The good news first, two critically important Gondwanic forests in the Mutual Valley that link the Weld Hill to the forested hills of Derby have been given a reprieve. This comes after much work from Blue Derby Wild volunteers surveying these areas for rare, threatened and endangered plant and animal species. As well as launching our Tastreefern.com markets campaign aimed at garden centres like Bunnings to ask them to stop trading in tree ferns logged from these Gondwanic rainforest areas.

So what does that look like on the ground for the forests areas immediately between Derby and Weld Hill? The map attached shows the changes to the logging plans as of July 1, 2021. The Mutual Valley forests CC161B and CC160A are off the chopping block, for now..

While this is a temporary reprieve for two important connectivity corridors for wildlife and biodiversity, it is a big win for our forests and endangered species. Unique Tasmanian species such as the Tasmanian giant freshwater lobster (Astacopsis gouldi), Tasmanian wedge tailed eagles, Spotted tail quoll and Masked owl we have recorded in this last areas of intact Gondwanic forest.

The coming spring will see logging activity begin in the two forests around the Krushka's Blue Derby Mountain Bike trails.

We have made repeated attempts to get more detailed information from STT on when they plan to start logging, the Forest Practices Plan (FPP) and what flora and fauna surveys they have undertaken in these areas. We are doubling down on flora and fauna surveys in these forests with experts in the fields of entomology and raptors (owl and eagle) to fill the gaps that STT does not provide.

The forests proposed for logging have registered Wedge tailed eagles nests just outside the logging boundaries, and the Derby Wedgie family frequent these forests often making themselves seen and heard over Krushka's and Atlas while hunting.

We need your help to raise the profile of these threatened forests nationally, and internationally. As Margaret Mead said: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”

Share this petition to everyone you know, and help us boost the community campaign to protect the native forests of north east Tasmania.