Members of Tasmania’s mountain biking fraternity have expressed their support for maintaining the protected status of the Blue Derby forest reserves, in the face of Tasmania’s Premier and Tourism Minister Will Hodgman’s legislation to undo protection for 356,000 ha of high conservation value forest reserves, including the Blue Derby forests, so they can be logged.
New mountain bike trails established in the reserves and premised on their protected status, have helped garner up to a 250% increase in visitation[1] to north east Tasmania and demonstrate the potential and opportunity of new conservation reserves in Tasmania.
President of the Conningham Mountain Bike Club Steve Harwin (and former Forestry Tasmania GIS Developer), who has negotiated a Parks and Wildlife Service Recreation Area Agreement for mountain biking in his region, said reversing the reserve status for the Blue Derby forests was a ‘ridiculous proposition’.
“Originally declared for their conservation values, these reserves now protect a valuable mountain biking experience that is bringing people and attention to north east Tasmania,’” said Dr Harwin.
“Reversing them to allow logging can only be described as a gross act of insanity that lacks any real logic. Logging anywhere in this region will undermine its tourism potential.”
Dr Harwin has been an avid mountain bike rider for over 25 years and regularly visits the Blue Derby trails, including with his young family.
“These trails are becoming a highlight of what Tasmania has to offer.”
The Wilderness Society has released a map here ( https://www.wilderness.org.au/sites/default/files/media-release/blue_derby_trails_map.pdf ) showing the majority of the Blue Derby trails are either wholly or partly in reserves proposed to have their protections stripped via Premier Hodgman’s bill, expected to be tabled in Parliament this week.
“The Blue Derby forest reserves are but one example of the damage Premier Hodgman’s legislation will do and the opportunities it will snuff out,” said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for the Wilderness Society.
“Other high conservation value forest reserves to be targeted by Premier Hodgman include Bruny Island, Wielangta, the takayna/Tarkine and Douglas-Apsley. Imagine their potential as either new or additions to existing iconic national parks, protecting important environmental values and offering a range of new opportunities for locals and visitors alike.
1
http://www.tcci.com.au/getattachment/Events/Past-Events-(1)/Tasmania-Report/TCCI-Tasmania-Report-2015-FINAL.pdf.aspx
Vica Bayley Tasmanian Campaign Manager The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc. Steve Harwin
