Indeed it seems strange to lie about deforestation numbers being 9000 Hectares a year when clearing 100 football fields a year (which you yourself provided) isn't quite a dandy figure either.

It is typical of the Australian Left - which includes the sour-faced Greens and much of the media - to defame their own country and try to make out that Australians are the worst people in the world.

It is also typical of the Rudd Labor Government: the latest apology for something none of us did to child migrants is just another instance of digging up and publicising as much dirt about Australia as Rudd and his cronies can.

Good article Mark, given some of the great topics for public debate at this time; it is also a timely reminder of the mischief being peddled.

I think the “protest industry” is suffering a credibility crisis in general, not just conservation. This is now a truly international movement that seeks to represent many of the issues of concern to humanity on local and global basis. It often reflects the genuine concerns of everyday people in relation to conservation and every other hot topic.

Many of today’s protesters whip up a frenzy of emotive rhetoric and dogma to gain passionate support. Unfortunately for the protest industry, they are increasingly dealing with a modern, well educated, balanced and relatively well informed public audience, which might not be the case with the protesters. They still seem to believe that facts and balance should not be allowed to get in the way of a good old emotive protest.

Unfortunately for the “great causes”, the protest industry is, at every level, miserably inept, emotionally dysfunctional, ill informed, manipulated and totally irrelevant, other than for the immense damage they inflict upon perfectly valid public concerns. Not to mention the support they get from an equally inept media.

You should always hug a local before you hug a tree. I am a tee nut, a rainforest advocate and would die without my forest. It feeds my soul. Would chain myself to a tree unless that tree represented food on the table of a local family. Then perspective is required.

I went to Styx Valley in Tassie maybe 5 years ago, depressing and wonderful at the same time. Did it in a 2wd, Not sure on recent conditions but just because there was no bitumen did not not mean lack of access to some magnificent old growth swamp gums trees for those that are interested. Tourists want everyhting on highway, why worry about them. They want big tree theme parks. Best kept off road if you ask me.

It's regrettable that what I've said is regarded as further proof of deceit. Incidentally I live 20km from the Styx Valley. Rather than repeat myself point for point let's just look at one claim. I've implied that E. regnans (the world's tallest flowering plant) doesn't like frequent fires. Read the following link under 'Habitat'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus_regnans

The article is the usual propaganda from a vested interest.

There are so many environmental concerns with old growth logging that there can't be any credible case made for it.I wonder how many of the commenters above have seen the destruction from clear felling.How many of you have stood on a mountain top in Western Tasmania and seen the scars going to the horizon?

The statement that clear fell in old growth does not increase carbon emissions is pure bull.The waste is incredible and it is burnt.

What is needed is a cessation of clear felling in old growth forests.Some selective logging for speciality timber would be acceptable.

We need more plantation plantings to cater for timber needs,not pulp mills to feed the voracious appetites of exploiters like China and Japan.

Above all,we need massive reafforestation on our clapped out marginal agricultural and pastoral lands.