Upper Florentine logging and tourism strategy

Tasmanian residents draw to the attention of the House the destruction of high conservation value forest, in coupe FO44A, in the Upper Florentine. We believe this forest and the surrounding area have far greater economic, environmental and social value to the Tasmanian and global community left intact. These forest ecosystems: support great biodiversity; do and are capable of storing and processing large quantities of carbon; and should not be logged, to ensure that the world doesn't lose more of its established complex ecosystem and worsen the carbon concentration in the atmosphere. Those parts of the Florentine and surrounding valleys containing undisturbed mature forests have significant tourism potential, which offers employment growth potential to the Derwent Valley community and beyond and will be forever diminished once logged. Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to request the Government to immediately cancel further planned logging throughout the Upper Florentine, and proceed with producing, together with local tourism operators, a sensitive tourism strategy for the Upper Derwent to promote nature-based activities, which together with the sale of local crafts, art, honey and produce will significantly extend the local employment opportunities. We ask that some funding be allocated for minor tourism infrastructure improvements to make local features more accessible, such as upgrading existing walking tracks and car parks to capitalise on focal points such as The Needles, Wylds Craig, Mt. Wedge, Tim Shea, The Sentinels and Timbs Track. Please act now in the best interests of Tasmania and in the interest of the global community.