Tom Allen

Biography

Our two main campaigns in Tasmania are protecting the globally unique Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area from exploitation and inappropriate development. We believe there’s a better way to do tourism than by developing’ away the very thing people come to Tasmania to experience - unspoiled wilderness. We are also working to end the logging of Tasmania’s epic High Conservation Value Gondwanan forests. Tom has worked in conservation in Tasmania for the last decade or so. The Wilderness Society is one of the world’s first environmental organisations and exists to protect, promote and restore wilderness.

Abstract

Wild about Tasmanian Wilderness: How the Tasmanian Community is Helping the Tourism Industry by Protecting Wilderness against Tourism Development

Tasmania’s wilderness is the preeminent driver of the state’s tourism industry yet the same tourism industry that benefits from protected areas is pushing the private commercial develop of these same protected areas. The vast majority of Tasmanians oppose the development of protected wilderness, including the Aboriginal community. By keeping wilderness protected, they are ultimately acting in everyone’s interests, not least those of the tourism industry itself.