Deforestation in Tasmania
There was a really interesting article in the Telegraph magazine 21/4/07 by Richard Flanagan describing the impact of logging in Tasmaia’s remaining old growth forests. I subsequently discovered, via The Paper Planet, the Google Earth information layers created by the Wilderness Society
The Google Earth layers are an excellent starting point to research the issue, and make a good alternative case study to generic “deforestation in Brazil” type work.
download Tasmanian logging coupes
download Gunn’s woodchip mills source page and more information
Overview (click to enlarge)
The issue of old growth logging and clear felling in Tasmania is well documented, but Google Earth imagery confirms the extraordinary scale of the wood chip industry. The layers show the plans for 2006/7 alone!
Detail of a logging coupe
The trail of timber from the forests to woodchips, and then onwards to paper for Japanese photocopiers is easily researched.
A woodchip mill
Students that enjoy a bit of activism with their National Curriculum will be keen to investigate the rather unsavoury politics of Tasmanian logging, as well the notorious company behind the controversy, Gunns. (starting with their FAQs)
There is a campaign surrounding the PEFC which claims to be committed to promoting sustainable forestry practices, though this would appear to be a somewhat ambitious claim, given the situation in Tasmania.
At some stage I might work this post up into a more focussed lesson, however at the moment I’m too busy!
I do hope you wilkl find time to expand on this post. These images do reinforce again, the scale of the problems we face in industries which devour paper as part of the overall process of raw material consumption. Images like these remind those of us in the home and office electronics industry realise our place in the chain.