Activists fight forest's destruction

Nicola Paris, Perth

Despite overwhelming opposition, Western Australia's Labor government and the Cable Sands mining company are intent on mining the last tall tuart forest in the world, in Ludlow, near Busselton, in WA's south-west. All approvals have been given and contractors are harvesting pine trees in preparation for the mining company's move into the tuart forest in the next few weeks.

The Ludlow tuart forest is one of the rarest ecosystems left on Earth. About 1950 hectares of tuart forest are left in south-west WA, and Cable Sands has proposed mining 147 hectares, right in the middle of it, for titanium.

Titanium dioxide is mainly used as a whitening agent in consumer products such as paint and toothpaste. BeMax, Cable Sands' parent company, has stated that its main purpose at Ludlow is to keep its processing plant open and that the mine will only have a three-year life.

The area is habitat for a number of rare and endangered species. The Conservation Commission of WA, the WA Department of Conservation and Land Management, the WA Institute of Foresters, the Shire of Busselton, the Cape Naturaliste Tourism Association and the Conservation Council of WA have all opposed mining in the Ludlow tall tuart forest.

Most importantly, the area is sacred to the local Wardandi people.

There has been a concerted campaign over the last 20 years (plans for mines in the area have been knocked back twice before) to stop the desecration of this precious area. Activists from the south-west and across WA have attempted to engage in a flawed government process that favours big business.

Unfortunately, despite almost universal condemnation of the project, the WA government recently gave final approval for the mine.

Activists established a tree-top platform "village" in the forest three months ago. Despite attempts by Cable Sands to have the protesters removed, they have maintained their presence. Other members of the camp, which has numbered up to 60 people at times, are camped in adjacent state forest.

They are prepared to stay the distance and have been engaging in non-violent direct action training. "Camp Ludlow" is calling on people to join them to save the tall tuart forest. All people are welcome at the camp, whether to offer moral and/or logistical support, or to take part in direct action.

For more information about the campaign and how you can help, visit <http://savethetuarts.org>.

[Nicola Paris is the Greens candidate for the federal seat of Fremantle and an activist with the Save the Tuarts Action Group.]

From Green Left Weekly, September 1, 2004.

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From GLW issue 596