Protecting Tasmanias wild places and habitat for endangered species
Tasmanias precious native forest, endemic species found nowhere else on Earth, biological diversity and spectacular wild places are world famous. However, significant tracts of native forest are still being logged or are scheduled for logging to make way for agriculture or be sold for wood and paper products. Prior to the projects implementation, this land had been subject to selective and commercial harvesting - in some cases for over 100 years.
To learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals verified by the standard for this project, please check the project's registry link above.
As Australias longest running carbon abatement project, this project has protected pockets of native forests in Tasmanias Central Highlands since 2009. By stopping harvest and land degradation, the project prevents carbon stored in the vegetation from being released back into the atmosphere as well as avoiding the GHGs associated with logging and processing the timber. The revenue from carbon credits give landholders an opportunity to pursue a new business model: it pays to protect trees rather than chop them down.
The protected project area covers the habitat of several endangered species, including the Tasmanian Wedge-Tailed Eagle, the Eastern Quoll, the Ptunarra Brown Butterfly and the iconic Tasmanian devil. Forest protection brings broader benefits too: providing ecosystem services such as pollination for local crops, natural pest control by native bird species, and improving the quality of water used by neighbouring properties. A healthy and mature forest also adds to the attraction of the landscape, which is economically important for an area seeking to expand ecotourism and employment opportunities.
