Devil: Letter from Concerned Scientists

LETTER FROM CONCERNED SCIENTISTS
7 September 2010

R.E: DEVILS IN DANGER – An investigation into the threatened species of the Upper Florentine Valley, a report by Still Wild Still Threatened – July 2010

To whom it may concern,

As scientists concerned with the ongoing loss of biodiversity in Tasmania, we commend the efforts of the community environment group, Still Wild Still Threatened, to document the biodiversity of the Upper Florentine Valley.

The report has identified that these intact forests destined for logging are occupied and used by a number of listed threatened species including two species of marsupial carnivores – the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) and the Spotted-tailed Quoll (Dasyrus maculatus maculatus).

We support a key recommendation of the report to place high quality threatened species habitat into secure reserves to ensure long term stable habitat conditions for species most at risk.

We support the expansion of community biodiversity monitoring activities throughout Tasmania, in particular, in ecosystems and habitats suspected to be areas of occupancy of threatened species

Yours faithfully,

Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick
School of Geography and Environmental Studies
University of Tasmania

Dr. Collette Harmsen
Veterinary Officer
Save the Tasmanian Devil Project

Dr. Peter McQuillan
School of Geography and Environmental Studies
University of Tasmania

Dr. David Obendorf
Wildlife Veterinary Pathologist

Nick Fitzgerald BSc (Hons). Grad Dip JMS.
Wild Country Science Officer
The Wilderness Society

MEDIA RELEASE 7.09.2010
‘DEVILS IN DANGER’ REPORT RELEASED FOR THREATENED SPECIES DAY
PRESS CONFERENCE 11AM PARLIAMENT LAWNS

Community conservation group Still Wild Still Threatened is today marking National Threatened Species Day with the launch of a new report, ‘Devils in Danger’ – an investigation into the threatened species of the Upper Florentine.

The report presents data from threatened species surveys the organisation has conducted in the Upper Florentine valley over the last six months. Using infra red cameras, Still Wild Still Threatened has recorded the presence of several endangered Tasmanian devils and rare spotted-tailed quolls in proposed logging coupes. To download a copy of the report, follow this link, http://www.stillwildstillthreatened.org/resources/devils-danger-investigation-threatened-species-upper-florentine

A group of concerned scientists, including Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick and Peter McQuillan from the University of Tasmania, have backed the report’s recommendations in a letter to State and Federal politicians, calling for the protection of threatened species habitat.

“Habitat loss, roadkill and the facial tumour disease are the big three pressures driving Tasmanian devils to the brink of extinction. Saving the devil’s natural habitat is essential to the species’ long term survival and equally important as the efforts to manage the cancer crisis afflicting the population,” said Dr McQuillan.

Forestry Tasmania and the Forest Practices Authority are required to undertake threatened species surveys prior to logging and formulate prescriptions for species most at risk. However, Mr Hill said this has not been done for the devils in the Upper Florentine coupes and it was up to community groups to identify critical habitat for threatened species.

“The government doesn’t look for threatened species, so they don’t see threatened species and apparently don’t harm threatened species when they clearfell an old growth forest. It’s a case of hear no evil, see no evil, do no evil and that’s not good enough for a species on the brink of extinction, like the Tasmanian devil,” said Mr Hill.

“It is sadly ironic that this destruction of pristine wildlife habitat is occurring in the Upper Florentine – the valley where the last known thylacine was captured. The date of National Threatened Species Day, 7th September, commemorates the death of that last thylacine in 1936. Seven decades later we are seeing the largest surviving marsupial carnivore, the Tasmanian devil, facing extinction,” said Mr Hill.

Mr Hill said the logging industry was exempt from compliance with the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
“It’s a farce that we have Commonwealth legislation that on the one hand protects the devil and lists it as Endangered, while still allowing the logging industry to destroy critical habitat,” said Mr Hill.

National Threatened Species Day

Today marks the 74th anniversary of the death of the last captive Tasmanian tiger or Thlyacine at the Hobart Zoo on the Queens Domain.

Rather than scold governments for their lack of action to protect threatened species – which would be justified – the Tasmanian Conservation Trust asks governments and businesses to use Threatened Species Day to reflect on the Sassafras-Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme (SWIS) as an example of threatened species and development co-existing.

The SWIS is now in the final stages of assessment by the Tasmanian and Australian governments and the TCT anticipates that approvals will be granted for the scheme to be constructed.

“When the SWIS was first proposed earlier this year, the TCT had grave concerns that the instillation of miles of underground irrigation pipelines would destroy key habitat of the nationally threatened species, the Central North Burrowing Crayfish and the Green and Gold Bell Frog”, said TCT Director, Peter McGlone.

“The project was being rushed, the needs of the threatened species had not been properly considered and the Australian Government correctly stepped in to require a more thorough assessment.

“Work done by the Tasmanian Irrigation Development Board (TIDB) since February has greatly improved the proposal. With additional refinement, not only will the pipeline avoid all threatened species habitat but it will provide additional water for streams and wetlands which will benefit the threatened species.

“The lesson for governments and developers from this project is that the TIDB were able to incorporate the needs of threatened species by obtaining good scientific information, consulting closely with the community and conservation groups and used this information to carefully plan their project.

“The other key factor which should see this project win approval is the TIDB took a cautious approach to identification of threatened species habitat. The TIDB could not determine whether crayfish burrows were occupied by the threatened Central North Burrowing Crayfish or common crayfish species found in the area, so they planned for the pipeline to avoid all crayfish burrows. This is a case of the precautionary principle in action and the TCT applauds the TIDB for this.

“The SWIS can incorporate the needs of threatened species mainly because it is in an existing irrigation area and the project is only increasing the amount of water available to farmers and not seeking to expand the area under irrigation.

“Major new instream dams and projects which expand irrigation into new areas are more likely to have critical flaws and cannot proceed without destroying threatened species.

“So the State Government can greatly reduce the conflict between threatened species conservation and irrigation development by having a policy which seeks to direct funding into assisting existing irrigation areas rather than opening up new areas or building major new dams.”

Peter McGlone
Director
Tasmanian Conservation Trust Inc

Paul O’Halloran:

TARKINE FOCUS ON THREATENED SPECIES DAY
Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP
Greens Member for Braddon

The Tasmanian Greens today said that the declaration of a Tarkine National Park would be a fantastic way to mark National Threatened Species day, as well as actually taking meaningful action that will benefit some of the state’s most endangered, vulnerable and rare species including the Tasmanian Devil, the Wedge-tailed Eagle, unique burrowing crayfish, and giant freshwater lobster.

Greens Member for Braddon, Paul ‘Basil’ O’Halloran MP, said that the state’s north-west was perfectly situated to play a key role in addressing threatened species loss, especially in the case of the endangered Tasmanian Devil.

“The Tarkine Region in the north-west is recognised as the only part of Tasmania free of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), and by protecting this crucial habitat region as a National Park would go a long way to securing this iconic species,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“A Tarkine National Park would also provide sanctuary to the Spotted-tail Quoll, recognised as being at risk due to continued habitat removal and fragmentation, which is found throughout the Tarkine region particularly along the coast.” [1]

“The Wedge-Tailed Eagle also makes its home in the north-west, and it is widely recognised that protection of its breeding habitat is critical for the survival of this majestic bird. Again, a Tarkine National Park has an important role to play.”

“The Giant Freshwater Lobster occurs in the Arthur River catchment in the north west, but this iconic species faces the ongoing threat posed by roading disturbance of its waterways, as well as poaching.”

“Habitat retention and protection is vital in the struggle to restore healthy and viable species populations and remove them from the dubious honour of being listed on the Threatened Species roll-call.”

“As a haven for a threatened species, an appropriately resourced Tarkine National Park has a crucial role to play for conservation and biodiversity management in this state.”

Tim Morris:

THREATENED SPECIES DAY HIGHLIGHTS ACTION NEEDED
Establish a Dedicated Feral Species Unit; Remove Forestry Exemptions; Protect Habitat
Tim Morris MP
Acting Leader

The Tasmanian Greens today marked National Threatened Species Day by calling for a Feral Species unit to be established to provide a dedicated focus targeting the ongoing loss of the state’s native species, and also the removal of the exemptions provided the forestry industry which allow a threatened species to be taken without a permit.

Greens Acting Leader Tim Morris MP said that more endemic native fauna and flora species risk ending up on the Threatened Species list unless decisive action is taken to invest in threat mitigation measures, which are applied rigorously and consistently across the state.

Mr Morris also said that the protection of habitat is a crucial mechanism to protect the state’s natural biodiversity, pointing out that the creation of a Tarkine National Park would provide much needed protection for species including the Tasmanian Devil, the burrowing crayfish and the giant fresh-water lobster.

“The Auditor-General’s Special Report into the Management of Threatened Species last year found that of the 674 species listed as threatened only 18% had a completed listing statement as required under the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (TSPA), and only 20% had a recovery plan,” Mr Morris said.

“Similarly the Report found that the state has not invested in the development of a comprehensive list detailing the important habitats of threatened species, which is desperately needed in order to secure the ongoing viability of our endangered, vulnerable and rare species.”

“Habitat loss, and invasion by pests and diseases, are the main risks that our wildlife face. The Greens urge that a dedicated Feral Species Unit is established as a priority to develop and implement plans to target the 72 identified pests that have been categorised as posing a high or extreme risk to our wildlife.”

“We urgently need to also revise current legislation which allows the forest industry to ‘take’ a threatened species without a permit, as there is no good reason for one sector to be ‘exempt’ from responsibilities towards threatened species than any other.”

“By the 2011 National Threatened Species Day, Tasmania should be aiming to have 100% completion of listing statements and recovery plans, as well as a comprehensive assessment of significant habitat completed, and a consistent approach across all sectors regarding the protection of threatened species,” Mr Morris said.

Reference: Auditor-General Special Report No. 78, Management of Threatened Species, March 2009.