Environment signatories have today welcomed the Tasmanian Government’s gazettal of the first stage of reserves passed by the Tasmanian Parliament in September, and agreed by industry, worker and environment groups under the Tasmanian Forest Agreement.
“The formal declaration of reserves is another clear demonstration that the Tasmanian Forests Agreement can and will deliver for the environment as well as industry and the Tasmanian community. This is an important milestone in an ongoing journey and continues to build confidence that the agreement can work,” said Vica Bayley, Tasmanian Campaign Manager for the Wilderness Society.
“We thank the state government and its department for their hard work in delivering the Tasmanian Parliament’s decision on Reserve Orders.”
The gazettal confirms the conservation values of important forest areas and permanently protects them in reserves under the Nature Conservation Act. This implements the Initial Proposed Reserve Order passed by both Houses of the Tasmanian Parliament in early September.
“These new reserves include iconic forests in the Styx, Weld and Upper Florentine, and cover most of the Tasmanian World Heritage Area Extension. It also includes important areas linking the Styx Valley with Mt Wellington,” said Ahmet Bektas, spokesperson for Environment Tasmania.
“The areas will protect a key corridor for threatened marsupial carnivores, some of the tallest trees in the world, and unique cave formations.”
“Environment signatories and all the groups they represent will continue the hard work ahead to implement the entire agreement and achieve all the agreed conservation, industry, and community outcomes,” said Don Henry, CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Vica Bayley, The Wilderness Society,
Ahmet Bektas, Environment Tasmania,
Josh Meadows, Australian Conservation Foundation
• Brian Wightman, Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage: Additional Reserves for Tasmania
Almost 100,000 hectares in additional reserve areas officially come into being today.
The Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage, Brian Wightman said the proclamation is the first in a series to implement the proposed reserves identified in the Tasmanian Forests Agreement Act 2013.
“The additional conservation areas, regional reserves and national parks amount to approximately 95,700 hectares and will transfer to the Parks and Wildlife Service to manage.
“A management plan is currently being produced which will add further clarity and certainty around land use.
“The name of the class being assigned to the areas of reserved land specified in the proclamation is conservation area, regional reserve or national park and is included in the names,” Mr Wightman said.
Reserve New / Ext Area (ha)
Catamaran River Conservation Area new 3926.00
Central Plateau Conservation Area extension 3615.80
Florentine River Regional Reserve new 7477.69
Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park extension 16507.77
Hartz Mountains National Park extension 4976.00
Humboldt Ridge Regional Reserve new 610.60
Clear Hill Regional Reserve new 2775.00
Mount Field National Park extension 6702.44
Picton River Conservation Area extension 4614.00
Russell Ridge Conservation Area extension 8364.00
Southwest National Park extension 18360.48
Styx River Regional Reserve new 12829.00
Tarraleah Conservation Area new and extension 346.80
Weld River Regional Reserve. new 4619.00
TOTAL 95724.58
