National Forum

Steve Smith

Steve Smith was born in London in 1948 and educated in England, Sri Lanka, and Tasmania. Steve taught biology and geology for many years before studying for a Ph. D. in zoology. He worked for Tasmania's Parks and Wildlife Service as World Heritage Area Zoologist for 7 years. In 1992, he became Senior Zoologist, and became increasingly involved in nature conservation on private land, and represents Tasmania on the ANZECC Working Group on Nature Conservation on Private Land. In 1999, he was appointed Manager of the Private Forest Reserves Unit, in the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, where he now leads a team of people dedicated to establishing a system of Private Forest Reserves on private land.

Steve Smith undertook a Churchill Fellowship in 1991 to investigate World Heritage Area management and wildlife conservation in North and South America. He later led a project in 1997 that laid the groundwork for establishing Land for Wildlife in Tasmania in 1999, and was successful in gaining NHT funds in 1999 for a project to integrate biodiversity in Property Management Planning in Tasmania.

He has a B.Sc.(Hons.) and Ph. D. from the University of Tasmania and his goal for the future is to establish the best possible Private Forest Reserve System in Tasmania, that may serve as a model for conservation of non-forest vegetation in the State. Personally, he spends time with his two grand daughters, is keen to travel and aims to be fluent in Spanish and French.