Wilderness Society supports prescribed burn in Douglas Apsley National Park

The Wilderness Society (Tasmania) Inc
Media Release 
16 May 2007

The Wilderness Society, owners of a parcel of land that is managed for conservation and borders the Douglas Apsley National Park, fully endorses prescribed burning of native vegetation, so long as it is done according to ecological principles and with a significantly large margin for error.

“Prescribed burning for ecological reasons can enhance biodiversity while reducing the wildfire threat that can devastate Australian landscapes and wildlife,” said The Wilderness Society spokesperson Vica Bayley.

Parts of the Douglas Apsley National Park have not been burnt for over 60 years. A wildfire in this area in peak fire season would pose a significant threat to biodiversity, property and human life.

“Prescribed ecological burning as proposed for the east coast this week is a very different concept to landscape-scale fuel reduction burns or forestry regeneration burns,” said Mr Bayley.

“Contrary to assertions by a Tasmanian Senator and logging industry lobby groups at the height of last December’s bushfires, all conservationists are not opposed to all deliberate burning and indeed The Wilderness Society supports ecologically based prescription burning.”

“What we do oppose is the clearing and burning of native forests, and the deliberate burning of native vegetation with no consideration of ecological principles or biodiversity values. We also oppose the use of bushfires for political point scoring and as an excuse to open National Parks up to the logging industry.”

The Wilderness Society wishes the firefighters from Forestry Tasmania, Tasmania Fire Service and the National Parks and Wildlife Service ideal conditions and the best of luck with the upcoming burn at Douglas Apsley National Park.