McGlone: IGA fails. O’Connor: Threats remain. Milne: Wightman is hypocritical

• Peter McGlone:

National Threatened Species Day: Intergovernmental Agreement on Forests fails threatened species

6 September 2011

National Threatened Species Day (NTSD) is held each year on 7th September to commemorate the death in the Hobart Zoo in 1936 of the last captive Tasmanian tiger or Thylacine and to promote action to protect threatened species.

This NTSD the Tasmanian Conservation Trust wishes to draw attention to the total failure of the Tasmanian and Australian governments to protect threatened species through the recently signed Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on Tasmania’s Forests.

“Even if the IGA is fully implemented it will deliver very little for Tasmania’s forest dependent threatened animals and plants and threatened forest types,” said TCT Director Peter McGlone.

“While the IGA promises a good outcome for protection of wilderness forests on public land (which the TCT supports) very little threatened species habitat is contained in the 430,000 ha proposed for reservation.”

“Almost all unprotected threatened species habitat in Tasmania is found on private land and both the IGA and the Forests Statement of Principles ignored private forests completely.”

The TCT highlights the swift parrot as perhaps the best example of a threatened species dependent on private land which misses out in the IGA. Government figures provided to the TCT show that 47% of all habitat for the swift parrot is on private land, less than 12% on state forest and the remainder in reserves and Crown land.

“It is greatly disappointing that very little of the swift parrot’s habitat is within the areas proposed to be reserved – perhaps as little as 1-2%,” Mr McGlone added.

“The swift parrot is an iconic endangered species which is completely dependent on Tasmanian oldgrowth forests for breeding and yet the IGA will protect a pathetic amount of its habitat.”

The swift parrot spends winter months on the mainland and each year migrates across Bass Strait around this time. The species only nests in Tasmania in lowland and coastal forests of the east and south-east of Tasmania. The first unverified reports of sightings have been received.

“It is not too late for the governments to act to protect the swift parrot and other forest dependent threatened species. The TCT calls on both governments to use NTSD to commit to building on the IGA and announce a commitment to investing in programs to assist private land owners to protect threatened species,” Mr McGlone concluded.

• Cassy O’Connor:

GREENS MARK THREATENED SPECIES DAY
Threats Remain For Native Habitat

Cassy O’Connor MP
Greens Environment Spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens believe the focus of Threatened Species Day 2011 should be preventing the ongoing destruction of native habitat, which continues to threaten iconic species like the Tasmanian devil and the wedge-tailed eagle.

The Greens environment spokesperson Cassy O’Connor said the 75th anniversary of the death of the last captive thylacine gives Tasmania the opportunity to reflect on the importance of protecting our unique flora and fauna.

“This sad anniversary is also a day to reflect on how fortunate we are to be custodians of this very special island, with its unique plants and animals,” said Ms O’Connor.

“As an island state, Tasmania’s threatened species have long been protected by our natural borders. However, habitat for threatened species such as the Tasmanian devil and wedge-tailed eagle is under threat, due poor and unsustainable land management practices that still do not place priority on habitat protection.”

“We need to do everything we can to ensure that the Tasmanian devil doesn’t go the way of the thylacine.”

“We are proud of our push to have the state’s high conservation value forests protected from destructive and unsustainable forestry practices.”

“It’s also why we believe it’s a high priority for the Tarkine in north-west Tasmania to be listed as a National Park.”

“The Tarkine is recognised as the only remaining stronghold in the state free from the devil facial tumour disease.”

“It’s also home to other threatened species such as the wedge-tailed eagle, burrowing crayfish, giant freshwater lobster which is the largest in the world, and rare and unique orchids.”

“Protecting this crucial habitat region as a National Park would go a long way to securing the future of our iconic species and would be a fitting tribute to the memory of the thylacine.”

• Senator Christine Milne: Wightman’s hypocrisy on threatened species

State Environment Minister, Brian Wightman is misleading Tasmanians when claiming the government must do all it can to protect endangered species, Greens Deputy Leader, Christine Milne said today.

“Tasmanians will be outraged to hear that in the same week Mr Wightman is seeking a meeting with Minister Burke to try to prevent the heritage listing of the Tarkine , he is also announcing two days later that we must do all we can to protect our threatened species.

“With nine new mine proposals before his federal counterpart, and 56 active mining exploration licenses currently granted, Minister Wightman is placing the iconic Tasmanian devil, along with other threatened species, below the profits of mining interests.

“Mr Wightman’s blinkered view of the Tarkine being an El Dorado of social and economic value provided it is dug up, is deeply flawed.

“The Tarkine provides a wealth of opportunity consistent with strong social and economic values by being protected. What of the social and economic values when the mines are spent, the devils gone, the environment ravaged, and the community left with nothing?

“This is clearly not the actions of an environment minister doing all he can to protect threatened species; it is just the cheap politics of a Minister telling the community what it wants to hear on this landmark day marking the 75th anniversary of the thylacine’s extinction.

“Opening the Tarkine to unbridled development will sound the death knell for the Tasmanian devil, whose final disease-free stronghold is there among the region’s mining exploration holes.

“The Minister must explain how he intends ‘doing all he can’ to protect the devil, and the region’s threatened species as he rolls out the welcome mat to developments that will destroy them,” Senator Milne said.

• Rebecca Hubbard, Marine Coordinator, Environment Tasmania: Where is the marine environment this Threatened Species Day?

Wednesday 7 September

Has the Minister for the Environment forgotten Tasmania’s marine environment on this year’s Threatened Species Day? Threatened Species Day is celebrated every year to highlight the plight of our most vulnerable wildlife and their need for protection, yet Tasmania’s oceans failed to even get a mention in Minister Wightman’s Threatened Species Day press release.

“The Minister for the Environment should be aware that there are on the order of 50 marine species listed as threatened under Tasmanian and Federal legislation.’ said Rebecca Hubbard, Marine Coordinator, Environment Tasmania.

“Tasmania’s marine environment is globally significant for its diversity and high numbers of unique species, and yet despite the Critically Endangered status of some including the Spotted Handfish they don’t even rate acknowledgement.

“If we are to truly learn the lessons of our past which led to the extinction of the Tasmanian Tiger we need to develop a network of marine national parks that protect our marine wildlife as a matter of urgency. Without this basic level of habitat protection, we may end up with the world’s first extinct fish 75 years after we lost the Thylacine,” concluded Ms Hubbard.
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