Treetop protest at Tasmanian logging

[dArKeR]

Environmentalists have built what they say is the world's highest treehouse in an attempt to stop the logging of old-growth forest in Australia.

Greenpeace and the Wilderness Society used ropes strung from tree tops to suspend two platforms 65 metres above the forest floor in Tasmania's Styx valley. The platforms are intended to accommodate six people in tents, along with a kitchen, a washroom, and a computer with satellite dish to relay pictures of the protest.

Woodchip logging in the valley consumes up to 600 hectares a year. Many trees are over 400 years old and well over 90 metres, approaching the height of St Paul's cathedral. "We hope this treehouse will save these trees from logging," said Greenpeace spokesperson Danny Kennedy. "The activists camped in it are telling the world that woodchip exports are killing one of the world's most valuable forests." Most timber is likely to go to Japan's paper industry, he said.

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=23476

[Hawthorne]

1. Woo hoo!

This seems to be a fairly dynamic campaign going on there in Tasmania, it is an international effort and word is spreading around the globe. I know there are some dedicated forest activists there, I have a friend who is an MD there and he has been involved in various efforts to save forests, both in Tas and the US as well. He tells me there are some really tall Gum trees there.

Hopefully this campaign will accomplish it's goal of saving the area.

One point:

They are claiming this is the world's highest tree-sit. 65.07 meters would be 213'6".

65.27 would be 214' 1 1/4".

I thought there was a tree-sit in N. Cal last year that was 225 ft?(It was closely measured).

Anyway good job on the part of these people in Tas.