Action on Bruny swift parrot habitat welcome but needs to be more widespread

The Wilderness Society today welcomed the announced cessation of logging on Bruny Island as a response to the critical plight of the swift parrot, but warned that more needed to be done, including additional areas set aside from logging, to properly respond to the threats to the parrot’s survival.

An analysis of Forestry Tasmania’s planned harvesting schedule demonstrated the need for similar action in planned logging coupes across the Southern Forests, where science shows intact, mature forest provides some protection for parrots from predatory sugar gliders.

‘We welcome an evidence-based approach and a cessation of logging on Bruny Island is a step in the right direction that needs to be replicated in other important swift parrot habitat threatened with logging,’ said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society.

‘While Bruny is a safe breeding haven for the swift parrot, recent science has shown there is important breeding and foraging habitat in forest scheduled for logging south of Hobart and this too needs to be protected.

‘The predation of parrots by sugar gliders is just one serious threat to the survival of the parrot. Another is the logging of important forest areas relied upon for breeding and foraging and the greatest unprotected concentration of these is in the Southern Forests.

‘We look forward to the finalisation of a management plan for the swift parrot and urge government to engage in widespread consultation prior to its completion.

‘Swapping important parrot habitat for land identified and protected as part of the Tasmanian Forest Agreement (TFA), yet reversed by the Hodgman government, is no solution to the plight of the parrot.

‘These areas were identified and protected as part of the TFA for a myriad of important ecological and social reasons. Kicking off logging in these areas not only threatens those values, but as identified by Lonely Planet just two weeks ago, it threatens Tasmania’s overall credibility and brand.
Vica Bayley Tasmanian Campaign Manager The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc.