Threatened Species Day a real motivator for a ‘Lobster Forests National Park’

Following scientific advice and the Government’s own draft threatened species recovery plan, formally protecting important forested catchments in the habitat of the Giant Freshwater Lobster is a logical step to take as Australia marks Threatened Species Day.

The future of the giant freshwater lobster is threatened by habitat degradation due to logging and landclearing in upstream catchments of key rivers in northern Tasmania. A ‘Lobster Forests National Park’ in priority catchment areas would finally deliver on longstanding public land reservation recommendations of the recovery plan, a government document that aims to protect the species from ongoing population decline.

‘Only Government can act meet the recommendation to formally reserve public land in critical habitat areas of the iconic giant freshwater lobster,’ said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society.

‘A Lobster Forests National Park could deliver the recommended habitat protections and continue Tasmania’s celebration of the economic, employment, community and environmental benefits that our national parks offer.

‘As Australia marks the plight of threatened species, timed to coincide with the demise of the thylacine, Tasmania of all places has an imperative to act and act urgently.

‘Logging and landclearing is increasing pressure on a myriad of Tasmanian species, including the swift parrot, masked owl and giant freshwater lobster.

‘Action to protect critical habitat is long overdue, urgent and achievable. Significant areas of high conservation value forests, many identified because of their habitat value, sit languishing as ‘unallocated crown land’ after having their protection reversed by the current Tasmanian government.

‘Gazetting these areas as new formal reserves, such as a Lobster Forest National Park, is a no-brainer given the needs of threatened species, advice of scientists and the now widely acknowledged economic and community benefits that come with unlocking the potential of new national parks.
Vica Bayley Tasmanian Campaign Manager The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc.