Get real, it's land clearing
13 May 2005
The Tasmanian Labor and Federal Coalition Governments today have announced a simplistic package that fails to solve the most significant issue affecting Tasmania's natural environment - land clearing (PDF 232 KB), says WWF-Australia.
This problem has a workable solution. Today both Governments rejected the solution and chose to keep clearing the land.
"Land clearing causes extinctions: Australia must stop clearing its native vegetation," WWF-Australia CEO, Mr Greg Bourne said.
Today, 657 species of animals and plants in Tasmania are threatened with extinction in the wild. Unless we stop land clearing, the number will increase dramatically.
Mr Bourne said: "This simplistic package repeats the mistakes of the original Regional Forest Agreement. It creates new reserves, but undermines their benefits by explicitly encouraging the clearing and converting of yet more native forests for yet more plantations.
"We have come nowhere since 1997. You could be tempted to say this is Groundhog Day."
WWF-Australia recognised the global significance of the Tarkine rainforest and has successfully pushed for its protection - we commend the decision to protect it.
However, while the iconic old trees have been saved, both Governments have taken the symbolic easy option rather than confront the real and complex environmental problem facing Tasmania - the massive clearing of our native vegetation.
"It's more than the forests," Mr Bourne said. "Most threatened species do not inhabit old growth forests, tall wet eucalypt forests or rainforests. They inhabit open woodlands, streamside vegetation, dry forests, heathlands, rocky and stony habitat, native grasslands, coastal scrub, wetlands and semi-improved grasslands - this is the very land that will be cleared.
WWF-Australia's Blueprint for the Forest Industry and Vegetation Management in Tasmania released in July 2004 provides a solution to the key environmental problems facing Tasmania while allowing for a vibrant forest industry.
"The health of the economy is ultimately dependent upon the health of the environment - the simplistic forest package announced today has failed to deliver long term solutions," Mr Bourne said.
For further information contact:
Jacqueline McArthur
WWF-Australia Communications Manager - Media
Ph: (02) 9281 5515
Mobile: 0408 626 780
