Swift Parrot endangered by logging

Cassy O’Connor
The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Bartlett Government to demonstrate it takes the protection of threatened species seriously and guarantee Forestry Tasmania won’t log the critical Swift Parrot breeding habitat in Wielangta Coupe 19D, which was subject to a brief reprieve over Summer due to the presence of Swift Parrots.

SWIFT PARROT IN DANGER – WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH WIELANGTA COUPE 19D?
Habitat Logging Continues While Meaningless State of the State Swift Parrot Plan is Unscientific
Cassy O’Connor MP
Tasmanian Greens’ Environment Spokesperson
Wednesday, 4 March 2009

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today called on the Bartlett Government to demonstrate it takes the protection of threatened species seriously and guarantee Forestry Tasmania won’t log the critical Swift Parrot breeding habitat in Wielangta Coupe 19D, which was subject to a brief reprieve over Summer due to the presence of Swift Parrots.

Releasing the latest Green Institute update on the Swift Parrot, Greens’ Environment spokesperson, Cassy O’Connor MP, said the Parrots are now leaving their seasonal breeding habitats in blue and black gum forests along Tasmania’s East and South-East coastline, including Wielangta.

“The Premier yesterday acknowledged that the Swift Parrot is endangered. In fact, the science says it’s down to around 1000 breeding pairs and declining, so all available breeding habitat in Tasmania – the only place they do breed – is critical to this species’ survival,” Ms O’Connor said.

“If Coupe 19D is acknowledged as important breeding habitat this season, it should be protected from logging in perpetuity as it will be important breeding habitat into the future.”

“The Premier’s plan announced yesterday to plant 2500 hectares of foraging trees for the Swift Parrot will not protect the species into the foreseeable future. Those trees will not be suitable for foraging for at least forty years, and will not provide breeding habitat for a century or more.”

“The Premier needs to confirm that he did not consult with experts in Swift Parrot management, or the Threatened Species Section of the Department of Primary Industry and Water, in formulating this unscientific plan.”

“Ignoring the experts and the science, the Premier is putting forward Forestry Tasmania’s ‘solution’ to the bad press it is getting for pushing the Swift Parrot closer to extinction.”

“If the Bartlett Government wants to be taken seriously on the protection of the endangered Swift Parrot, it will rein Forestry Tasmania in, and do more to protect existing breeding and foraging habitat in Tasmania,” Ms O’Connor said.

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Attached:

The Swift Parrot in Tasmania: Its Conservation Status and the Impact of Logging on its Breeding Habitat Update 1, Margaret Blakers, January 2009.

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