Tasmanian government ignored expert advice on logging threat to swift parrots

Liberal government approved logging against advice from its own department that it could threaten the survival of the species, documents reveal

Oliver Milman

@olliemilman

Sunday 22 March 2015 20.12 GMTLast modified on Sunday 22 March 201522.54 GMT

The Tasmanian government ignored the advice of its own experts to push ahead with logging in the habitat of the endangered swift parrot, internal departmental documents have revealed.

The documents show that experts warned the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment of the impact of approving logging in five areas of forest in the state’s south-east.

In one area, called a logging coupe, the advice states that the felling of trees will “result in the continued loss of breeding habitat that has been identified as being of very high importance for the species with the further fragmentation of foraging habitat. This cannot contribute to the long-term survival of the species.”

The advice adds that the area earmarked for logging is “within close proximity to known nesting sites for the species.”

It warns that any logging is “likely to interfere with the recovery objectives for the species as outlined above. There is no scientific evidence to support the position that continued harvesting of breeding habitat will support conservation objectives for the species.”

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Rim Fire Logging May Endanger Rare Woodpecker

A plan by the U.S. Forest Service to allow "salvage" logging of almost 30,000 acres of forest burned in 2013's Rim Fire poses an unacceptable risk to a rare woodpecker that relies on habitat created by forest fires.

That's according to a new report by the Center For Biological Diversity (CBD) and the John Muir Project (JMP) detailing the importance of fires to the health of Sierra Nevada forests, as well as the animals and plants that call those forests home.

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Ganaraska Forest logging during bird nesting season ruffles feathers

CLARINGTON -- Protests are rising over migratory birds, their nests and young being accidentally destroyed when the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority allowed logging during the spring nesting season.

“That’s just not acceptable, and it’s not necessary, that’s the most aggravating part,” said Clarington resident Jim Richards.

Approximately four per cent of the Ganaraska Forest -- 361 square miles -- is logged each year. Logging can let light into the forest floor, create new wildlife habitats and add to the biodiversity of the forest.

“It’s kind of impossible to plant a natural forest ... Most of what we’re doing in the forest is thinning the plantation (trees). Converting the plantation to a more natural forest,” said Bob Penwell, forester for the GRCA.

The problem with logging in the late spring and early summer is that migratory birds are mating, building nests, laying eggs and caring for young in those trees. Mr. Richards said in the Ganaraska Forest that breeding time is from April to the end of July.

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