Forest activists have disrupted logging in a part of Tasmania that was subject to a protesting truce, the state's forestry body says.
Police said they were called today to remove a tree-sit protester and about 20 other activists blocking a road to a harvesting area of state forest in the Upper Florentine Valley, 120km west of Hobart.
Forestry Tasmania spokesman Steve Whiteley said the area was formerly covered by a truce signed between Forestry Tasmania and the Still Wild, Still Threatened activists in early 2007.
"The truce provided the opportunity for this group to peacefully lobby politicians in the lead up to the last federal election."
Mr Whiteley said logging resumed in the area last week after it was suspended in June last year to give protesters time to convince politicians to reduce the legislated logging effort.
"Having failed to convince politicians the 10 per cent of the Upper Florentine available for harvesting was too much, it would be disappointing if this group again resorts to unlawful activities that hurt contractors."
Mr Whiteley said the protest could cost contractors up to $10,000 a day.
Still Wild, Still Threatened activist Christo Mills said the action could last for days and would continue until police arrested all of the protesters.
"A forest defender is perched high on a tree-sit to protest against the continued decimation of Tasmania's carbon dense old growth forests.
"We are speaking out against the climate crimes which continue to be perpetuated by Forestry Tasmania and Gunns Limited, and are calling on (Prime Minister) Kevin Rudd to take immediate action and put a stop to the rampant woodchipping of some of our most significant carbon sinks."
Mr Whiteley said the activists were using global warming as a cover for their protests.
"Forestry is the only carbon positive industry and it's a shame that some forest activists are so focussed on their anti-forestry campaign, they can't see the real threat to the planet is not forestry, but those industries reliant on fossil fuels."
