Yesterday’s release of Tasmania’s first State of the Environment Report in fifteen years shows that Tasmania’s unique environment is being destroyed by extractive industries and their political allies, with national consequences.
With a huge decline in vital habitats such as kelp forests in the ocean and in swift parrot forests on land, the Bob Brown Foundation says this report should be a huge alarm bell to Tasmanians. They say the Liberal government has overseen massive environmental destruction at the behest of the loggers, miners and industrial fish farmers.
The report also barely mentions that much of the destruction and decline in Tasmania’s environment is caused by these industries.
Some alarming statistics
Flora:
• 31 per cent (588 species) of Tasmanian vascular flora is considered threatened or possibly threatened.
• Of 563 endemic species of plants in Tasmania, 203 or 36 per cent are considered threatened or possibly threatened.
• The number of endangered and vulnerable Tasmanian flora (under the TSP Act) has increased significantly by 41 species, from 189 species in 2008 to 230 species in 2022.
Fauna:
• In 2023, 16.5 per cent (76 threatened species of a total of 460 vertebrate fauna species) of Tasmania’s vertebrate fauna are listed as threatened species.
• Between 1995 and 2023, the total number of threatened fauna species increased in every habitat type, with terrestrial habitat showing the most significant increase in threatened species listings.
‘The report shows that our coasts and marine environments are in dire straits,’ said Alistair Allan, Antarctic and Marine Campaigner with the Bob Brown Foundation.
‘With a huge loss of habitat, invasive sea urchins, pollution, and oxygen degradation from industrial fish farms, all topped off with ever-increasing water temperatures, the Tasmanian government has been completely asleep at the wheel when it comes to protecting and looking after our unique rivers, creeks, wetlands, and oceans.’
Destruction sanctioned
‘While the government has been driving the environmental destruction and refusing to report on it for fifteen years, we have been out in the forests seeing the annihilation of precious ecosystems,’ said Jenny Weber, Bob Brown Foundation’s Campaigns Manager.
‘The proof that the state of the environment is dire is in every clearfell across thousands of hectares. Across this island, native forest logging is responsible for pushing animals like the Swift Parrot, Tasmanian Devil and the Masked Owl towards extinction.
‘It is horrifying that our ancient forests are chopped down for woodchips, while our unique wildlife pays the price, and it is all sanctioned by the Liberal and Labor coalition,’ said Ms Weber.
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