Swift parrots, listed as endangered on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, breeds in Tasmania. It migrates north to south eastern Australia from Griffith-Warialda in New South Wales and west to Adelaide in the winter. It is thought that only 1000 pairs remain in the wild. Habitat destruction and loss of old trees with nesting hollows are critical factors in its decline, demonstrating why this logging exhibition will be particularly dangerous for these birds.
The government went so far as to ignore warnings such as "the felling of trees will result in 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.”
Phill Pullinger, a spokesman for Environment Tasmania, disagrees with the governments decision. He commented:
“Both [federal environment minister] Greg Hunt and [state environment minister] Matthew Groom have powers and responsibilities to protect endangered species – we need an injunction to prevent logging in swift parrot breeding areas,” he told Guardian Australia. This is highly alarming and shatters any confidence in how endangered species are being managed. The advice from scientists is so clear and blunt as to what these activities mean for this animal and yet the decision makers straight out ignore the advice. The swift parrot has had a lot of public profile. If one of the more high profile species is so clearly ignored, it raises questions as to what’s happening to a whole bunch of lesser known species.”
Will the government continue to prioritize commercial ventures over the safety of its friends of flight? Or will it defend the birds that help make its wilderness so beautiful? Hopefully Tasmania will continue to prioritize its natural beauty, as it has been doing for quite some time.
Author: Alicia Menendez
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