Hunter Island Lost for Conservation

8 February 2006 

Threatened wildlife on Bass Strait’s Hunter Island was dealt a blow today when the Tasmanian Government failed to award the lease to the Australian Bush Heritage Fund.

Project Coordinator, Stuart Cowell, said “Bush Heritage and its supporters have been working hard to protect the endangered plants and animals on Hunter Island, and have raised the funds to do so.”

“Islands are vitally important for conservation” he said.

Hunter Island, 50km north west of Smithton, provides refuge for the orange-bellied parrot, Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, swift parrot, and the leafy greenhood orchid, as well as many other significant species.

All four of these species occur on the Federal Government’s endangered species list.

Bush Heritage has a proven record in conservation management. It is the most widely supported private land conservation organisation in the country; protecting ecosystems and species at risk on 21 reserves on 6090 square km across the nation.

“It is beyond belief that the Tasmanian Government, after all this time, has seen fit to take the management of this Conservation Area away from a conservation organisation” Mr Cowell said.

“Instead, they have decided to increase the threat to the Island’s values.”

“In making this decision, the Government is supporting grazing at the expense of threatened species, and use of the Island for hunting wildlife.”

Bush Heritage will continue to take an active interest in the conservation of Hunter Island, and the species it protects.

Further information and comment:
Alexandra de Blas, Communications Strategist 0427 545 834
Stuart Cowell, Project Coordinator 0427 163 080