The cutting down of ancient 'old growth' forests is a major political issue in Australia, and no more so than in Tasmania. With national elections announced for Australia on Nov 24, logging could be an important issue.

Supported by Liberal Party (conservative) Prime Minister John Howard and Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon, a new pulp mill will speed the loss of the old forests, destroying valuable habitats and threatening extinction for unique species such as the Tasmanian Wedge Tailed Eagle.

Cutting down the forest will also remove a valuable sink that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (and of course produces oxygen), and the pulp processing in the new plant will emit 10 million tons of CO2 a year, as well as discharging 64,000 tons of toxic effluent into the ocean each day.

Ironically, part of the pressure for the cutting down of forests comes from the growing business of carbon offsetting. Much of the land currently occupied by the forests will, after the existing forest is cleared, be replanted with trees that will be used to produce an income in carbon offset schemes.

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More pictures: My London Diary  http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2007/10/oct.htm shortly
More information:  http://www.wilderness.org.au/regions/tas/ The Wilderness Society