Tasmanian Elder Uncle Jim Everett has been arrested in Tasmania's Styx Valley after joining community members at a planned forest protest.
The protest was held at the at the Styx Valley of the Giants, a native forest area which runs adjacent to Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. It is the same location which saw Bob Brown and nine others arrested in recent weeks.
Uncle Jim, a proud Pakana Plangermairreenner man said Tasmanian people have a responsibility to protect the state's native forests.
"Ongoing logging of our old growth native forests has to stop immediately. The consequences are far beyond reason now, and the impacts on the relational ecosystems not only causes major imbalance of the whole native forest network in the Styx Valley, but also causes great concern to Palawa/Pakana people," Uncle Jim said.
"We are country and country is us, our First People in Lutruwita/Tasmania understand how we are a part of everything, and have a responsibility and role to protect these ancient forests."
The political activist, poet and filmmaker said it was an honour for him to join the Bob Brown Foundation in the "struggle to end this damaging logging of old growth forests".
"…and my action is aimed at inspiring more involvement by Palawa/Pakana to stand with the brave people who are already in the front line to protect our forests," he said.
The forest protest coincides with the Tasmanian state election, which is set to be held on Saturday.
Mr Brown paid tribute to Uncle Jim for his longtime advocacy of Tasmania's natural environment.
"Jim-puralia Everett-meenamatta, now in his eighties, is both the old and new spirit of Tasmania," Mr Brown said.
"He was arrested for peacefully defending the Franklin River in the 1980s and, later, the takayna rainforest.
"His going to the defence of the remarkable Styx forest now shows how much better the forests of Tasmania would be if back in the hands of First Nations people rather than the current corporations sucking million of dollars out of the public purse each year as they destroy more forests for export woodchips."
Following his arrest, the Greens "applauded and respected" the activist for his "defence of spectacular giant forests in the Styx Valley.
"Jim has been a tireless warrior for his people, using art, activism and advocacy to fight for identity, land, heritage protection, truth and Treaty," a Greens statement read.
"Anyone who heard what he had to say at the weekend's forests rally, or reads his comments today would be moved. And, we hope, moved to action."
The Greens said while the giant forests are precious carbon banks and habitat for wildlife, first and foremost they are part of unceded Aboriginal land.
"The Tasmanian Greens stand in solidarity with Jim Everett and others from the Aboriginal community who fight for the protection of their land, culture and future of their community," they said.
"Protecting forests is just one part of that fight."
A Tasmania Police spokesperson said one person was arrested following protest activity in Styx Valley on Wednesday morning.
"Police were called to the scene about 7.30am, following reports of several people trespassing on a business site," the spokesperson said.
