In response to Greens’ questions in Parliament, the Minister for the Environment confirmed plans for some species critically at risk from bird flu. The best thing the government can do to protect these species is to protect their habitat from threatening human activities.
Bird flu is now a clear danger to Tasmanian species, particularly coastal colonial birds and waterfowl. We’ve already seen petrels, gulls and the precious crested terns succumb as our state’s first victims.
There are multiple sites across Lutruwita / Tasmania identified as high importance areas for bird communities. Wildlife biologists and conservationists have long called for their proper formal protection – to no avail.
Despite theoretically being “protected” in reserves, activities like hunting, dog-walking, and four-wheel driving are permitted in areas where threatened wildlife live and breed. These birds remain at risk from significant, human threats because the rules allow those threats to continue.
The Greens are calling on the Environment Minister to accept his responsibility for the survival of species and work with others to adopt the precautionary principle and properly protect areas of significance from threatening human activities. These include the “seabird islands” of the Furneaux Group, St Helens Conservation Area, Moulting Lagoon, and Orford Bird Sanctuary, amongst others
