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http://www.themercury.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,6368776%255E3462,00.html
Tourists will be handed pamphlets explaining why 1080 is used to poison native Tasmanian animals if a plan by the Tourism Council and forestry industry is introduced.
Tasmanian Greens leader Peg Putt released the leaked plan yesterday, calling it a public relations disaster.
The draft plan includes: Screening logged areas in "sensitive" landscapes. "Tourism-friendly" tips for log-truck drivers. Harvesters consulting a map of major tourist routes before clear-felling. Minimising fires and smoke during major events.
The Tourism Council, Forestry Tasmania, Forest Industries Association of Tasmania and Private Forests Tasmania said the agreement was a positive step in reducing forestry's impact on increasing visitor numbers.
FIAT executive officer Terry Edwards was angry Ms Putt did not applaud the co-operative approach. He said the plan had reached draft nine since the leaked draft seven but most of it had not changed. "Tourists are entitled to read a balanced and factual account of forestry activities," Mr Edwards said. "The Greens find this threatening because if the industries can co-operate it would remove one of their political planks."
Tourism Operators for Forests said claims that they were being manipulated to attack the forestry industry were wrong. "Forestry is having a negative impact on tourism and TOFF are doing their best to represent operators in addressing this," said group spokesman Philip Emery. "We have stated our case. It is up to the forestry sector to meet the challenge of reducing forestry practice's negative impacts on tourism, right across the spectrum _ not just in selected areas or on selected routes."
Tourism Council board member James Cretan said the council had shown leadership in starting talks. "There has been good faith on both sides and an acknowledgement there are some forestry practices that impact on the industry, and these discussions are aimed at ensuring these are managed to minimise impact," Mr Cretan said.
Forestry Tasmania corporate affairs manager Steve Bavage said the plan was a "positive collaboration" between major industries. "The protocol is still in draft form and has yet to receive final sign-off," he said.
"A range of views will be taken into account before the final agreement. We are confident the tourism and timber industries can work sustainably together."