“We greatly appreciate you making time to meet with us today to discuss the future of the endangered Swift Parrot and its critical breeding habitat in Wielangta.

Firstly, we would like to commend you on your far-sighted decision, which followed on from our previous meeting in October of last year. Your announcement to defer harvesting of coupe 19D whilst Swift Parrots were breeding in the area, and for the Department of Primary Industries and Water to contribute funding to a strategic survey of Swift Parrot breeding in the broader Wielangta area over the 2008/09 breeding season, has set in train a chain of events that could well prove to be pivotal in terms of securing a brighter future for one of the world’s rarest birds.

Much has changed since we met last October and we are very pleased to note that both you and Premier David Bartlett have made public statements to the effect that the State Government is committed to the conservation of the Swift Parrot.

We understand that the Wielangta report is due to be released any day and that this report will now feed into a Strategic Management Plan for Swift Parrot Breeding Habitat across Tasmania, currently under preparation by the Fauna Strategy Group within the Forest Practices Authority. This report is due to be released at the end of June.

Our purpose in requesting a meeting with you today is to raise a number of issues of concern over the future direction of Government policy in regards to both Wielangta and its significance as a critical breeding area for Swift Parrots. We raise these concerns with you both in your role as Minister for Primary Industries and as our representative in the electorate of Lyons, an electorate that encompasses much of the Swift Parrot’s critical breeding habitat, including Wielangta.

The first point we would like to raise is about the process surrounding the development and adoption of a Strategic Management Plan for Swift Parrot Breeding Habitat. We believe that this report should be made public when completed in June and that, as per Clause 96D in the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement (RFA), there should be a public comment period on the proposed plan. This clause requires public comment to be noted when there are any new or altered management prescriptions for threatened species.

Will the State Government follow the recommendations in the Tasmanian RFA and immediately release the proposed Swift Parrot Management Plan, on its’ completion in June, for public comment? How long will the public comment period be? We would anticipate a period of three months being allowed for the adequate public consideration of such a document. What will the process be for taking account of public comment? Who will be involved? Who will take responsibility for the final decisions?

It is our belief, based on our own research and lengthy consultations with many of the experts in the field, that the only way to ensure that Swift Parrots are brought back from the brink of extinction, is to afford all of their critical breeding areas in Tasmania permanent protection in the form of legislated conservation reserves. These extraordinary birds are so imperilled, with their numbers believed to have declined significantly over the last few years, that any more piecemeal or discretionary approach to their management is, we believe, doomed to failure. There seems to be unanimous agreement amongst scientists that the biggest threat to the survival of Swift Parrots is the “extensive, ongoing loss of old growth nesting habitat in Tasmania” (p32, “The State of Australia’s Birds 2008”, Birds Australia).

We are extremely concerned that the State Government may choose to continue to try and manage the State’s endangered species under the mechanisms available under the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement, which would effectively be a prescription-based rather than a reserve-based approach. Prescription-based management has clearly failed the Swift Parrot and has contributed to the bird’s increasingly endangered status.

Will the State Government commit to permanent protection of critical breeding habitat for Swift Parrots through a system of legislated conservation reserves?

A pertinent example of the shortcomings of prescription-based management occurred in the last coupe to be logged in Wielangta, coupe 17E. After consultations with the Senior Zoologist, Ray Brereton, and others in 2002, prescriptions were put in place to exclude harvesting operations from “high quality nesting habitat” and other nearby areas where “Swift Parrots were observed nesting” (“Swift Parrot Nesting Habitat in Wielangta State Forest”, K. Ziegler,  2002). During subsequent harvesting operations a substantial number of trees were felled in the area identified as “high quality nesting habitat” and trees nearby where “Swift Parrots were observed nesting” were felled in roading operations to access coupe 19D last year. (These prescription failures only came to light through the careful observations of members of the local community.)

This situation clearly illustrates the weaknesses of trying to manage a highly endangered species through management prescriptions, which with the best of intentions can fail through communication breakdowns, errors in mapping and interpretation, and variability in definitions. If the State Government really is committed to the conservation of Swift Parrots and as the Premier recently stated is prepared to “continue to do whatever we can to support their ongoing survival” (undated letter from Premier David Bartlett, 2009), then permanent protection of scientifically-identified critical breeding areas in legislated reserves, is the only way forward.

It would then be appropriate for areas outside critical breeding habitat reserves to be identified and protected by management prescriptions, where they are considered to have values as possible foraging habitat or potential breeding habitat, pending further research.

The reservation of Swift Parrot critical breeding habitat in the Wielangta State Forest would provide the State Government with a wonderful opportunity to not only make a major contribution to ensuring the survival of one of the world’s rarest, most extraordinary and colourful birds, but would also serve to protect for future generations (including the many tourists currently flocking to marvel at Tasmania’s natural treasures) the many other ecological riches of Wielangta.

As far back as 1993, the Forestry Commission’s botanic consultant recommended the then proposed Wielangta Refuge, be protected in it’s entirety (3,000 ha), to conserve an area whose botanical values encompass rare, threatened and restricted species within a diverse range of plant communities.

Areas within Wielangta have also been identified as containing:

• Core habitat critical to the continued viability of the Tasmanian fauna as a whole (Register of the National Estate, May 2004)
• Some of Tasmania’s tallest trees
• Rich and diverse forest cover ranging from dry grassy forest to closed canopy rainforests
• The largest area of remote forest within close proximity to Hobart
• At least 11 threatened species of flora, 34 endemic plant species, rare flora communities and 11 plant communities of significance
• Unusually diverse conjunctions and rapid transitions of forest community types
• Five threatened fauna species, with a further six thought to be present
• A high degree of fauna species richness within a restricted area
• High wilderness quality and biophysical naturalness ratings

It is important to note that whilst much of this information relates back to research undertaken up to 15 years ago, the area that was previously identified as the Wielangta Refuge has only had one area logged during that time (coupe 17E), in addition to the roading associated with proposed coupe 19D. The values of Wielangta as an important refuge for biodiversity on Tasmania’s east coast can therefore be assumed to be largely unchanged.

Aside from its contribution to maintaining the biodiversity of our beautiful island state, the creation of a substantial conservation reserve in Wielangta would offer other obvious benefits to the Tasmanian community and to the Tasmanian economy, particularly at a local level within the Lyons electorate. As you are perhaps aware, the Wielangta Forest Road has now become established as a major tourist route. Local tourist operators recommend visitors use the road as a scenic connection from Freycinet and the east coast to the Tasman Peninsula and its attractions, including Port Arthur. The creation of a major conservation reserve in Wielangta would further enhance visitor’s east coast experience and contribute to the possibility of their allowing more time for exploring this part of the state, with all the flow-on benefits this would represent for local communities, tourism business operators and the local service industries. Opportunities exist to develop interpretative and educational facilities along the Wielangta Road, which passes through the centre of this extraordinary forested area.

This presents the State Government with a wonderful opportunity to foster the growth of sustainable employment opportunities in this region, particularly in this time of a rapidly changing situation in regards to climate change and the global financial crisis, which is having a very deep impact on woodchip markets at present.

The sticking point in this potentially exciting way forward for the region is the treacherous condition of the Wielangta Road itself.  With the cessation of logging operations in Wielangta since the Federal Court ruling in 2006, the agency responsible for the management of the road, Gunns Ltd, has had no incentive to maintain the road. This has lead to the dangerous situation where the main users of the road, interstate and international visitors, are literally taking their life in their hands when taking this recommended scenic route as part of their visit to Tasmania. There have been numerous accidents involving visitors rolling vehicles after encountering the unexpectedly dangerous driving conditions that include; extensive areas of potholes and corrugations, areas where the surface has been worn down to the road base and poor signage for the numerous sharp bends. Many of the tourists travelling the Wielangta Road are in hire cars (including numerous campervans), which are totally unsuited to the conditions.

There seem only two options at this stage, either the road should be closed to non-local traffic or the State Government should resume control of the road and maintain and promote it as a major tourist route, which has currently happened by default, but in a way that leaves visitors at risk of serious injury or even death.

We support the state’s tourism industry in calling for the State Government to act immediately to bring an end to this dangerous situation that is casting a shadow over tourist’s experience of Tasmania.

Will the State Government take action to resume control of the Wielangta Road:
• To ensure the road is suitably maintained as a scenic tourist link between Freycinet and the east coast and the Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur
• To make an investment in this important part of the region’s infrastructure, with the possible economic benefits this could provide to the region, particularly if a substantial conservation reserve is declared in Wielangta?

As we have previously requested, we would urge you to find time in your undoubtedly busy schedule, to come on a tour of Wielangta with us, to see for yourself:
• The values of Wielangta as an important refuge for the endangered Swift Parrot,
• The potential and possibilities of creating a major conservation reserve both to protect biodiversity and to enhance the east coast experience for tourists
• The treacherous condition of the important tourist link road through Wielangta?

The final issue we would like to raise with you is to ask you if you will approach the Premier, David Bartlett, on our behalf and request that he meet with us. We have previously requested meetings to no avail, but are hopeful that with your support the Premier may be more responsive. Our desire to have the opportunity to discuss the future of the Swift Parrot with the Premier, has only been heightened by the Premier’s announcement in March of this year to undertake a tree-planting program on the east coast, to address what the Premier has identified as a “lack of breeding-season foraging habitat” which is “likely to be a limiting factor in Swift Parrot population recovery” (Premier’s media release 3/3/09).

Despite extensive enquiries we have been unable to ascertain where the Premier could have received scientific advice to support such a program as a key strategy to protect these endangered birds. We are very pleased that Swift Parrots are firmly on the Premier’s agenda, but are concerned he has received advice that is not in line with current scientific thinking on the best way to ensure the Swift Parrot’s survival. Your intervention, as our representative in Lyons, and as the responsible minister, in securing a meeting for us with the Premier, would be greatly appreciated.

We thank you again for your time today and would appreciate an early response to the key points we have raised:

• Will the State Government follow the recommendations in the Tasmanian RFA and immediately release the proposed Swift Parrot Management Plan on its’ completion in June for public comment? How long will the public comment period be? What will the process be for taking account of public comment? Who will be involved? Who will take responsibility for the final decisions?

• Will the State Government commit to permanent protection of critical breeding habitat for Swift Parrots through a system of legislated conservation reserves?

• Will the State Government take action to resume control of the Wielangta Road, with the possible economic benefits this could provide to the region, particularly if a substantial conservation reserve is declared in Wielangta?

• Will you come on a tour of Wielangta with us, to experience first-hand the issues we have raised today, and to see the possibilities this biologically diverse area holds for the local community in your electorate?

• Will you approach the Premier, David Bartlett, on our behalf and request that he meet with us?”

Please contribute any comments you have to the blog or contact me at wildwielangta at gmail dot com.

Actions resulting from the meeting will be posted as soon as they come to light!

Sharon East
Spokesperson
Wildwielangta at gmail dot com

What do you think about the Minister’s comments? Letters to the editor would be great! (mercuryedletter at dbl.newsltd.com.au ) We’re always interested in any stories on Swift Parrots in mainland (or international!) media, please forward to our email address, if you spot anything.
 
The auditor general’s report into the management of threatened species in Tasmania (mentioned in the Mercury) article is now available online, go to:
 
http://tinyurl.com/dn4zmq
 
From my quick skimming through yesterday, it gives a good idea of what’s NOT happening in terms of protecting threatened species in our state. You can view the Greens media release in response to the report at:

http://www.tas.greens.org.au/News/view_MR.php?ActionID=3585
 
There IS lots happening on the Swift Parrot front at present though, reports being written, speeches made…our Premiers even going to be out planting 2,500ha of Blue Gums to supposedly help save the species. We’re setting our sights on achieving some much more useful and scientifically-sound ways of saving these beautiful birds from extinction. A full report on all the goings-on will be posted soon.
 
Bye for now
 
Sharon East
Wild Wielangta
wildwielangta at gmail dot com  

The exhibition also serves the serious purpose of raising money to pay for our initially successful court challenge against logging Wielangta Forest and the habitat of its rare and endangered species. Forestry Tasmania is demanding $280,000 — I am not acceding but have no further court of appeal on the judgement.

View the images at www.greenart.com.au and you can make a purchase here as well.

We wish you a happy, hopeful and fulfilling 2009,
Bob Brown and Margaret Blakers

Swift Parrot “Reprieve” Not Enough to Halt Extinction Threat

Local residents welcome yesterday’s announcement by David Llewellyn, Minister for Energy and Resources, Primary Industries and Water, that logging and woodchipping will be postponed in Wielangta Forest where endangered Swift Parrots are currently breeding.

“The Minister’s announcement will allow the Swift Parrots to breed in safety in Wielangta for this year, but still leaves the way open for Forestry Tasmania to log this all important breeding habitat as soon as the parrots migrate back to the mainland” said Sharon East, spokesperson, Wild Wielangta, South East Tas Forest Protection Group.

“If it had not been for the threatened species surveys conducted by local volunteers in recent weeks, Forestry Tasmania would still be unaware of this significant breeding event of a federally-listed endangered species in Wielangta Forest.  The very trees where the birds are now nesting could have been chipped and on their way to Japan by now if it had been left to Forestry Tasmania staff to conduct appropriate surveys” said Ms East.

“Minister Llewellyn’s reassurance that the State Government is committed to the conservation of the Swift Parrot is completely at odds with warnings from the National Swift Parrot Recovery Team and Birds Australia that the woodchipping of Swift Parrot breeding habitat in Tasmania is the key threat to its survival” said Ms East.

“Swift Parrots are on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species which gives global recognition to their endangered status.  With less than 1,000 breeding pairs, they are rarer than China’s Giant Pandas and Africa’s Mountain Gorillas.   The Tasmanian and Federal Governments must act to protect this jewel of a bird.  This is a conservation emergency” said Ms East.

“On the mainland there are hundreds of volunteers re-afforesting areas specifically as Swift Parrot winter feeding habitat and yet here in Tasmania, the only place in the world that they breed, the State Government allows the destruction of their nesting and feeding habitat.

“Wild Wielangta has launched a ‘Save the Swift Parrot’ postcard campaign and 3,000 cards are currently winging their way to the Tasmanian Premier from across our state and the mainland.  We are calling on Premier Bartlett to protect the Swift Parrots’ critical breeding habitat in areas such as Wielangta, the Southern Forests and Bruny Island.  Surely David Bartlett doesn’t want to become known as the Premier of Extinction!” concluded Ms East.

For more information contact:
Sharon East 6253 5348
Lisa Cuatt 6253 5493  0428 399103
http://wildwielangta.edublogs.org
wildwielangta@gmail.com

For the past 13 years, a national recovery program involving all the eastern States and costing hundreds of thousands of dollars has been implemented in an effort to better understand the Swift Parrot species and work towards its conservation.  However, it seems that recent expert advice on nest site conservation is falling on deaf ears.

“If uncontrolled logging of Swift Parrot nesting habitat continues then this national recovery effort will have effectively been for nothing”, said Mr Tzaros. The Swift Parrot needs to have successful breeding events that allow the species to continue to exist and thrive in the wild.

Select to read the full media release from Birds Australia.
Select to listen to, or right select and Save Target As… to download the interview. (2.5mb)

Despite the limitations of this survey it is clear that:
• there are known swift parrot nest sites both in Coupe 19D and close by. Swift parrots are known to return to the same sites even though this may be several years apart.
• currently there are large numbers of swift parrots both within the coupe, close by the coupe and in the Wielangta Forest block as a whole
• swift parrots have been seen inspecting hollows both in the coupe 19D and close by
• currently there appears to be a large blue gum flowering event in Wielangta Forest that this species relies on
• coupe 19D contains high quality swift parrot nesting habitat.

Given the swift parrot sightings – it appears that there is a high probability of a significant or ‘aggregate’ breeding event in Coupe 19D and adjacent forests in the coming months.

Here is the survey data

To read more view the recent letter to the Senior Zoologist in the Threatened Species Section of the Biodiversity Conservation Branch of the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water.

Despite all representations to date, it seems that Forestry Tasmania will be logging this coupe for woodchips any time now and therefore destroying the breeding habitat of these invaluable global treasures.

A recent letter (22/9/08) to all Tasmanian Labor Senators, Labor Members of the House of Assembly and Labor Legislative Councillors outlines recent conversations South East Forest Protection Group have had with staff of Forestry Tasmania and the Forest Practices Authority.

The weak, unsustainable position the ’so-called’ Government business and regulatory authority are taking, sheds light on a lack of strategic direction and failure to manage our forests for maximum economic and ecological return.

Science is telling a completely different story, as recent research from ANU has shown.

The exercise of political will seems to be the only course of action left open to avert the impending loss of species, habitat and carbon sink values.

Consider speaking with or emailing your elected representatives and the media to raise the profile of this issue, before it is too late.

The aforementioned letter supplies reference material for your contribution. Raise your voice!

If you want to join national swift parrot specialists in the survey party on Sunday, please email wildwielangta at gmail dot com NOW.

A Swift Parrot and Lorikeet Identification Guide to Tasmania (A4) and an information sheet about the status of swift parrots in Wielangta is available from the Recent Photos flickr stream (right column). To download….right select the image and Save Target/Image As…

Vehicles gathered at the locked gate in glorious sunshine and after introductions proceeded though the gate in convoy to the coupe, a drive of 5km or so. The two lucky last vehicles got waylaid by a small flock of Swift Parrots foraging in flowering Blue Gums just off to the side of the access road. The Swift Parrots are back in Wielangta!

We then spent several fascinating hours, under the expert guidance of biologist Andy North, scanning the rock-strewn ground for orchids and other plants of interest. Many orchid species were discovered, either in flower or sending up leaves. Both of the threatened and endangered species of orchids that had been discovered in the coupe at the Picnic Day were found again.

On the way back down the access road, we all stopped at the spot where the Swift Parrots had been seen earlier in the day. After a fair while spent scanning the Blue Gums that were in flower, that unmistakeable call was heard approaching. Two Swift Parrots flashed overhead, heading straight for the Blue Gums!

Another Survey Day is planned for Sunday 28th September. If you’d like to join us and come and experience Wielangta and its wildlife for yourself, then contact us through the email: wildwielangta at gmail dot com
* The Exclusion Zone covers a large area including the access road and coupe 19D itself (the forest at the centre of Bob Brown’s court case, which is now scheduled for logging this year). It is illegal to enter the Zone without a permit. Forestry had issued us with a permit and key to the locked gate across the access road, to enable us to conduct the survey.

“Each year the return of this colourful little parrot is one of the harbingers of spring in Tasmania. Local communities and birdwatchers anticipate the Swift Parrots return with great excitement, in the same way that the first cuckoo is eagerly anticipated in the UK every spring,” said Sharon East, keen birdwatcher and spokesperson for the South East (Tas) Forest Protection Group.

“After completing their long annual migration from as far afield as South-East Queensland, Swift Parrots return to Tasmania to breed every year. They only breed here in Tasmania, favouring forests in the coastal strip between Orford and Dover. Now numbering less than 1300 pairs the species is listed as nationally endangered under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. An “endangered” listing under the Act means that unless action is taken immediately the species is likely to become extinct,” Ms East said.

“Much of the Swift Parrot’s favoured nesting habitat is on land managed by Forestry Tasmania that is targeted for logging and woodchipping. Birds Tasmania has estimated that 500 – 1000 ha of Swift Parrot breeding habitat is being woodchipped in Tasmania every year. An area regarded by experts as “the best known breeding habitat” for Swift Parrots is about to be logged in Wielangta Forest, south-east of Hobart. If Forestry Tasmania continues woodchipping the old forests that this beautiful but endangered bird needs for breeding then its future prospects are indeed grim,” Ms East said.

Local residents in South-East Tasmania are compiling sighting information for the Swift Parrot this year. Anyone seeing Swift Parrots is asked to contact the South East (Tas) Forest Protection Group on 6253 5348.

Photo opportunity: Andrew is available for photos/filming at the location of the first Swift Parrot sighting for this year at Mt Nelson.
Andrew Hingston, Honorary Research Associate, School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania

Further information and photos of Swift Parrots:
6253 5348
Wild Wielangta
South East (Tas) Forest Protection Group

The picnic-walk into the proposed logging coupe 19D on July 19 was a great success, and it’s hoped that those of you who came along enjoyed the day. With the Mercury reporting an attendance of around 250, and TV news coverage on all channels, it certainly got the word out that people are taking an active interest in the area, and are concerned about the threatened species that are known to be there. Let’s not forget the scandalous disregard for carbon storage that logging would represent, too.

The question remains now: What else can we do?

At this stage Forestry Tas tells us that they are still intent on logging this coupe “sometime during this financial year”. We cannot sit and do nothing and let this happen. As you know, it is not just any patch of forest, but rather an extremely high-value old-growth habitat supporting several threatened species, and is also highly symbolic because of the recent court proceedings with Bob Brown.

Some exciting news!!!

On the picnic walk, Andy North, a well respected ecologist was able to identify in the coupe not one, but TWO species of orchid, that are on the threatened species list!! The Threatened Species Unit in the Department of Primary Industries and Water and Forestry Tasmania have been notified. There is the potential for an Interim Protection Order to be invoked. Select to view more details and photos.

It is hoped that a small representative group can arrange to have a personal meeting with Premier Bartlett. Steve Whitely of Forestry Tas may also be willing to do some ‘COMMUNITY CONSULTATION’ with our campaign.

There is a mainland “Save the Swift Parrot” group that is being contacted in the hope that some pressure from NSW can be brought to bear on saving the breeding habitat here of the swifties (they only breed in Tasmania).

We have web presence!

Everyone (all ages) is encouraged to share his/her expertise and educate our community of readers/viewers, by becoming a subscriber and publishing on this blog.

We welcome the sharing of any media related to Wielangta forest and our threatened species: writing, poems, songs, links to sites we need, art work, sound files (podcasts), slideshows.

Please subscribe, sign up to an edublogs account and publish. Young people are especially encouraged to show what they know.

There is also a Facebook network/group and cause for Wild Wielangta.

Go to www.facebook.com, search for wildwielangta, sign up and invite your friends to join the group and cause.

If anyone has Premier Bartlett as his/her facebook friend, please invite him to join the wildwielangta group.

We can ALL do something, and we can only hope that it will be enough. Take a look at the number of online and offline initiatives that are being considered.

Just choose what interests you and phone Mark Agnew (62571434) or email Mel Hills (mel.hills at activ8 dot net dot au)

This is, of course, 100% volunteer effort – so it really needs people to do whatever they want to. Hopefully there is enough variety for everyone to find SOMETHING to be part of. If you have other ideas please suggest them.

Use our new email address to make contact: wildwielangta at gmail dot com

Your support and participation is much appreciated. A big thank you to all those who helped out in so many ways on the picnic day.

PS – Forestry repeatedly emphasise the importance of models and modelling to both their rationale and modus operandi. Are there any models out there who can think of something that might excite Forestry staff other than habitat destruction?