Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Forests spokesperson
The forests of the Great Western Tiers are of World Heritage value yet they’ve been left without reserve tenure throughout the Liberals’ term.
In a very belated response to the UN World Heritage Committee, the protection of 25 000 hectares of future reserve forests that the Liberals reclassified as Future Potential Production Forest (FPPF) is up for public comment, announced late on a Friday afternoon.
Instead of giving these forests the National Park tenure they deserve, Minister Jaensch is proposing the weaker Conservation Area or Regional Reserve status.
That says plenty about the Liberals' antagonism towards anything green and full of life.
And what of the remaining future reserve forest from the Southern Forests to Tasman, Wielangta, the NE and Blue Tiers, and Takayna?
These extraordinary, carbon rich forests remain under threat from logging. All need to be protected. To do otherwise is a crime against Nature and future generations.
We’re encouraging all Tasmanians who recognise our forests are of global significance and part of the lungs of the earth, to make sure Mr Jaensch is left in no doubt he’ll fail in his job as Minister for Environment and Parks if the TFA forests aren’t fully protected.