Archive for the 'Forestry' Category

Agriculture is the solution!

At long last the government has finally acknowledged agriculture as the industry sector most able to quickly sequester carbon back into the soil and has granted funding to that area.

Why plant vast areas of mono-cultured trees that take years to be effective in putting carbon back into the soil?

Why go for a forestry system that needs bare, cultivated soil, fertilisers and sprays to establish when you can use grass, riparian areas and other crops that can provide carbon sequestering results within six months!

Up until recently, agriculture has been completely left off the world agenda for carbon credit trading. We have been working with Lousia and Michael from the not-for-profit Carbon Coalition to get the word out amongst our Tassie farmers and we are planning a seminar early next year.

Our longterm vision is to make our own little farm not just a carbon-neutral system — but a carbon sink that helps restore this very unbalanced world of ours.

If big industrial business paid us for putting carbon back into our soils, we would not only boost farmers’ finances so we can grow healthier food, but the land would be much better off.

Get more information here.

Thistle never do!

My father and our neighbour have spent nearly 30 years steadily keeping thistles and other weeds in check on our farmland.

Look what happens when a Managed Investment Scheme moves in!

The green tinge on this clear-felled land is all thistles and you can see how they are steadily creeping into our paddocks.

The company responded to my phone call promptly when I asked if they could do something about it, which was great, but the huge downside is that this mass of thistles will be controlled by chemical sprays.

The use of manmade phosphate fertilisers is already been shown to affect water species (particularly frogs) so who knows what will end up in our water catchment!

While we’re not classified as an organic farm, we use minimal chemicals and try to have as much positive impact on the land as possible.

I shudder when I think of the amount of sprays that will be applied to the land around us by the MIS.

This patch of thistles is tiny when compared to the thousands of acres of thistle-infested plantation land in the district.

Is there a scientist out there who wants to come and monitor our frogs and their reaction to the atrazine and other chemicals and fertilisers being applied to the land?

Sunday Muster

A ride out the back country to muster our bush wethers for shearing was a good chance to see the changes made by our new neighbours, Gunns, for tree plantations.

My horse, Jess and I surveyed the valley that looks towards Mt Hobbs.

It’s been incredibly dry, but the hybrid trees are as tough as thistles so they kick off and grow like stink, whatever the weather.

It will be interesting to take the same snap next year to document the plantation’s growth.

What am I bid?

I love clearing sales, but at the same time loathe them.

Last week I went to one on the back Levendale Road. Guess what was going to be done with the farm? Trees.

In this case, the land was marginal land being sold for the monoculture of gums, but it does neighbour onto prime farm land and talk at the clearing sale turned to the danger of fires in the future once all the plantations grow up.

We were losing bidders on the blue tractor with the bucket — now that would’ve been a Chrissie Pressie and a half — but I did get a barbecue for five bucks and a roll of wire.

John got some old bikes for the kids and a tow rope.

Missed out on the cupboards and the old copper, but we’ve just cleaned out the shed so we’re not too fussed.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!

A different perspective

While we have known for a long time that Managed Investment Scheme land grabs and clear felling for timber plantation is altering our district and our environment, it was brought home, ironically on election day, when we climbed the Mt Hobb’s fire tower and saw our district of Runnymede, Woodsdale, Buckland and Levendale.

From up there at a height of around 850 metres we could see the vast areas of bush and former farm land now being cleared, sprayed and 1080′d for the monoculture of trees for woodchips.

Read more…

On a high!

Our friend, Caroline, works up a fire tower for most of summer, spotting, reporting and charting fires in Tasmania.

We were lucky enough to borrow the key from her and gain access to the Mt Hobb’s tower on Saturday.

It was a great chance to see our district and our state from a unique angle — so enjoy the views!

The district of Woodsdale — green but bone dry.

Rosie, Charlie and Ma far below.

Maria Island in all her glory.

The importance of community & communication

On Sunday we had the whole family out fencing. We’d had a ripper frost and it was gloriously sunny and quiet.

Then the chopper came. It flew all around the mountain. I was nervous as the wind was drifting our way and I don’t like having the kids outside when the Managed Investment Scheme plantations are being sprayed.

But today, the chopper didn’t look like it was spraying, nor would they have been laying 1080 poison from the air.

I still went home grumpy, resenting the fact our peaceful district was now continually invaded by outsiders who did what they liked to the land, when they liked.

My mood lifted when I heard the message on the phone. It was one of our neighbours who has taken over managing the plantations in our area.

He explained the chopper had been looking for eagle’s nests, as the companies are required to do so by law. He also explained the systems in place to lay the poison and has since notified us of any plantation procedures that may impact on us and our livestock.

Having someone who is local, who understands the importance of community and communication has been a massive relief for me as I come to terms with our dramatically changing landscape.

Shut the bloody gate!

Ah … the faceless neighbour.

No one is accountable when the big boys buy up! Last year, our neighbouring land was bought through managed investment schemes by Gunn’s Ltd and the whole area has been put down to trees.

Ever since, we’ve had helicopters zoom in unannounced to spray the mountainside — turning the hillside bare, we’ve had 1080 poison dropped about and dead carcasses scattered throughout the bush. Read more…