Phill Pullinger Environment Tasmania MRs

The fire, which is understood to have started from a vehicle on the ‘Road to Nowhere’ (a controversial road that environment groups argued against in the mid 1990s), is currently already spread over several square kilometres of wild country.

MEDIA RELEASE: 17/3/2008

BUSHFIRE FEAR FOR TARKINE RAINFOREST
Conservationists have grave fears over the future of Australia’s Largest Temperate Rainforest, with a huge fire burning out of control today in a remote part of the Tarkine. They are calling for the Tasmanian Fire Service and the Parks & Wildlife Service to be given all resources necessary to fight the fire. The fire, which is understood to have started from a vehicle on the ‘Road to Nowhere’ (a controversial road that environment groups argued against in the mid 1990s), is currently already spread over several square kilometres of wild country. Much of the Tarkine Rainforest was protected in a conservation reserve by the then Prime Minister, John Howard, and Tasmanian Premier, Paul Lennon in 2005, because of its outstanding value as Australia’s largest temperate rainforest.

The Tarkine National Coalition has been contacted by several locals and members last night and this morning who are very concerned about the bushfire, and its potential to devastate a large portion of the Tarkine Rainforest. TNC members who saw the site yesterday afternoon described huge plumes of smoke and expanses of fire front.

“That fire has the potential to devastate large sections of the Tarkine Rainforest – and we desperately hope that it can be brought under control. The conditions for fire appear appalling at the moment, and we are praying on a weather change and the professionalism and expertise of the fire service, and the Parks & Wildlife Service in being able to get this fire under control,” said Dr Phill Pullinger, President of the Tarkine National Coalition, “We certainly hope that the emergency services can be given all the resources that they need to tackle this fire.”

“The Tarkine is one of Australia’s outstanding natural treasures. It’s outstanding pristine rainforests are recognised to be of World Heritage significance. However, fire is devastating for rainforest, and probably represents the biggest threat to the Tarkine’s long-term future. In the early 1980s, a wildfire that started at Savage River wiped out more than 20,000 hectares of myrtle rainforest – and we desperately don’t want that to happen again,” he continued, “What this really underscores is how important it is that we look after these pristine wilderness areas very, very carefully. Pushing more roads and more access into remote wilderness areas dramatically escalates the risks of wildfire – and so it is really important that we avoid pushing more roads into this fragile wilderness,” concluded Dr Pullinger.

ENVIRONMENT GROUPS CALL FOR MARINE RESERVES

With the RPDC’s final recommendations on the establishment of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Bruny Bioregion to be handed down this week, environment groups have urged the Tasmanian government to follow through with protecting the extraordinary wildlife and unique habitats of the area through the establishment of key Marine Reserves.

“Marine reserves are crucial for conserving our marine biodiversity,” said Dr Jane Elek, President of the Tasmanian Marine Naturalists, “New reserves in the Bruny Bioregion will protect important species found nowhere else in the world – like the spotted handfish and the live-bearing seastar – as well as lots that have not even been scientifically described.”

At a recent presentation on the area, renowned local marine scientist Graham Edgar commented that the Bruny area has one of the highest levels of endemic species (those unique to one area) found in the marine environments globally, with many of these species threatened. Reflecting this spectacular diversity, internationally recognized National Geographic photographer David Doubilet rates Tasmania’s marine environment as the 2nd best in the world for interest to divers.

Christian Bell, CEO for the Tasmanian Conservation Trust, agrees, “Tasmania has taken on the challenge of establishing a representative network of Marine Reserves around the state, with the Bruny Bioregion the most worthy of reservation. Protecting key areas in this unique and extraordinarily special area will be an important step forward in sustaining Tasmania’s marine environment in the face of increasing threats from climate change, marine pests, fishing and development,” he said.

In other parts of Tasmania where Marine Reserves have been declared there have been rapid and significantly positive impacts on the marine environment. For example, the total weight of lobsters in the Maria Island Marine Reserve increased ten-fold since the reserve’s establishment.

“If we protect some key marine areas in the Bruny Bioregion there will be direct benefits to the health of marine wildlife, the health of our fisheries, and the future of our entire marine environment,” said Dr Phill Pullinger, Chairperson for Environment Tasmania.

“The Bruny Bioregion contains some of the world’s most spectacular marine wonders such as giant kelp forests. These marine wonders are an international attraction that is untapped and sadly they are fast disappearing. We have the potential here to create Tasmania’s own tourist mecca like the Great Barrier Reef if substantially larger no-take zones are established,” said Paul Oosting campaigner for The Wilderness Society.

Rebecca Hubbard, Coordinator for Ocean Planet, puts the proposed reserves into perspective on a global scale; “Internationally, scientists recommend at least 30% of each marine habitat is fully protected to ensure the survival of our marine wildlife and ecosystems. Yet the RPDC draft recommendations look at only setting aside about 5% of the Bruny Bioregion – with only a fraction of that fully protected in Marine Reserves. This is a conservative proposal and should be straight forward for the state government to implement,” she concluded.