The director of Tasmania’s Conservation Trust wants assurances from the Tasmanian State Government that they intend to end broad scale clearing of native vegetation. Source: ABC Rural
Just before Christmas, Resources Minister Paul Harriss announced a six-month extension to the review of the State’s Permanent Native Forest Estate policy.
The review effectively defers control on broad scale land clearing that were to come into effect on January 1, 2016 until July.
Director of the Tasmanian Conservation Trust Peter McGlone said he was not surprised by the decision and that he wanted a long-term assurance about the future of land clearing.
“I do trust the Government has just bought themselves an extra six months,” Mr McGlone said.
“The current policy actually says the Government is committed to ceasing broad scale clearing by the July 1, 2016.
“We need the Government speaking to that commitment and saying it will happen, and that he talks about how we make it easier for landholders to live with that ban.”
Mr McGlone suggested that State and Federal Governments should provide support to farmers in order to maintain Australia’s forest estate.
“Having incentive programs that actually help landholders earn some money, because they are contributing to conservation,” Mr McGlone said. “Helping to deliver an end to land clearing in a way that farmers can actually live with would be an magnificent contribution.”
