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Tony Abbott must shelve deceitful ploy to diminish Tasmania's wilderness Tony Abbott must shelve deceitful ploy to diminish Tasmania's wilderness
(4 months later)
In a previous life as a Tasmanian parks and wildlife ranger, my job was to inspire, in locals and tourists alike, a love and appreciation for Tasmania’s natural wonders. It was not difficult. During the years I spent walking and working in the Tassie bush, I came to see the beauty and value of the island’s natural heritage at a very deep level. The Tasmanian wilderness became part of me and continues to shape and inspire my life’s work as an environmental advocate.In a previous life as a Tasmanian parks and wildlife ranger, my job was to inspire, in locals and tourists alike, a love and appreciation for Tasmania’s natural wonders. It was not difficult. During the years I spent walking and working in the Tassie bush, I came to see the beauty and value of the island’s natural heritage at a very deep level. The Tasmanian wilderness became part of me and continues to shape and inspire my life’s work as an environmental advocate.
Being a ranger was a wonderful job and I was proud to wear the khaki uniform with the Tassie devil patch on the shoulder. In our training, my fellow rangers and I were schooled in the significance of the world heritage status afforded to Tasmania’s wildest places. First declared in 1982, expanded in 1989 and again 2013, world heritage listing conferred the highest level of protection for the most spectacular and important landscapes. Back then, governments at both levels were proud advocates and defenders of world heritage. How times have changed.Being a ranger was a wonderful job and I was proud to wear the khaki uniform with the Tassie devil patch on the shoulder. In our training, my fellow rangers and I were schooled in the significance of the world heritage status afforded to Tasmania’s wildest places. First declared in 1982, expanded in 1989 and again 2013, world heritage listing conferred the highest level of protection for the most spectacular and important landscapes. Back then, governments at both levels were proud advocates and defenders of world heritage. How times have changed.
On Friday in Paris, scientists from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the International Council on Monuments and Sites handed down to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre a brief but damning report that would play a critical role in the future protection of Tasmania’s world heritage-listed forests.On Friday in Paris, scientists from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the International Council on Monuments and Sites handed down to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre a brief but damning report that would play a critical role in the future protection of Tasmania’s world heritage-listed forests.
The report from the UNESCO advisory bodies recommended the 38th world heritage committee meeting in Doha, Qatar, next month “did not approve” the Abbott government’s unprecedented request for a “minor boundary modification” that would delist 74,000 hectares of forest added to the Tasmanian wilderness world heritage area less than a year ago. The report from the UNESCO advisory bodies recommended the 38th world heritage committee meeting in Doha, Qatar, next month “did not approve” the Abbott government’s unprecedented request for a “minor boundary modification” that would delist 74,000 hectares of forest added to the Tasmanian wilderness world heritage area less than a year ago.
Last year’s additions gave protection to wild and stunning landscapes, including the Upper Styx, Florentine, Weld and Derwent valleys and parts of the Great Western Tiers and Recherche Bay. The previous federal government argued these areas were of outstanding universal value and thus worthy of world heritage protection. Now, without any new evidence or information to the contrary, the Abbott government is trying to convince the committee that 74,000 hectares of forest from these same areas is heavily degraded and not worthy of protection.Last year’s additions gave protection to wild and stunning landscapes, including the Upper Styx, Florentine, Weld and Derwent valleys and parts of the Great Western Tiers and Recherche Bay. The previous federal government argued these areas were of outstanding universal value and thus worthy of world heritage protection. Now, without any new evidence or information to the contrary, the Abbott government is trying to convince the committee that 74,000 hectares of forest from these same areas is heavily degraded and not worthy of protection.
Abbott’s deceitful request to the committee is not about delivering environmental or scientific objectives, but political ones, including the controversial commitment he made to tear up the Tasmanian forest agreement and strip back the recent additions because, he argued, too much forest was already locked up in national parks.Abbott’s deceitful request to the committee is not about delivering environmental or scientific objectives, but political ones, including the controversial commitment he made to tear up the Tasmanian forest agreement and strip back the recent additions because, he argued, too much forest was already locked up in national parks.
The sensible recommendation reached in Paris to reject the government’s request will be widely welcomed in Australia, not just by environmental groups, but by senators, scientific experts, ordinary Australians, and even the Tasmanian forest industry. Why?The sensible recommendation reached in Paris to reject the government’s request will be widely welcomed in Australia, not just by environmental groups, but by senators, scientific experts, ordinary Australians, and even the Tasmanian forest industry. Why?
A report tabled this week by the Australian Senate’s environment committee concluded the government's proposal to remove the 74,000 hectares was “fundamentally flawed” and would have “an adverse impact on the values” of the world heritage area. Thankfully, the UNESCO advisory bodies felt the same.A report tabled this week by the Australian Senate’s environment committee concluded the government's proposal to remove the 74,000 hectares was “fundamentally flawed” and would have “an adverse impact on the values” of the world heritage area. Thankfully, the UNESCO advisory bodies felt the same.
New national polling conducted by Lonergan Research on behalf of the Australian Conservation Foundation found an overwhelming majority of Australians (97%) agreed that, regardless of economic or political pressure to exploit natural places on the world heritage list, the Australian government should do all it could to protect them. Nine in 10 Australians (91%) believed the 74,000 hectares of Tasmanian wilderness should remain listed, the poll found.New national polling conducted by Lonergan Research on behalf of the Australian Conservation Foundation found an overwhelming majority of Australians (97%) agreed that, regardless of economic or political pressure to exploit natural places on the world heritage list, the Australian government should do all it could to protect them. Nine in 10 Australians (91%) believed the 74,000 hectares of Tasmanian wilderness should remain listed, the poll found.
Even the head of the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania, Terry Edwards, is on the public record as saying: “We don't support any or all excisions to the world heritage area.” Given this broad chorus of support for maintaining listing for the recently added forests, why on earth is the Abbott government not listening?Even the head of the Forest Industries Association of Tasmania, Terry Edwards, is on the public record as saying: “We don't support any or all excisions to the world heritage area.” Given this broad chorus of support for maintaining listing for the recently added forests, why on earth is the Abbott government not listening?
It is time the prime minister put the Tasmanian environment, science and the wishes of more than 90% of Australians ahead of his ideology. The government must withdraw this shameful and unprecedented request, which risks diminishing both Tasmania’s wilderness and the universal significance of world heritage protection. The international precedent set, if world heritage protection is cast aside in Tasmania to facilitate damaging and degrading logging of old-growth forests, is simply too dire to contemplate. The government must champion Australia’s world heritage areas, not destroy them.It is time the prime minister put the Tasmanian environment, science and the wishes of more than 90% of Australians ahead of his ideology. The government must withdraw this shameful and unprecedented request, which risks diminishing both Tasmania’s wilderness and the universal significance of world heritage protection. The international precedent set, if world heritage protection is cast aside in Tasmania to facilitate damaging and degrading logging of old-growth forests, is simply too dire to contemplate. The government must champion Australia’s world heritage areas, not destroy them.
Jess Abrahams is the healthy ecosystems campaigner for the Australian Conservation FoundationJess Abrahams is the healthy ecosystems campaigner for the Australian Conservation Foundation