Forestry Tasmania's old growth land grab exposed

In a submission to the first 5-yearly RFA review, analysis by conservation groups exposed systematic undermining of the RFA by Forestry Tasmania.

The groups revealed that the RFA has been seriously breached in at least three crucial areas:

* 10,000 hectares of Forest Reserves agreed under the RFA have not been protected in formal reserves and some have been logged. These areas of High Conservation Value were taken back by Forestry Tasmania because of their high value for wood production, even though Forestry Tasmania had already been compensated by the Commonwealth for relinquishing these areas.

* The State Government has yet to meet the RFA requirement that reserves be in place by 1999 to encourage the retention of native vegetation on private land. Instead, the RFA has become a political licence for massive landclearing of about 20,000 hectares per year - a percentage rate rivalling that of Queensland. Clearing includes extensive areas of old growth and rare and endangered forest types which the RFA agreed would be 100% protected.

* The community was assured that the RFA would protect old growth forests and resolve conflicts over logging. Instead the definition of old growth was rorted by Forestry Tasmania to minimize reservation and to facilitate logging and clearing of old growth at record levels.

Forestry Tasmania is out of control and has been allowed to engage in an outrageous land grab.

Not satisfied with ensuring an inadequate conservation outcome in the RFA itself, Forestry Tasmania has systematically undermined implementation of those elements of the RFA that could have delivered some conservation benefits.

Forestry Tasmania has taken $90 million of Commonwealth money on false pretences and we call on the Commonwealth to tear up the Tasmanian RFA.

FURTHER INFO: Alec Marr, National Campaign Director, The Wilderness Society 0417 229 670 Alistair Graham, Tasmanian Conservation Trust 03 6234 3552 John Connor, Acting Executive Director, Australian Conservation Foundation 0409 935 044