Mitsubishi Paper delivers on promise to ban Tasmanian old-growth chips

Mitsubishi Paper Mills followed through on statements delivered last year with the release of its policy on the conservation and creation of forest resources. The company is ruling out any future use of wood from forests of high conservation value and pledging to instead pursue plantations and second-growth forests.

Environmental groups have applauded the move, labelling it as a major victory in the battle to conserve Tasmanian forests, as well as a wake-up call for timber giant Gunns. “This is a clear signal to Gunns to shift to more sustainable forest practices as the way of the future,” says Alec Marr, national campaign director of The Wilderness Society. “It also sends an unmistakable message that World Heritage-class Tasmanian forests should not be fodder for wood chips.”

The response of the Tasmanian government lies at the other end of the spectrum however, with the Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, Bryan Green blasting the green movement for distorting the issue.

“Forestry operations in Tasmania are carried out on a sustainable basis, and always will be,” claims Green. “The result could well be that they'll be directed to countries where forest management is not subject to the same tight controls as in Tasmania.”