Rob Blakers to protest logging at Eastern Tiers over swift parrot habitat loss

A Tasmanian photographer with grave concerns over the ongoing logging placing the swift parrot’s future in jeopardy says he feels he has been left with no option than to put himself in the firing line. His plans >

Logging activity at Eastern Tiers Forest Reserve. Picture: Rob Blakers

A Tasmanian photographer with grave concerns over the ongoing logging placing the swift parrot’s future in jeopardy says he feels he has been left with no option than to take protest action.

Rob Blakers will today walk on to an active logging site in the Eastern Tiers Forest Reserve, near Lake Leake, and be intentionally arrested.

Mr Blakers, who has spent much time photographing the parrots in the “most extraordinary place” says he was devastated to find out that logging had begun in the area in recent weeks.

He said the site is “far and away the most important” swift parrot site he had seen this past summer.

“[The parrots] move each year, but this summer, for whatever reason … there were more there than anywhere else,” he said.

Photographer Rob Blakers who will be at an active logging site in the Eastern Tiers to be purposefully arrested in protest of logging in the area. Picture: Chris Kidd

After finding out logging had begun near the habitat area, Mr Blakers “felt compelled” to take action in an effort to slow the reduction of the habitat.

“To me it is completely upside down that these places are documented [habitats] and when you step forward and try to protect it [they] become the person who is on the wrong side,” he said.

His actions come as part of an escalation of protests by Bob Brown Foundation members in an attempt to highlight the habitat destruction.

Swift parrots photographed at Eastern Tiers Forest Reserve. Picture: Rob Blakers

On Monday, 10 people walked onto the logging site.

Mr Blakers said his efforts to contact Sustainable Timber Tasmania with his concerns had fallen on deaf ears.

“ … They are logging well within the 33 metres from the recorded nesting site,” Mr Blakers said.

“They are systematically rendering that forest area unsuitable for the parrot … they’re now taking the last of the big trees, where the parrot activity was there.”

General Manager of conservation and land management at Sustainable Timber Tasmania, Suzette Weeding, said the body was currently managing a partial harvest operation approximately 15km south-west of Royal George.

She said the areas around confirmed or known swift parrot nesting trees have been excluded from the harvest area.

“The operation is being undertaken in accordance with a certified Forest Practices Plan, which includes provisions for retention of identified patches of eucalyptus brookeriana, including small patches less than one hectare in size where practicable. Eucalyptus Brookeriana is identified Swift parrot foraging habitat,” she said.