Beekeepers’ call on logging

cil recommend the reestablishment of leatherwood populations within previously harvested forest coupes.

Tasmania’s leatherwood honey producers are on the hunt for more accessible trees after a dire season in which trees, hives and millions of dollars were lost. Bushfires early this year destroyed many leatherwood trees while dry conditions killed others and honey yields were drastically down.

President of the Australian Beekeepers’ Association Lindsay Bourke said there were no leatherwood trees left that beekeepers could access.

“The Government has put up $500,000 to help us and that includes hiring someone to find more sites,” he said last month.

“We know they are there, most probably on the verge of world heritage wilderness areas in the west and southwest.”

Leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida) is a slow-growing Tasmanian tree found in wet forests from subalpine to lowland situations. The trees are not commercially viable to beekeepers until they are 60-70 years old.

“The tree is crucial to the industry because it flowers annually, unlike other varieties linked to honey production,” the motion says.

“To maintain a reasonable production, bees require a least one acre (0.4ha) of leatherwood per hive. The honey produced in Tasmania is worth more than $10 million at bulk price, and much more at retail prices.”

The branch said the leatherwood resource was diminishing due to the wood harvesting methods used in areas where beekeeping is permitted.

“Because the leatherwood retention and access are controlled by law, only action by the Government can address this issue,” the branch said.

“If it does not, then its vision to grow the agricultural sector 10-fold by 2050 is no more than a pipe dream.” THE State Government is being asked to stop any clearfelling by timber companies in rainforests to preserve and share what is left of leatherwood tees with beekeepers.

The motion, from the Northwest Primary Industry Branch, for an immediate moratorium or halt on any logging in rainforest coupes where the percentage of leatherwood trees is more than 10 per cent, will be debated this weekend at the Tasmanian Liberals’ State Council conference in Devonport. It also asks that the coun