘forestry wars’.”

This new logging practice is unlikely to get certification from the Forest Stewardship Council -- a group that’s internationally known and revered for its sustainability accreditations. Without this stamp of approval, it will be incredibly difficult for the state to sell this timber anywhere.

These policy changes are archaic and don’t represent modern forestry practices. We can’t destroy these forests for a perceived short-term gain .