Protected areas of Tasmania consist of protected areas located within Tasmania and its immediate onshore waters, including Macquarie Island. It includes areas of crown land (withheld land) managed by Tasmanian Government agencies as well as private reserves. As of 2016, 52% of Tasmania's land area has some form of reservation classification, the majority is managed by the Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service (about 42% of total Tasmanian land area). Marine protected areas cover about 7.9% of state waters. Within each classification of reserve there may be a variation of IUCN categories Australia is a signatory to the Convention of Biological Diversity and as such has obligations to report the status of its National Reserve System.IUCN provides on its website a prescription for activities consistent with the categorisation system. Changes made to the Nature Conservation Act 2002 in 2014 permit timber harvesting. These changes made in addition to the already established right to access minerals means that many of the IUCN categorisations assigned to individual reserves in Tasmania are no longer fit for purpose. In addition many reserves have had their reserve status downgraded from a class excluding timber harvesting and mineral extraction to ones where these activities are now permitted. This mis-application of the IUCN protected area categories needs to be remedied or the reserves protected land class under the Nature Conservation Act 2002 should be adjusted to reflect its currently assigned IUCN category.

Legislation and management

Summary of area totals

At 30 June 2016, Tasmania's terrestrial reserves cover 3.4 e6ha (about 50.1% of the area of Tasmania), of which Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service manages 823 reserves (about 2.9 e6ha, or over 42% of the area of Tasmania). The following table demonstrates the distribution of terrestrial protected areas as of June 2016, any marine areas are excluded. All protected areas not managed by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service or Sustainable Timber Tasmania is grouped into "other", including: formal and informal reserves on public land, reserves on private land, and Wellington Park.

Marine

Commonwealth marine reserves

There are several Commonwealth marine reserves in the vicinity of Tasmania, these reserves are not within state waters and are managed by the Australian government. All of the reserves are part of the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network which contains an additional 4 reserves.

Tasmanian marine protected areas

Marine protected areas (MPAs) in Tasmanian state waters are classed as either conservation area, national park or nature reserve. Only the nature reserve or national park class have either restricted fishing or no take zones. Of the approximately 135000 ha of marine protected areas, about 48000 ha is restricted fishing or no take, Macquarie Island (~75000 ha) is a wholly no-take zone. In total 7.9% of Tasmania's State coastal waters is reserved, however only 4.2% is in no-take areas and the majority of this is concentrated around subantarctic Macquarie Island. Only 1.1% of Tasmania's immediate coastal waters are fully protected in no-take areas.

Private reserves

Reserves on private land is about 4% of the terrestrial protected areas in Tasmania.

Conservation Covenant

Landowners may protect some areas of their land by entering into a Conservation Covenant which is legally binding under the Nature Conservation Act (2002) and is registered on the land title. Although usually in perpetuity, about 7% of the covenant area in Tasmania is fixed-term. In December 2016, there were 819 covenants covering an area of about 99000 ha.

Indigenous Protected Areas

There are 8 Indigenous Protected Area in Tasmania, covering an area of about 11000 ha. IUCN V IUCN VI

Private sanctuaries

Land reserved for the significant natural or cultural values while permitting the carrying out of agricultural or other activities consistent on preserving the values of the land.

Wellington Park

Wellington Park is the protected area which encompasses Mount Wellington and surrounds near Hobart. It is IUCN protected area category II and covers an area of about 18000 ha. It is managed by the Wellington Park Management Trust established in 1993 whose members include: Hobart and Glenorchy City Councils, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service, DPIPWE, TasWater and Tourism Tasmania.

State forest

Future potential production forest

'Future potential production forest land' (FPPF or FPPFL) is crown land administered by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) where, except in some circumstances for "special species timbers", no native forest harvesting can be undertaken. It was formally classified as 'future reserve land' (FRL) under the Tasmanian Forests Agreement. FPPF may be converted to 'permanent timber production zone land' (PTPZ or PTPZL) after 2020.

Background

The Tasmanian Forests Agreement which was passed in 2013 after almost 4 years of negotiations, categorised about 400000 ha of crown land native forest as FRL, which included areas of forests of the Styx, Weld, Upper Florentine, Great Western Tiers and Tarkine regions. The fate of FRL was dependent upon Tasmanian forest practices gaining Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. In the recent 2014 audit, Forestry Tasmania (now Sustainable Timber Tasmania) complied with 193 indicators, but needed further action on 10 more. In September 2014 the Tasmanian government passed legislation which reclassified the 400,000 hectares of FRL as FPPF. After the expiration of the memorandum in April 2020, areas of FPPF can be converted to PTPZ where native forest logging can occur, subject to parliamentary approval. Until 2020, only limited "special species timber" harvesting can be undertaken in FPPF.

Permanent timber production zone land

Sustainable Timber Tasmania is a government business enterprise owned by the Tasmanian Government which manages and operates state forest on crown land (officially classified as 'permanent timber production zone land'). Some of this land has informal protection and is managed for conservation as part of the Tasmanian CAR reserve system (e.g. habitat for threatened species, streamside protection, landscape connectivity). Informal reserves on the public production forest land cover about 121000 ha.

Forest reserves

Forest reserves are located on 'permanent timber production zone land' and may have recreation or other tourism facilities.

Conservation areas

A protected area of land predominantly in a natural state. The sustainable use of natural resources may be permitted, such as mining, special species timber harvesting or hunting. There are 438 conservation areas covering a terrestrial area of about 622000 ha. Mostly IUCN protected area categories IV, V or VI.

IUCN Ia or Ib

IUCN II

IUCN III

IUCN IV

IUCN V

IUCN VI

Marine conservation areas

Conservation areas that are marine protected areas cover about 12000 ha of state waters, and are all IUCN protected area category VI. Marine conservation areas do not have any fishing restrictions.

Game reserves

An area of land conserved for containing natural values that are unique, important or have representative value; particularly games species and allowing the sustainable hunting these species. There are 12 game reserves covering an area of about 20000 ha, all are IUCN protected area category VI.

Historic sites

Land with significant historic cultural heritage and is conserved for presentation of these features for public appreciation and education. There are 30 historic sites covering an area of about 16000 ha. Most are IUCN protected area category V. IUCN II IUCN IV IUCN V

National parks

A national park in Tasmania is defined as a large natural area of land containing a representative or outstanding sample of major natural regions, features or scenery. National parks serve to protect and maintain the natural and cultural values of the area of land while providing for ecologically sustainable recreation. There are 19 national parks covering a terrestrial area of about 1468000 ha, the largest protected area category in Tasmania. IUCN Ia or Ib IUCN II

National parks (marine)

Three national parks also have a marine protected area component. These cover about 48000 ha of state waters.

Nature recreation areas

Is predominantly in a natural state or contains sensitive natural sites of significance for recreation. Reserved for public recreation and education consistent with conserving the values of the area. There are 25 nature recreation areas covering an area of about 67000 ha, mostly IUCN protected area category V. IUCN III IUCN V IUCN VI

Nature reserves

An area of land that is conserved for the natural values that contribute to the natural biological or geological diversity of the area and are unique, important or have representative value. There are 86 nature reserves covering a terrestrial area of about 36000 ha. Mostly IUCN protected area category Ia. IUCN Ia IUCN IV IUCN V

Marine nature reserves

Nature reserves that are marine protected areas cover about 76000 ha of state waters (includes Macquarie Island).

Regional reserves

May have also previously been known as forest reserves, a regional reserve is an area of land with a high mineral potential or prospectively and is predominantly in a natural state. The purpose of reservation is for mineral exploration and the development of mineral deposits and/or the controlled use of other natural resources, including special species timber harvesting, while protecting and maintaining the natural and cultural values. There are 148 regional reserves covering an area of about 454000 ha, a majority are IUCN protected area category IV. IUCN III IUCN IV IUCN V IUCN VI

State reserves

An area of land which provides protection and maintenance for significant natural landscapes, features, or sites of significance to Aboriginal people. There are 65 state reserves covering an area of about 47000 ha. Most are IUCN protected area category II or III. IUCN Ia IUCN II IUCN III