End Native Forest Logging – Doctors, Vets Urge Tasmania to follow Victoria

VfCA Chair Dr Jeannet Kessels, volunteers Dr Janet Berry and Dr Mariska Hall, and former Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Ron Glanville, have written to Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Resources. VfCA is calling for a halt to the logging of native forests in Tasmania

We highlighted the value the natural environment provides to our economy and society, the importance of biodiversity to the threatened species of Tasmania and the urgency posed by the climate crisis. VfCA is urging the Tasmanian Government to recognise its responsibility to future generations, acknowledge the full value of the old forests in Tasmania, and declare a date for the end of native logging in the state.

We hope Tasmania will follow the lead of the Victorian Government who recently announced the end of native logging by 2024.

A copy of the letter is available here.

If you would like to write your own letter to your MP, here are some tips to communicating on climate.

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The Honourable Jeremy Rockliff MP  Premier of Tasmania Email: jeremy.rockliff@dpac.tas.gov.au 

The Honourable Felix Ellis MP  Minister for Resources Email: felix.ellis@dpac.tas.gov.au 

6 June 2023 

Dear Premier Rockliff and Minister Ellis 

We write to you, representing over 2000 subscribers, mostly from Australia’s veterinary profession, together with a group of 34 retired Chief Veterinary and Senior Government Officers from most states and territories of Australia. 

We ask you to call a halt to the logging of native forests in Tasmania. 

The natural environment lays the foundation for our economy, our society, indeed our very existence. The forests, rivers, oceans and soils provide us with the clean water we drink, the clean air we breathe, the resources for food production and a source of medicines. The world now recognises the need to value nature1. The full capital value of Tasmania’s native forests and trees should be determined, publicly acknowledged and balanced against the short-term profit from chopping them down for pulp. 

The climate is now in crisis as global temperatures threaten to exceed 1.5C of warming within the next five years. The Climate Council recommends that Australia cuts its greenhouse gas emissions 75 percent by 2030 (based on 2005 levels), and aim to reach net zero by 2035, in order to play our part in avoiding a global climate catastrophe2. Tasmania already claims to have reached net zero, a claim that relies on the value of the trees and forests and their role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

Biodiversity, the range of animals, plants and microorganisms, is essential for the processes that support all life on Earth, including human life. A United Nations report has determined that about one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction, many within decades, more than ever before in human history 3. 

1 https://www.un.org/en/can-we-measure-value-nature 

2 https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/what-does-net-zero-emissions-mean/ 

3 https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2019/05/nature-decline-unprecedented-report/ 

The Tasmanian Threatened Species Lists 4 documents more than 650 species of plants and animals that are currently threatened in Tasmania, including well known examples, the Tasmanian devil, spotted-tail and eastern quolls, eastern-barred bandicoot, wedge-tailed eagles, masked owl, swift parrot as well as lesser-known invertebrates and plants. Logging operations destroy the habitat for many of these endangered species, resulting in their death or displacement. 

The agricultural industry recognises the importance of climate mitigation, renewable farming, and conservation of the environment. Food exports from Tasmania in the future may depend on sustainable production systems. Hence it is vital that the Tasmanian government supports these next-generation farming practices by having a full and robust policy to protect the environment. 

Tasmania attracts many visitors, whether to explore the wilderness areas, visit wildlife sanctuaries, engage in mountain biking, or enjoy the good food and wine produced. If the old growth forests continue to be violated, the eco-friendly reputation of Tasmania will be forever tainted. 

At the UN Climate Change conference in 2021, Australia was among 145 countries that reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable management and restoration of forests 5. The Western Australian Government has announced native forest logging will end from 20246. The Victorian Government has announced native timber harvesting in state forests will end in 20247. 

We urge the Tasmanian Government to recognise its responsibility to future generations, acknowledge the full value of the old forests in Tasmania, and declare a date for the end of native logging. 

Yours sincerely 

4  

https://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/conservation/threatened-species-and-communities/lists-of-threatened-species/full-list-of-threatened-species 

5 

https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20230418175226/https://ukcop26.org/glasgow-leaders-declaration-on-forests-and -land-use/ 

6 https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/protecting-western-australias-native-forests 

7 https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/delivering-certainty-timber-workers