Miranda's epic tree-sit ends

Miranda Gibson is back on terra firma after a marathon tree-sit in a remote Tasmanian forest.

ACTIVIST Miranda Gibson has been hailed by supporters as a "hero of the forests" after ending her record-breaking tree-sit.

Smoke from a bushfire near the Styx Valley, about 100km north-west of Hobart, has brought an end to her epic 15-month protest.

The 31-year-old anti-logging campaigner was personally congratulated by fellow environmentalist Bob Brown when she made her descent today.

"Congratulations," he said. "You're our hero of the forests."

Life up a tree

Australian Greens leader Christine Milne, who visited the tree-sit earlier this year, praised Ms Gibson for the contributions she had made.

"I know this is a difficult decision for Miranda to leave the Observer Tree after 451 days, but I know that her campaign to protect our native forests will continue now she is on the ground," Senator Milne said in a statement.

"Miranda's global outreach has been a constant reminder that Tasmania's global reputation as an area of great beauty and wilderness is at risk if logging continues."

Ms Gibson has lived at the top of a 60m tree since December 2011 in a bid to stop logging in high-conservation value forests.

Her lofty vigil has attracted worldwide attention, with the former teacher appearing on news shows around the world.

She's also used satellite technology to speak at a number of environmental conferences and acted as a spokeswoman for the Still Wild Still Threatened conservation group.

Since taking up residence on a platform suspended at the top of a 400-year-old eucalypt tree, she has blogged about the experience and her ObserverTree Facebook page has been "liked" by more than 9170 people.

Ms Gibson broke the record for the longest Australian tree-sit back in July, topping the 208 days Manfred Stephens spent up a tree near Cairns in 1995.

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