The Tasmanian Conservation Trust is facing extinction unless $80,000 is raised to save it.
The TCT, founded in 1968, was a key player in the formation of Wellington Park, faced off with Gunns to revoke the permit to build a pulp mill and ran the highly successful fairy penguin sweater campaign after the 1999 Lady Barron spill, among many achievements.
Last year, the Australian Government axed The TCT’s Grants to Voluntary Environmental Sustainability and Heritage Organisations (GVESHO).
It faces closure in less than 12 months.
“The TCT has always run on the bare bones of the budget,” TCT director Peter McGlone said.
“All funding, grants and donations were used to run campaigns and the three part-time staff, including myself, just make enough to pay the bills.
“Now with the loss of this grant and other funding we are facing a very uncertain future.”
TCT fundraising co-ordinator Kyia Clayton said the TCT was the only environmental organisation that continually works with Government to protect Tasmania.
“It uses science-based information in its campaigns to achieve real outcomes.
“The TCT is in dire need of financial support – there is a 12-month window before it will have to begin to close down operations.
“There is no other environmental organisation in Tasmania that has done the large body of conservation work that the TCT has done and no other organisation that would be able to pick up and continue its work.”
To raise public awareness and vital funds, the TCT is hosting the State’s first ever environmental film festival – TeFF – a four-day event on November 12 – 15 at the iconic State Cinema.
“With some very special VIPs, city-wide events and super entertaining films that will highlight the fascination with the natural world, TeFF will help to bring excitement, reinvigorate the TCT and help raise awareness,” Mrs Clayton.
“It’s a challenging time. The TCT is as grass-roots as it gets and they need help.”
History
The Tasmanian Conservation Trust was founded at a town hall meeting in 1968 by the people of Hobart. It was formed as a non-political organisation that would work to further the conservation of Tasmania’s natural resources. Over the years its successes are many. The TCT was a key player in the formation of Mt Wellington Reserve – the 18,000 hectares that surround Mt Wellington Park, it took Gunns Ltd to court to try to revoke the permit to build a pulp mill. The TCT, along with Humane Society International successfully nominated Tasmanian Lowland Native Grasslands for protection under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. As well as played a crucial role in initiating the Crown Land Assessment and Classification Program which was completed in 2006 and recommended reservation of 78,000 hectares of Crown land.
Rocky reef marine habitats
Over the last decade the TCT has been a lone voice in highlighting the devastating loss of marine habitats on Tasmania’s east coast due to proliferation of the Centrostephanus sea urchin which is related to over-fishing of rock lobster. The TCT’s public pressure contributed to DPIPWE establishing the Centrastephanus Working Group to investigate possible means of controlling the species.
Supertrawler
The TCT provided vital leadership in the successful campaign to stop the supertrawler Margiris and have the previous Federal government institute a two-year ban on similar ships. TCT’s vital technical knowledge of the fishery and long-term relationship with recreational fishers was a critical element in the campaigns success and for ensuring this key alliance has continued to be effective as it seeks a permanent ban.
Aquaculture
Because of the quiet behind the scenes lobbying by TCT’s Marine Campaigner Jon Bryan over the last few years a number of the states largest aquaculture operators have committed to not seeking permits for culling seals and continue to seek a commitment from the entire industry.
Current campaigns:
Tas Tyre Clean Up & Recycling Program www.tastyrecleanup.com – it takes a tyre 30,000 years to biodegrade and that does not address the toxic seepage over all that time into our soil and water. >b?The Kingborough Cat Management Program – predation on native wildlife and the spread of disease to native wildlife and life stock is massive. Aims to work with private land holders to protect private forests – 860,000 hectares of native forest, with most threatened species habitats and threatened forests types are found on private land in Tasmania.
