ForestryTas.com.au News and Topics

Safe arbor!

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Photo: Arborists at work.

You always feel better after going to the hairdressers ... and it's no different for trees!

The iconic and historic oak - 'wedding' - tree in the grounds of FT's Hollybank Forest got a bit of a trim earlier this week by professional arborists.

The old oak - thought to have been planted around 1865 - was looking a bit crook, but has now shaped up well after its makeover!

The tree provides a popular venue for northern nuptials, so it's good to see that more couples will be able make their vows to each other under the umbrella protection of its spreading boughs.

Night Vision Technology for FT

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Super piece on ABC TV News about the ground-breaking work being undertaken by FT's Fire Management team.

Click on link to watch 'Night Vision ABC Television Story' screened on Sunday 12 May 2013.

Forestry's Mothers' Day - what a classic!

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Members of Team Forestry gave up spending much of the day last Sunday with their own mums to help raise money for vital breast cancer research by participating in the iconic Mothers' Day Classic walk and run in Hobart.

Ten members of our team strode out for the cause, while the remaining four ramped it up even more for the run.

We've tried to capture some of the colour and movement of a great, and inspiring, day here ...

Starting to get warmer . . .

Sun, 12 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Photo L to R:Derwent’s Assistant Forest Manager (Production) Craig Patmore and Supervisor Scott Marriott, with Dean Johnson from the Leslie Vale log yard.

It's starting to get that little bit warmer as we approach the big firewood charity weekend at Dunalley – this 18 and 19 May.

Sorting of some of the 300 tonnes of dry logs to be donated by Forestry Tasmania has started at the Leslie Vale log yard.

And, now, contractors donating their services, including BR & KF Muskett, Les Walkden Enterprises, Select Logging and Dave & Bec Triffett Holdings, will pitch in to help transport the logs to Dunalley, as well as providing dry firewood of their own.

It's all starting to happen!

FT has joined a major forestry industry push to provide some winter warmth for victims of the Forcett/Dunalley bushfires over summer.

FT is partnering SFM Forest Products, St Vincent de Paul, Norske Skog, contractors, and the community to supply, split and deliver firewood for families affected by the ‘Summer of Flames’.

It is going to be a huge weekend, with the Saturday dedicated to the cutting and splitting of the wood and Sunday a Community Open Day when affected residents can collect the wood or have it delivered, under the direction of St Vincent de Paul.

Image R: FT logs destined to help warm the homes of victims of the Dunalley bushfires.

Fuel reduction and regen burns - Morning advisory

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Forestry Tasmania is planning to conduct the following burns today subject to further on-site evaluation of conditions:

District	High Intensity Burns	Low Intensity Burns	Likely smoke path
Huon	1 ongoing	0	The burn which was conducted on Friday west of Franklin has some additional work that be will undertaken today. Small sections which did not burn yesterday will be lit today. Smoke may be visible from communities in the vicinity, but it is expected to disperse within the local area of the burn. Fire crews will be in attendance all day, patrolling and closely monitoring.
Derwent	0	0
Bass	0	0
Murchison	0	0

Nigel Foss

Manager, Fire Management Branch

For more information on proposed forest industry burns see the forest industry planned burning website at http://www.plannedburnstas.com.au/planned_burns.html

For the location of Forestry Tasmania burns which are alight see: http://www.plannedburnstas.com.au/current_burns.html

Media inquiries:
Corporate Relations
Ph: 62358249

FT Provides More Support for Bushfire Victims

Mon, 06 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Forestry Tasmania has joined a major forestry industry push to provide some winter warmth for victims of the Forcett/Dunalley bushfires over summer.

FT is partnering SFM Forest Products, St Vincent de Paul, Norske Skog, contractors, and the community to supply, split and deliver firewood for families affected by the ‘Summer of Flames’.

FT’s contribution is 300 tonnes of split logs from the Leslie Vale log yard. Contractors, including BR & KF Muskett, Les Walkden Enterprises, Select Logging and Dave & Bec Triffett Holdings, will pitch in to help transport the logs to Dunalley, as well as providing dry firewood of their own.

It is going to be a huge weekend over 18 and 19 May, with the Saturday dedicated to the cutting and splitting of the wood and Sunday a Community Open Day when affected residents can collect the wood or have it delivered, under the direction of St Vincent de Paul.

Managing director Bob Gordon said FT was delighted to help out.

“We know a lot of families have been devastated by the fires,” he said.

“Some lost everything and many lost their winter wood supply.

“FT’s Fire Management Branch was on the front line at the height of the fires and performed the bulk of follow-up back-burning, suppression, safety and rehabilitation work.

“Some of our own people were also affected by the fires and it is a great privilege to be able to extend a helping hand to the community once again.”

The Community Open Day on the Sunday will involve activities, informative displays and a free barbeque. An invitation is extended to all, not just those affected by the fires.

As part of managing the distribution of the firewood, St Vincent de Paul, in association with the Dunalley Volunteer Fire Brigade, will be issuing ‘Warmer Winter’ vouchers for bushfire affected residents. The vouchers will be required when collecting wood.

Anyone requiring a voucher is asked to call into St Vincent de Paul’s Dunalley Assistance Centre (located at the rear of the Dunalley Information and Service Hub), which is open Monday to Friday between 10.00am and 4.00pm, or to call Annette on 0438 625 350.

For further information, please call spokesperson for the Warmer Winter Weekend, Ricky Birch, on 0427 598 556, or email: rickybirch@activ8.net.au

Click to download flyer as JPG file.

Forest scientist Marie can’t wait to scoot off to work

Sun, 05 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Forestry Tasmania Conservation Planner Dr Marie Yee is a fantastic example of ‘walking the talk’ when it comes to putting the principles of her role into practice – committing to sustainability both in her personal and professional life.

Well, to be strictly accurate, Marie is not exactly walking the talk, but adopting a far more novel approach by ‘scooting’ it!

There are not too many 39-year-old working mums who travel an exhilarating 3.5 kilometres downhill to work, from just past the iconic service station on Huon Road in South Hobart to Forestry Tasmania HQ in Melville Street, on a small, collapsible, silver scooter!

Marie says she has encountered only one other soul adopting a similar mode of transport – a suited chap on a long skateboard!

She says she can’t check over her shoulder to gauge the reactions of walkers’, cyclists and other commuters’, but is reasonably confident there would be at least a few raised eyebrows.

“I’m not who you would expect to see on one of these things,” says Marie of the rather fragile-looking machine that gets her to her desk each day at FT and which she can tuck easily under her arm to carry home on the bus after work.

“To be honest, I’ve only seen kids on them, but even they don’t ride them to or from school – they seem to rely on bikes and buses.”

FT has a relatively high number of staff who cycle to and from the office, but Marie’s much smaller wheels stand out and remain a point of interest.

She says she originally adopted her unconventional mode of transport because the morning bus schedule didn’t suit, as a cost-saver, and as a prelude to a lifelong aspiration to learn to surf (which, now with two small children, she has had to put on the backburner).

But it also fitted perfectly with her personal philosophy to “tread lightly”, “leave the smallest possible footprint” and “live simply”, as well as the strong sustainability principle that underpins her Conservation Planner position at Forestry.

Those more noble commitments aside, there is also a pretty basic positive of scootering to work for Marie – an unmistakable glint in her eye does more than hint at the pure enjoyment factor.

“There is definitely an adrenalin rush,” she says.

“And, at the same time, I use the ride to work to chill out and attempt to adopt a state of calmness.”

Marie describes her role at FT as “putting conservation science into practice in the real world”.

As such, she plays an important role in developing practical ways to manage biodiversity at the landscape scale.

In addition to her planning role, Marie is also an expert in the ecology of saproxylic beetles - beetles that live in dead wood.

Abseil in Hobart's indoor forest

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Bring the family along to our next school holiday fun day - ABSEIL IN HOBART'S INDOOR FOREST.

Learn about wedge-tailed eagles with Vanessa, hands on forest fire fighting with Marty, discover forest insects under the microscope with Nita, experience the Sticks forest model with Lee, measure trees with Daniel and check out our new engineered wood products.

There’s also bush songs, face painting, badge making, damper making demonstrations and photos with Krusty the GIANT burrowing crayfish plus other great activities for the kids.

It’s fun, it’s educational and it’s all FREE!

Where: Forestry Tasmania, 79 Melville St, Hobart

When: Thursday May 2

Time: 11am till 3pm

Click to open promotional flyer below:

Forestry at the Festival

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:00:00 GMT

The Hardlam display was the big crowd puller at Forestry Tasmania's tent at the annual Derwent Valley Autumn Festival at New Norfolk last Sunday.

The majority of the several hundred visitors to the FT site were fascinated by the engineered wood product.

Derwent Assistant Forest Manager Craig Patmore said Hardlam had received great feedback, particularly the Blackwood bowl and floorboard exhibits.

''Nearly everyone through the display was impressed with Hardlam and the question most asked was: 'Where can I get it?','' Craig said.

The stall also had plenty of other activities that kept festival goers interested, including playback of the super popular Going Bush program and badge making for the youngsters.

Craig also presented the first Forestry Tasmania Art Prize to Sonya O'Beirne, who beat off about 100 other entrants, as well as prizes to the two division winners in the brass band competition.

A very artful winner – Sonya O’Beirne (right) wins the first Forestry Tasmania Art Prize at last weekend’s festival.

It wasn’t hard for festival goers to find interest in our Hardlam product.

Ready for the ‘doors’ to open and the hordes to descend – the Forestry Tasmania tent at the Derwent Valley Autumn Festival.

Lasers identify giant trees

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Forestry Tasmania's management of its giant trees has featured on ABC's television news.
The ABC ran the story on its April 4 TV news, outlining how Forestry Tasmania had last year added 17 trees to its register, with more expected this year.

Click link below to watch story on ABC web site.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-04-11/tape-measure-over-giant-trees/4624184

Museum Pieces

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:00:00 GMT

A slab of a big, old gum tree, donated by Forestry Tasmania is a feature of the new natural sciences ‘Earth and Life Gallery’ at the recently overhauled Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG).

The floor-to-ceiling, old-growth Eucalyptus obliqua was selected by Derwent District Forest Supervisor Peter ‘Butch’ Marriott.

Derwent’s Assistant Forest Manager (Operations) David White says FT also assisted in identifying areas where grass trees and Pandani could easily be found for the Earth and Life Gallery at the revamped museum.

“The slice of old growth eucalypt is a fine specimen that will give international, interstate and local TMAG visitors alike a fantastic, close-up insight into our native forest giants,” Dave said.

“The grass tree – also taken from State Forests – is a threatened species, so it is important that members of the public who might otherwise be unable to, get to see it in a comfortable environment.”

The Director of TMAG, Bill Bleathman, has written to both Peter and David thanking them for FT’s contribution of time, expert advice, assistance and resources in the development of the gallery.

At the same time, FT has also loaned two old pieces of equipment used for surveying State forest to the museum.

Sustainability Branch Manager Martin Moroni has organised for the loan of a clinometer – an instrument used for measuring angles of slope - and an historic plane table to TMAG. They are on display next to a wall where images of old forestry practices and other equipment are being projected.

Martin is hopeful that the items and images may spawn a more detailed forestry display for the museum a little further down the track.

· TMAG puts up a gum tree – thanks to Forestry Tasmania. Peter ‘Butch’ Marriott (left) and Dave White.

(BELOW) Martin Moroni reflects on the FT supplied historic images helping museum patrons imagine forestry operations of old

Ralph makes a contribution to putting the lives of poverty-stricken kids back together

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Administration Officer at Forestry Tasmania head office in Hobart, Ralph Wessman, is about to play a small part in helping to put the lives of underprivileged kids in Vietnam back together.

Ralph, and his child care worker/poet partner Jane, are due to fly out to South Korea (all being well in that neck of the woods!) on 19 April and then on to Hanoi to deliver a cache of wooden puzzles and games they have collected to brighten the lives of kids in crisis.

It will be a significant and meaningful trip in other ways too, because it will be the first time that Ralph, who served as a seaman on HMAS Sydney during the Vietnam War, has returned to the country since the conflict was settled.

Ralph and Jane have been asking for donations of the puzzles and games from FT and the child care centre where Jane works, and so far have accumulated 12 to squeeze into a suitcase which they will need to carry around until the last leg of their Asian trip.

In Hanoi they plan to visit the headquarters of the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation to deliver their wooden goodies.

Blue Dragon – founded by Australian school teacher Michael Brosowski - reaches out to kids in crisis throughout Vietnam.

The Foundation’s residential facilities, centres, and programs give children and youth a new chance in life: the chance to have a home, a good education, and happy, stable living conditions.

Blue Dragon’s aim is to break the poverty cycle by offering education, training, and job opportunities to those who need them most: street kids, child victims of trafficking, and the rural poor.

Ralph understands that the wooden toys will be used in activities for children with disabilities and in Blue Dragon’s drop-in centre.

“While it may seem a small contribution in the greater scheme of things, in reality, it will have a disproportionately significant impact in the lives of these little kids who are doing it pretty tough,” he said.

Photo: Getting ready to head to Hanoi – Ralph with a couple of the wooden games and puzzles donated to the cause.

Log gift to historic link recognised

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Forestry Tasmania’s gift of a log to provide timber for a display cabinet in the old Alexander tennis racket factory has been recognised with the unveiling of a plaque at the Hollybank reserve.

The tree harvested to produce the timber was one of more than 21,000 English ash trees planted on the old farm site 80 years ago.

Despite great promise of riches contained in a prospectus to investors the site proved too acidic and the trees never prospered to become, as intended, a local feedstock for the Alexander Patent Racket Company.

A variety of other exotic trees were planted without any real commercial purpose and grew well, but the ash plantation was abandoned in 1950 and the land taken over by the Forestry Commission in 1956.

A keen student of the story is local historian Gus Green, who details the saga in a book What A Racket, including a family involvement.

Mr Green built on his historic research when he approached Forestry Tasmania last year to see if he could have some of the ash timber to put to a purpose close to what was originally intended.

“We thought of making a racket, just to show it could be done, because I don’t think they would compete too well with today’s carbon fibre models.

“But the result has been a cabinet and we might make some trophy-size rackets.”

Mr Green said the finished products will go on show at the old racket factory, which now houses the Launceston Police and Citizens Youth Club.

The Bass District Forest Manager Peter Bird, who also received a gift of a couple of lengths of the milled timber, said Mr Green’s project added another fascinating chapter to the Hollybank story.

“I think it’s great that at least one of the trees planted with such fanfare has been used to produce something that is related to what was originally intended.”

Photo L to R: Historian Gus Green hammers home the plaque recognising the Hollybank ash plantation with some supervision from Bass Forest Manager Peter Bird…. And the plaque.

Care for People award continued to grow in 2012

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:00:00 GMT

THE final roll call for the 2012 Forestry Tasmania Care for People awards is in, with students from 147 schools achieving recognition - 17 more than 2011.

The awards give schools the opportunity to recognise students who have demonstrated compassion and thoughtfulness towards others.

Participating schools were rich in their praise of the awards:

Brooks High School: Your continued support of the school helps to celebrate our students’ academic successes and other achievements such as participation in school and community events, which encourages and assists our students in further education and training.

Deloraine Primary School: Your contribution enables the school to maintain high expectations and reward those who set goals, develop the values, skills and strategies to ensure excellence and becoming a contributing member of society.

Tasman District School: Your contribution directly benefits our students in a very positive and practical way. We believe your encouragement of our students is instrumental in strengthening the relationship between us.

Geilston Bay High School: Your continued support provides a great incentive for students to achieve and is greatly appreciated by staff, students and the school community.

Click to view the 147 award winners (69 kb PDF)

FT raises $1,000 for Dunalley Primary bushfire effort

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:00:00 GMT

FORESTRY Tasmania enjoyed a successful day at the 2013 Bream Creek Show, raising nearly $1,000 for the Dunalley Primary School.

Along with many other homes and businesses in the region, the school was devastated by the Forcett fire in January this year.

FT also donated the plants from its display to the school, to replace those lost in the fire.

Forestry Tasmania has a long association with the Bream Creek Show, making its first appearance 27 years ago in a basic tent with straw bales for seats.

Former employee John Cunningham, who organised that first stall in 1986, was once again a member of the dedicated team of 15 volunteers.

As in previous years, staff provided billy tea and damper, small showbags and educational displays.

Visitors to the stall polished off more than four kilograms of of tea, 13 litres of milk, with 37 kilograms of flour and more than 18 jars of jam and golden syrup.

Bright future for Hardlam

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:00:00 GMT

AN engineered wood product that utilises logs destined for woodchips, is shaping up as a vital factor in the return to profitability of Forestry Tasmania.

With the forest peace deal seeking to reserve 504,000ha of native forest from logging, Forestry Tasmania is confident its new laminated hardwood innovation Hardlam, will be a much sought-after gap to the high-quality sawlogs that had been used for decades to produce sawn timber.

Hardlam, currently processed in China, has a number qualities that will satisfy both consumers and entrenched critics of Forestry Tasmania's practises.

It utilises small-diameter low grade logs that would normally be used for woodchips, it is made from Tasmanian hardwood forest timbers and possesses exceptional strength and durability, and is incredibly versatile and can be used in a range of applications.

And already it has captured the market's attention, with JAWSARCHITECTS partner Scott Verdouw predicting a bright future for the innovation.

"We think it's a fantastic product that we've been trying to get into a couple of buildings.

"The fact its quite a stable product and can be machined up reasonably quickly means you can use it in a number of different ways.

"It has a huge advantage over traditional timber because you can get it in different sizes.

"We like the fact it uses so much raw material, there's a lot less waste and you can use wood that otherwise would have been chipped.

"I think it has a positive future and the people I've shown it to do as well,'' Scott said.

Prominent Tasmanian furniture designer Linda Fredheim also delivered glowing praise, saying many other Tasmanian furniture makers were genuinely excited by its strength and beauty.

Hardlam is a laminated veneer lumber produced from rotary peeled veneer, with the individual veneers glued together.

The Hardlam concept was developed two years ago by FT managing director Bob Gordon and export manager Sandy Chen who developed a proof of concept with Chinese manufacturers.

Forestry Tasmania technical analyst Matt Wood said early feedback had been encouraging.

"The reaction has been 100 per cent positive. We are very optimistic about the potential of the product.

''People are falling over themselves asking us how soon they can get it.

"We have taken it on the road to Sydney and Melbourne. Everyone is very excited about it and on the back of that we have had a lot of follow up and secured some larger orders.

"We have started to sell small amounts to wholesalers who want to spend more time looking at the product and on some of their own market testing.''

''It is an exciting product that ticks all the boxes.
and is a really good news story of value added sustainability.''

Matt said Forestry Tasmania has spent the last three months working on a business plan to support the development of a mill to produce Hardlam in Tasmania.

"Right now we are using regrowth logs, which gives us a lot of hardness and stiffness for items such as table tops.

Matt said much of Hardlam's appeal was its versatility and flooring was one use for which Forestry Tasmania saw Hardlam having huge potential.

"We can start with wide boards that you just can't get in Tasmanian Oak.

Matt said the cost of Hardlam compared with very favourably with traditional timbers such as Tas Oak.

"Tas Oak will always have its market and uses but Hardlam will certainly start to fill those gaps where larger end-section boards are becoming harder to find.

Matt said Forestry Tasmania was also working with blackwood and expect to be able to trial other speciality timbers such as celery top pine and myrtle, along with plantation timbers.

"Pretty much if you can peel it, you can put it into this product,'' he said.

Athough Hardlam has not yet been used commercially in Australia, Forestry Tasmania had a range of demonstration products.

Eagles Eyrie Recognised as a spectacular addition to tourism

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 13:00:00 GMT

FORESTRY Tasmania's Eagles Eyrie at Maydena has been recognised by the Keep Australia Beautiful Council.
The popular tourist site, opened in 2009, won a Certificate of Appreciation at the 2012 Sustainable Communities Awards, presented at the New Norfolk Australia Day celebrations.

The certificate states: "The Eagles Eyrie in Maydena is a spectacular addition to tourism attractions in the municipality."

It is the third time the Eagles Eyrie has been recognised in recent years.

The building won a Master Builders Association award for Vos Construction in 2010 and last year 1+2 Architects won a Timber Design Award.

The award is not only a great endorsement for the Eagles Eyrie, but for the local community, which has wholeheartedly supported the attraction since its inception.

Forestry Tasmania has made a significant investment in helping the people of Maydena to develop their region as an emerging destination.

The popular Top of the World Tour now offers even more to see and do, with the inclusion of the Styx Big Tree Reserve on the itinerary.

Kyle seeks FT Expertise

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 13:00:00 GMT

CANADIAN student Kyle Hilsendager has turned to the expertise of Forestry Tasmania staff for assistance on his thesis on the conflict existing between forestry and tourism in regions that market the natural environment.

Kyle, who completed a Masters in Environmental Management at University of Tasmania from 2005-2009, is now based at the University of British Columbia Faculty of Forestry.'

His research is targetting Vancouver Island in Canada and Tasmania.

He spoke to half a dozen Forestry Tasmania employees as well as conducted extensive interviews with bush walkers coming off the Overland Track, touring groups driving around the state and fishing lodge patrons in the Central Highlands.

He said different types of tourists rated forest impacts differently.

"For instance the fishing group tends to be a lot more tolerant of forestry impacts.

"It seems to me forest impacts are not very visible to the average tourist and it's only people going to the more remote areas who are likely to encounter the major forestry impacts,'' he said.

Hilsendager said questions addressed in the research included what type of impact the forestry industry can have on the tourism image of regions that market the natural environment, whether certain tourist segments were affected differently by the impacts of foresty in regions that market the natural environment, and how can forests be managed to ensure that recreation and tourism values are not compromised by other forest interests.

Hildensager said he was hopeful his research would provide benefits to governments where forestry and tourism were in conflict with each other.

He said the development of conflict reduction strategies would provide governments with tools that could be used to inform policies that helped to better manage the competing interests of forestry and tourism.

Forestry Talk - Ecological forestry a global view

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Royal Society of Tasmania
Symposium 2013

University of Tasmania Centenary Lecture Theatre
Tuesday February 19 at 7.30pm

Topic: Ecology, Forest Policy and Management

One of the United States leading authorities on forestry, Professor Jerry Franklin is in Hobart to address the Royal Society of Tasmania symposium at the University of Tasmania Centenary Lecture Theatre on Tuesday February 19 on the subject of balancing reservation and production forestry.

Professor Franklin is a Professor of Ecosystem Analysis with the College of Forest Resources at the University of Washington and a former advisor to former US President Bill Clinton on US forest policy.

He will be joined by fellow American Professor Tom Spies, who is an advisor to the US Government on forest management. He will talk on landscape level perspectives on forest management.

Professors Franklin and Spies are recognised as two of the world's leading authorities in modern ecolologically sustainable forestry practices and both men are very familiar with tensions between environmentalists, industry and science-based management.

Professor Spies was a member of Forestry Tasmania's international science panel, which provided advice on alternative harvesting methods and landscape management in 2009.

Forestry Tasmania's principal research scientist Dr Tim Wardlaw will also present recent research findings at the symposium. Tim will be the third speaker on the evening and will talk on biodiversity responses to forestry operations in Tasmania.

Forestry Tasmania Lunchtime Talk

Exhibition Hall, 79 Melville St, Hobart
Wednesday February 20 at 1pm

Jerry will also present the Forestry Tasmania lunchtime talk on February 20 at the Exhibition Hall at 79 Melville Street at 1pm.

He is sometimes referred to by the media as the ''guru of old growth'' and says his mission in life is to ''cut the best deal I can for forests and trees in a world that's dominated by humans''.

Dr Franklin's areas of specialisation include the structure and function of natural forest ecosystems, particularly old-growth forests, and the effects of changing environmental conditions, such as global change on forest processes.

Eagle Release a success!

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:00:00 GMT

FORESTRY Tasmania has reinforced its commitment to a vibrant wildlife population with the release of an injured Wedge Tailed Eagle at Tahune AirWalk this month.

The four-year-old eagle was nursed back to health by Raptor and Wildlife Refuge of Tasmania operator Craig Webb.

Mr Webb said the raptor had arrived at his Kettering refuge nearly eight months ago, and had been unable to fly properly after suffering soft tissue damage following a suspected collision with power lines in the midlands.

The recent devastating bushfires around Tasmania have brought the important work of the Raptor and Wildlife Refuge of Tasmania into sharp focus, with many injured birds of prey and other animals being brought into the centre for treatment.
Established in 1997, it has it has rehabilitated many raptors including Wedge Tailed Eagles, White Bellied Sea Eagles and owls, and has some of the largest flight aviaries in the Southern Hemisphere.

Forestry Tasmania is a keen and generous supporter of the raptor refuge.

The Tahune AirWalk assists the refuge with a wishing tree at which visitors are encouraged to make a financial donation and learn more about its vital work. It has contributed nearly $3000 to the refuge since becoming a supporter eight months ago.

Forestry Tasmania invests more than $300,000 a year searching for Wedge Tailed Eagle nests so they can be found and protected before forestry operations taking place.

Each eagle nest is protected within a reserve of at least 10 hectares and Forestry Tasmania often increase the minimum 10 hectare zone.

To ensure breeding pairs are not disturbed, no forestry activity is permitted within 500 metres or one kilometre line of sight, during the nesting season.

The Forest Practices Code includes regulations to ensure threatened specials such as the Wedge Tailed Eagle are protected.

Photo Gallery here