Forests in eastern Tasmania are this morning being defended by citizens calling for the protection of Swift Parrot habitat. One person is locked onto logging machinery and another is in a tree-sit.
Protection of Tasmania’s native forests has become more urgent after Victoria’s Premier Andrews announced their state would fast-track out of logging.
“A difference between Tasmania and Victoria is that the environmental defenders have laws that protect endangered species and halt the destruction of their habitat,” said Erik Hayward, Bob Brown Foundation campaigner.
“Logging of Swift Parrot habitat here in this forest is for woodchips. This is a tract of forests, if protected would be a large tract of breeding habitat for a critically endangered species. Eastern Tiers is one of the best large remaining habitats for Swift Parrots,” said Erik Hayward.
“We have written multiple times to Premier Rockliff calling for an end to native forest logging and protection of Swift Parrots. Despite our appeals on behalf of the Swift Parrot, logging continues in this critical habitat,” said Bob Brown Foundation Campaign Manager Jenny Weber.
“Scientists have told us and the government for almost a decade that the single biggest threat to the survival of the Swift Parrots is habitat loss in the breeding range.
In Tasmania, we are witnessing the wiping out of the Swift Parrot and continued logging at all costs. What a tragedy when governments prefer to ignore the science and keep logging. The most important action we can take is the cessation of habitat loss in the Swift Parrot breeding range,” said Jenny Weber.