Wielangta forest

The forest is a key habitat of rare and threatened species, including the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, swift parrot, Wielangta stag beetle, spotted-tail quoll and eastern barred bandicoot.

Environmentalists called for the Wielangta forest area to be incorporated into a broader reserve offering full protection to environmental and biodiversity values.

Some parts of Wielangta were granted formal protection in the recent Supplementary Regional Forest Agreement (Tasmania).

[4] In 2006 Australian Greens Senator, Bob Brown, took the issue of Forestry Tasmania's failure to protect endangered species in Wielangta to the Federal Court, particularly the Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle, broad-toothed stag beetle and swift parrot.

[11] After a public appeal for assistance he declared he would be able to make the payment by the deadline and not risk losing his seat in the Australian Senate.

The applicant also sought the following declarations: At [91] – in relation to significant impact under the EPBC – Marshall J endorses Black CJ, Ryan J, Finn J’s interpretation of impact in Minister for the Environment and Heritage v Queensland Conservation Council Inc [2004] FCAFC 190 (‘Nathan Dam’), which embraces both direct and indirect consequences of an action.

Consequently, the indirect or cumulative effects of forestry were found to have a significant impact on the beetle, eagle, and parrot due to, inter alia, loss of habitat.

In substance, their honours have contradicted Marshall J’s statement in Brown v Forestry Tasmania (No 4) at [241]: If relevant management prescriptions do not perform that role, the State should ensure that it does, otherwise it is not complying with its obligation to protect the species.Clause 68 of the RAF was amended on 23 February 2007 to:The parties agree that the CAR Reserve System, established in accordance with this Agreement, and the application of management strategies and management prescriptions developed under Tasmania's Forest Management Systems, protect rare and threatened fauna and flora species and Forest Communities.Consequently, their honours were satisfied that adherence to the CAR amounts to protection of the beetle, eagle, and parrot for the purpose of the RAF – thereby allowing Forestry Tasmania to continue logging operations where – as a matter of fact – those operations have a significant impact on protected species under the EPBC.