Progress on Ramsar Nomination of Robbins Passage

Media release – BirdLife Tasmania, 22 August 2022

BirdLife Tasmania welcomes vital progress on Ramsar nomination

BirdLife Tasmania today congratulated the Circular Head Council for voting in support of the Ramsar nomination of the Robbins Passage – Boullanger Bay wetlands in far north-west Tasmania – a key milestone in progressing protection of these internationally-significant and biodiversity-rich shores.

The council voted 7-2 at its recent meeting to support the nomination – https://www.circularhead.tas.gov.au/news/latest-news/council-supports-ramsar-nomination-for-robbins-passage

“Local community support is a critical contribution towards achieving a listing under the global Ramsar Convention on wetlands,” BirdLife Tasmania convenor Dr Eric Woehler said. “This is solid proof of the support of the people of Circular Head.”

“We were very glad that Councillors recognised the richness of the birdlife, and of other species dependant on this wonderful piece of north-west Tasmania,” Dr Woehler said. “They also saw Ramsar listing not as a threat to local businesses, but for its potential to unlock economic benefit”.

“We can now look forward to advancing the nomination through State and Federal processes. Our studies show that the Boullanger Bay-Robbins Passage complex fulfils at least six of the nine criteria for Ramsar listing, making it one of the most valuable wetlands in Australia. A wetland only needs to meet one criterion to be eligible for nomination – meeting six is remarkable” Dr Woehler added.

BirdLife Tasmania, the University of Tasmania and the Cradle Coast Authority briefed the local community and the Council in detail ahead of the vote on the proposed listing, which could cover wetlands stretching from Cape Grim to Stanley.

Dr Woehler and the university’s wetlands expert, Dr Vishnu Prahalad, were also able to brief the Tasmania Environment Minister, Roger Jaensch, on the proposal. “We were glad to have the opportunity to discuss the proposal with Mr Jaensch, and we look forward to progressing the nomination with him.”

Under the official Ramsar nomination processes in Australia, a proposal is carried by a state government to the federal government, which puts it before a meeting of convention parties. Tasmania currently has 10 Ramsar properties, and BirdLife Tasmania has long sought to have the Boullanger Bay-Robbins Passage complex included.

Featured image above: large flock of migratory shorebirds over Robbins Island © A Darby, BirdLife Tasmania.