[Greens-Media] Tas Greens_Forestry Threatens Wedge-Tailed Eagle Nest_C O'Connor MP

[greens at parliament.tas.gov.au]

FORESTRY TASMANIA THREATENS WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE NEST

And Then Keeps the Incident Secret

Cassy O'Connor MP
Greens Environment Spokesperson

Thursday, 27 August 2009
Contact: State Parliamentary Offices of the Tasmanian Greens, (03) 6233
8300

www.tas.greens.org.au


The Tasmanian Greens today revealed that Forestry Tasmania flagrantly
breached the provisions of the Forest Practices Code earlier this month
by logging right up to the base of a tree containing a Wedge-Tailed
eagle nest in Weld Valley logging coupe WR003e, and called on Forestry
Minister David Llewellyn to reveal why this incident has been kept from
the public.    

Greens Environment spokesperson Cassy O'Connor MP said Forestry Tasmania
is required to enforce a 100 metre exclusion zone around Wedge-Tailed
Eagle nests, as any disturbance near the nest will result in the parents
abandoning it, condemning to a slow death any chicks that may be in the
nest at the time. 

Ms O'Connor also said that the Tasmanian Wedge-Tailed Eagle is currently
an endangered species that is down to 130 breeding pairs statewide, and
the main threat to this iconic raptor is the logging and conversion of
its native forest habitat.

"Forestry Minister David Llewellyn is ultimately responsible for the
protection of threatened species in Tasmania, as well as the operations
of Forestry Tasmania, and he must reveal why this incident has been kept
secret, whether he has initiated any investigation into this incident,
and if not, why not," said Ms O'Connor.

"The Greens demand that Minister Llewellyn investigates this incident,
and reports back to the Parliament."

"Any human activity in close proximity to an active Wedge-Tailed Eagle
nest is likely to result in the parents abandoning the nest, and any
chicks that may be in it. But it is apparent, from video footage to be
released by Senator Bob Brown later today, that Forestry Tasmania have
logged right up to the base of the nest tree."

"Having the same Minister responsible for both forestry and threatened
species is untenable and may explain why the Minister David Llewellyn
has chosen not to reveal this latest incident - Mr Llewellyn continues
to live up to his moniker as the 'Minister for Threatening Species'."

"David Llewellyn must acknowledge that forestry operations in Tasmania
are increasingly irresponsible, and unsustainable." 

"Forestry Tasmania have a shocking record in this regard. Their
clearfelling operations threaten the future of dozens of endangered or
threatened species in Tasmania, they have torched and killed the tallest
flowering plant in Australia, El Grande, and now we discover that they
are ignoring their own regulations with regard to the endangered
Wedge-Tailed Eagle." said Ms O'Connor.




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