Taking positive action to protect Tasmania’s Swift Parrot

Roger Jaensch,Minister for Environment and Parks

Guy Barnett,Minister for Resources

The critically endangered Swift Parrot will be better protected with almost 10,000 hectares of potential nesting habitat to be excluded from wood production.

It follows extensive research and consultation between Sustainable Timber Tasmania and the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment, with a Swift Parrot Public Authority Management Agreement (PAMA) to be implemented for the Southern Forests.

Minister for Environment Roger Jaensch said this is a positive step to help protect the habitat of the critically endangered Swift Parrot in Tasmania.

“This is an important step for the critically endangered Swift Parrot and will help us to ensure its survival for the future,” Minister Jaensch said.

“The landmark agreement outlines various measures to protect the Swift Parrot, including the exclusion of almost 10,000 hectares of potential nesting habitat from harvesting within land managed by STT.

“STT will also continue its policy of not harvesting on Bruny Island, recognising that this area is free from sugar gliders and is therefore critical breeding habitat.”

Minister for Resources Guy Barnett also welcomed the agreement saying the PAMA provides certainty for the timber industry and for the conservation of the Swift Parrot.

“Tasmanians can be proud of the Government and STT’s commitment to protecting our threatened species, like the Swift Parrot, and our world class forest management practices.”

The PAMA sets out the roles and obligations of DPIPWE and STT with regards to forestry operations on Permanent Timber Production Zone land in the Southern Forests, which consists of 58,000 hectares of mature, regrowth and regeneration forests.

STT is also developing a Swift Parrot Management Plan for public production forests as part of a broader strategy of conservation for the Swift Parrot.

The protection of Swift Parrot habitat was identified as part of Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s Audit Report for Forest Stewardship Council certification, which is publicly available on STT’s website.

The Audit Report noted that STT:

  • Demonstrate[d] an ethos of responsible management for and stewardship of a robust array of values and resources
  • Demonstrated a culture of innovation and adaptive management through dedication to continuous improvement. Significant changes and improvements are recognised from 2014 to 2019
  • Met 93 per cent of the indicators required to achieve certification

The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to a responsible and sustainable forestry industry that protects our threatened species, recognising the sector injects billions into the Tasmanian economy and provides thousands of jobs in regional communities.

/Public Release. View in full here.