Our mission is to permanently protect Tasmania’s old-growth forests and other high-conservation value forests from the destructive and irresponsible logging of GUNNS Limited. We envision a future for Tasmania in which forestry is a sustainable industry that truly benefits the overall economy of the Tasmanian people, including the island's latent tourist industry, and respects citizens' rights to preserve their forests for future generations.

RAN employs hard-hitting market campaign strategies that will work to bring GUNNS practices into alignment with widespread public support for the protection of Tasmania's high conservation value forests. Working in alliance with our global environmental and NGO networks, local communities, and our corporate associates, RAN will apply our time-tested market tactics towards persuading the corporate financiers and customers of GUNNS to withdraw their support for Gunns egregious attacks upon the Tasmanian forests.

Unfortunately, as the massive campaign by Australians to protect Tasmania’s forests continues to gain momentum, GUNNS has set a frightening precedent by attacking those responsible for the campaign’s success with its infamous "Gunns 20" lawsuit and similar legal attacks against Tasmanian citizens who seek to protect their community's forests.

Now more than ever there must be a global movement to save these forests and condemn these barbaric practices and attacks upon freedom of speech. The Rainforest Action Network and our allies are calling on everyone who cares for the forests and stands for justice to join the Tasmania Forest campaign to help win lasting protection for these world-class forests.

Despite a global outcry to save Tasmania's magnificent forests, GUNNS Limited - Australia’s largest logging company - continues to rapidly destroy one of the Earth’s most unique and ancient temperate rainforests.  Currently an average of nearly 15,000 hectares per year—about  40 football fields per day—of Tasmania's pristine forests are being destroyed by Gunns clear-cuts and firebombing. Many of these forests include old-growth Eucalypts—the world’s tallest hardwood trees. 

GUNNS is able to continue these appalling practices by exploiting its extremely close ties with the Tasmanian state government as illustrated by the massive support it receives with nearly $250 million dollars in combined government subsidies to Forestry Tasmania. Even more appalling, the government has specifically exempted GUNNS from important environmental laws and regulations, such as the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conseration Act of 1999.

The campaign to protect Tasmania’s irreplaceable ancient forests has garnered unprecedented support in Australia. According to opinion polls over 85% of the country favors full protection for Tasmania’s old-growth forest. However, instead of heeding this public sentiment and improving its practices, GUNNS persists in destroying Tasmania’s world-class woods and instigating lawsuits against ordinary citizens who speak out against this destruction.

In March 2006 Rainforest Action Network (RAN) joined the long-standing battle for Tasmania's forests with an international day of action at Australian embassies and consulates around the world. Since that time we have engaged key corporate supporters of Gunns practices while continuing public outreach to draw global attention to the crisis in Tasmania.

Going forth into fall 2006, RAN will plans on escalating our market pressure upon Gunns and its corporate affiliates. With growing support from people around the world, we hope to soon help support the Australian efforts to finally win lasting protection for the magnificent forests of Tasmania.