Protecting natural values of the Blue Tier, Tasmania

Large-scale land use for commercial forestry has placed increased pressure on Tasmania's valuable landscapes and resulted in conflict. The Blue Tier, in the North East Highlands, is significant for its variety of natural and cultural resources. The Blue Tier has been an issue for some community members (and others elsewhere in Tasmania). This investigation was conducted as a study of the current forestry management and natural values protection in the Blue Tier. The research focused particularly on explaining stakeholder positions and views, including Forestry Tasmania, and on analysis of these in order to seek ways to move forward. A key part to the thesis was setting up a model, incorporating protected area selection criteria and management principles, to evaluate current management and several other proposed options. Subsequently, a range of ideas obtained from interviews was used to further explore these matters. The data collected from all sources reported in the thesis were integrated and analysed. The research indicated that there is a different view in respect to ecological integrity between some community members and scientists, on the other hand, and Australian and Tasmanian Governments, on the other. Key issues are the adequacy of conservation reserves defined under the Tasmanian Regional Forest Agreement, and ecological sustainability in the forests. Overall, current forestry management displays both strengths and weaknesses for conserving the natural values of the Blue Tier. Progress in favour of better conservation under present government policies can only come from the community seeking more improvements in management from Forestry Tasmania.