Download Policy Document – Labor’s Plan to Save Tasmania’s High Conservation Value Forests – 399 Kbytes
The forests of Tasmania are one of Australia’s greatest natural assets.
A Federal Labor Government will protect Tasmania’s high conservation-value old growth forests, rainforests and other ecosystems.
The Tasmanian community has identified the state’s high conservation-value old growth forests, including through the Tasmania Together process. These include the Tarkine Wilderness, the Great Western Tiers, the Eastern Tiers, the Tasman Peninsula, North East Highlands, the Ben Lomond Extensions, the Eastern Boundary Extensions to the World Heritage Area, the Styx,Reedy Marsh and Dazzler Range.
On election, Labor will immediately initiate a rigorous scientific assessment of these areas in order to confirm their status for protection. This assessment will be based on World Heritage values; national heritage values; the protection of threatened species and ecosystems; and the JANIS criteria.
Parts of these areas have been damaged by industrial forestry operations. The damaged areas will be assessed for their conservation significance and potential contribution to the integrity of World Heritage and or national heritage areas.
The assessment will be conducted by a Commonwealth appointed panel headed by an eminent Australian and comprising independent experts in forest ecology. The panel will make a final report by 1 September 2005. There will be no extension of logging operations during the period of the assessment.
On completion of the review, a Federal Labor Government will legislate to permanently protect all the areas confirmed by the experts as worthy of protection.
This is the best way to deliver good conservation outcomes: evidence-based policy processes and scientific examination of the facts, backed up by strong government action.
Labor is confident that an objective examination of the conservation values of Tasmania’s old growth forests will support permanent protection of very significant areas.
Labor is committed to a sustainable forestry industry in the interests of forest workers, their families and their communities. Labor’s $800 million Sustainable Development for Tasmania Fund will create new economic and job opportunities, secure employment for forest workers, and help the forest industry move to sustainable and high-value practices.
Federal Labor remains committed to the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) as the best framework for managing Tasmania’s forest estate. Federal Labor will work with the Tasmanian community to ensure the RFA achieves the right balance between natural heritage and biodiversity protection, and sustainability and growth for the forest industry.
Labor’s policy will not affect Regional Forest Agreements in the rest of Australia.
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