*Pic: From here: in Carbon accounting & FT profitability
The Wilderness Society and Environment Tasmania have responded to a review of the Tasmanian Government Policy for Maintaining a Permanent Native Forest Estate[1] with a submission highlighting the inadequacies of the policy to meet its stated objectives and properly protect native forests and the critical values they hold.
Specifically, the policy:
• Extends landclearing and conversion of native forests on private land beyond a previously agreed end-date of January 2015;
• Fails to take into account climate change and the critical role protected forests play in combating climate change;
• Fails to articulate the significant contribution land clearing and conversion of native forests makes to carbon emissions and climate change;
• Creates a myriad of loopholes that allows Government to avoid the limits the policy itself sets and allow clearing of native forests indefinitely into the future;
‘The approval of logging and clearing of important habitat for species like the swift parrot, against the best scientific advice, demonstrates Government places a low priority on forest conservation and species preservation,’ said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society.
‘This policy opens the door for continued abuse of native forest policy and science-based protection measures.’
Globally, the clearance of forest has been a significant contributor to carbon emissions, contributing to dangerous climate change.
‘More needs to be done to ensure native forests are protected on both public and private land. Abandoning a previously agreed end to clearing on private land and continuing to allow the permanent destruction of native forests spells band news for species and the climate’, said Andrew Perry, Forest Campaign Coordinator for Environment Tasmania.
‘With Government’s political and ideological approach to forest policy in Tasmania, and little regard for the real world challenges facing both people and the planet, we fear this review will set up another dynamic where nature’s conservation needs are abandoned, with serious negative consequences.’
1.http://www.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/forestry/native-forest
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