The Wilderness Society Tasmania has launched legal action in the Tasmanian Supreme Court asking the regulator to explain why it has approved logging in some of the last remaining breeding forests of critically endangered swift parrots.

Represented by Environmental Justice Australia, the case challenges the Tasmanian Forest Practices Authority over their justification to allow logging in Huon Valley forests identified by scientists – and the Tasmanian government itself – as critical for the species’ survival.

The legal action was filed in the Tasmanian Supreme Court on 27 October, and today Lawyers for the Wilderness Society appeared in court for the first mention hearing. Logging is imminent, with bulldozers due to move into these forests any day. 

Swift parrots breed only in Lutruwita / Tasmania, migrating across Bass Strait each winter to feed on the mainland before returning in spring to breed. Swift parrots have been recorded just last week in the logging coupes that are subject to this case. 

With fewer than 750 birds left, scientists warn the species could be extinct by 2031 if logging continues.

Documents¹ obtained under Tasmania’s Right to Information laws show the government itself recognised these forests as vital swift parrot breeding habitat, but approved their destruction regardless.

Alice Hardinge, The Wilderness Society Tasmania Campaigns Manager, says:  

“These forests are among the last places on Earth where swift parrots breed – and logging could begin any day now. 

“In the last few days, ecologists have documented the presence of swift parrots in these logging coupes by identifying their calls on audio recordings. The scientists know they’re there, the community knows they’re there, the government knows they’re there - yet still this critical habitat is threatened by imminent logging.

“The government itself acknowledged these forests are critical to the swift parrot’s survival, then approved them for logging anyway.

“With fewer than 750 swift parrots left, scientists warn the critically endangered species could vanish within a decade if Tasmania’s last breeding forests are destroyed.

“Tasmanians expect decisions about our forests to follow the law and the science – not political convenience or industry pressure. 

“We’re going to court to ensure Tasmania’s laws do what they’re meant to do – protect threatened wildlife.”

Natalie Hogan, Senior Lawyer at Environmental Justice Australia, says:

“Documents obtained under Tasmania’s Right to Information laws reveal the government is aware that these forests contain important swift parrot breeding habitat. Tasmania’s government has legal obligations to protect swift parrots, one of Australia’s most threatened species, from habitat destruction.

“Our client is seeking reasons to explain how and why decisions to approve logging plans in these areas were made.

“This case could set an important legal precedent to enhance transparency and scrutiny when it comes to protecting threatened species from logging in Tasmania’s forests.” 

Background

• Audio recordings of active swift parrots calls in both of the logging coupes DN024D and RU001J have been detected in the last week by ecologist Dr Charley Gros - and this data was submitted to the government yesterday (Tuesday).

Swift parrots 

• Swift parrots are critically endangered, with fewer than 750 birds left in the world
• These speedy and spectacular birds can fly up to 90km/hour and breed only in Tasmania. The last remaining population migrates across Bass Strait to mainland Australia each winter and the flock returns to breed each spring.
• Scientists from the Australian National University warn the species could be extinct by 2031 without stronger protection. 

Global attention

• The plight of the swift parrot has drawn international concern. Actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio recently highlighted logging threats to the species’ nesting sites to his 62 million followers, calling for stronger protections for Tasmania’s native forests.
• In 2023, BirdLife Australia named the swift parrot Bird of the Year, recognising its urgent need for protection.

The court case:  

• The Wilderness Society Tasmania has taken the Tasmanian government (the Forest Practices Authority) to the Tasmanian Supreme Court over plans to log old-growth forest in the Huon Valley in lutruwita.
• Represented by Environmental Justice Australia, the case argues the forest regulator failed to provide adequate reasons for decisions to approve logging plans, raising questions about accountability and transparency. 
• Proper scrutiny is paramount, especially in forests like these which are critical habitat for swift parrots. 
• Evidence obtained through Right to Information shows the forests at stake were identified by scientists and the Tasmanian government as critical breeding habitat, yet were still approved for logging. 

FOR MEDIA USE: High resolution photos: Images of swift parrots, spokespeople and the specific Huon Valley forests under threat are available for media use here 

More photos and video footage from the court case coupes here. 

Media contacts

The Wilderness Society Tasmania: Gus Goswell, [email protected], 0422 868 961. 

Environmental Justice Australia: Jessa Latona, Environmental Justice Australia senior media coordinator, 03 8341 3110, [email protected].