Wilderness Society, Nature Photographers Tasmania call for international assistance to protect remote areas from bushfires

Green groups have called on the Premier and Prime Minister to lobby their international colleagues for the resources necessary to save the state’s at-risk, fire-intolerant wilderness.

GREEN groups have called on the Premier and Prime Minister to lobby their international colleagues for the resources necessary to save the state’s at-risk, fire-intolerant wilderness.

The Parks and Wildlife Service warned this week that alpine vegetation at Mount Field National Park and Mount Bobs in the South-West National Park was at risk from nearby bushfires. Remote area firefighters were getting fatigued, the state’s fire service warned.

Near federation peak #tasfires pic.twitter.com/45ugowxpuZ

— Shannon Wells (@shannon_wells) January 30, 2019

In a joint statement, the Wilderness Society and Nature Photographers Tasmania today called on Premier Will Hodgman and Prime Minister Scott Morrison to urgently request international amphibious waterbombing assistance to help save threatened vegetation.

The groups acknowledged the tragic loss of people’s homes but said: “We need not lose one to save the other.”

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Smoke from fires in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area rises behind Federation Peak (right, distance). Picture: MARK HOLDSWORTH

“We acknowledge the tremendous contribution made by fire crews, including efforts to protect wilderness values,” the groups said.

“However, the scale of the fires, with over 2.5 per cent of Tasmania burnt or burning, has overwhelmed firefighting capacity to the extent that little is available to combat remote fires in the Tasmania Wilderness World Heritage Area.”

Parks and Wildlife Service general manager Jason Jacobi said on Tuesday that the agency’s request for large aerial craft to drop retardant in threatened areas had “[proven] to be a challenge” because resources were so stretched.

Fire in the Eastern Arthur Range near Federation Peak, Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Picture: The Wilderness Society

“I have not had any further advice today about whether we have been able to secure the aircraft to do that work,” he said today.

The Wilderness Society and Nature Photographers Tasmania today blamed the ongoing fires on climate change.

“Unprecedented changes in climate call for unprecedented firefighting responses,” the groups said.

World Heritage wilderness at Tasmania's Eastern Arthurs Range and Mt Bobs, pictured, is under threat from raging bushfires, with conservationists calling on the state and federal government to call in waterbombing aircraft from overseas to fight the fires. AAP Image/Supplied by Wilderness Society

“Very large amphibious waterbombing aircraft are routinely used to combat wildfires in North America, Canada and Europe.”

Tasmania Fire Service chief officer Chris Arnol said today there was no need to request resources outside Tasmania.

The state and federal governments were contacted for comment.