The Tasmanian Greens today have been informed that logging has commenced in the contentious north-east Coupe and are calling for urgent action by both the State and Commonwealth Governments to stop any further destruction of the habitat of the endangered Bornemissza’s stag beetle until there has been a full evaluation of the scientific evidence, sent to Forestry Tasmania on the 8th of February this year.
Greens Shadow Native Forest Logging spokesperson Tim Morris MP said that the Minister responsible for Threatened Species, David Llewellyn, must immediately issue an Interim Protection Order under the Threatened Species Protection Act 1995, to cease logging of the coupe until scientific and expert advice recently supplied to the Federal Minister, Forestry Tasmania and the Forest Practices Authority have been evaluated and responded to.“The logging of the Bornemissza’s stag beetle habitat that began on Monday, by Forestry Tasmania, is a pre-emptive strike that is likely to further endanger this state listed species and is intended to head off likely additional protection or prescription once the listing of this species is completed by the Commonwealth government,” Mr Morris said.
