The Greens have outlined a plan to save the Tasmanian devil and called on the Liberals and Labor to adopt the comprehensive measures required to protect this iconic species.
Federal funding has been critical to the Tasmanian devil’s survival, but this ended in 2017 despite their recovery from the infectious cancer that decimated their population being far from over.
Adding insult to injury, the Morrison government recently proposed changes to conservation planning decisions that would see the Tasmanian devil recovery plan scrapped.
This is despite warnings from conservationists that the species is battling a myriad of pressures, including on our roads where 114 Tasmanian devil deaths were documented on a 25-kilometre stretch of road in the state’s north-west in a 14-month period to March 2022.
The Greens’ plan to Green Australia includes measures critical to the plight of the Tasmanian devil, including:
- Stopping the extinction crisis through setting a goal of Zero Extinction by 2030 and investing in a mass greening and restoration program, to ensure we are protecting habitats for our native animals and plants.
- Greening Australia by investing $24.4 billion over the next decade, including by restoring wildlife habitat, planting 2 billion trees by 2030 and reestablishing green space in our cities, regions and suburbs.
- Ending native forest logging to help reduce fire risk, and support workers transitioning into sustainable plantation forestry.
- Protecting our natural environment and wildlife from land clearing, pollution and destruction by strengthening Environment Protection Laws.
- Establish an Independent Environment Watchdog to enforce stronger environmental laws and hold governments, mining corporations and property developers to account.
Greens spokesperson for lutruwita/Tasmania, Peter Whish-Wilson said:
“The proposal to scrap the Tasmanian devil’s recovery plan is frighteningly short-sighted, but what we have come to expect from this government.
“Australia is in an extinction crisis and recovery plans are one of the key instruments that we have to help threatened species recover.
“Abandoning the Tasmanian devil now, after so much time and money and love has been poured into keeping the treasured species alive and healthy, is a cruel death sentence.
“Aside from the facial tumour disease the Tasmanian devil still faces significant threats from land clearing, mining in takayna/Tarkine, forestry and from becoming roadkill.
“The Greens’ have outlined comprehensive measures required to protect the Tasmanian devil and call on the Liberals and Labor to adopt these measures if the iconic species is to stand any chance of survival.
Greens spokesperson for the environment, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“Our wildlife is suffering. We need a comprehensive plan to protect our environment and look after our native species.
“The Green Australia plan will restore habitat and save our wildlife from extinction.
“Here in lutruwita/Tasmania, animals like the Tassie devil need urgent protection and funding before they’re lost forever.
“In balance of power, we will push the next government to adopt a zero extinction by 2030 target, create thousands of jobs to restore habitat and put in place an environmental watchdog to hold governments and corporations to account.”