As consultation opened for the government's World Heritage Area draft management plan, so did more division and conflict.

The week began with talk of casinos and theme parks in WHAs, and the white shoe brigade stomping in and claiming Federation Peak.

Then we heard of "extreme" environmentalists and the anti-everything brigade raining on the Liberals' parade.

The tourism industry put in its bit, offended that it had been tarred with the same brush as "greedy land grabbers".

Labor took a swipe at the Greens for "sensationalism", determined to prove the marriage was over.

Then enter federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt, donned in his WHA cape, eager to renew his pledge to save the forest.

Mr Hunt said his passion for the forest was on par with the passion of Matt Groom and Will Hodgman's plan for it.

A strange message from the same man who wanted to delist 74,000 hectares for logging just last year.

Ignoring logging for a moment, the Greens and environmental groups would get way more street credit from holding fire and supporting the plan in principle.

We do green tourism well here, with several operators holding an Earth Rating for sustainability.

Award-winning hotel Saffire Freycinet has now joined forces with the Save the Devil program, and has its own enclosure of disease-free devils.

Ian Johnstone's walking company has also won awards, and his conservation work on Maria Island is to be commended.

It's no wonder the tourism industry lashed out and called for calm, rightly offended to be considered greedy developers.

But being told to wait and see what makes it through the approval process is understandably hard to swallow for environmentalists.

Rather than saying "no" from the outset, they could vow to watch like a hawk, and be ready to swoop at any sign of environmental wrong doing.

The government has repeatedly said the plan is open only to sensible proposals that protect wilderness values.

To environmentalists, the draft management plan is a giant blank cheque, ready to be signed by the men in white shoes.

It comes with no guarantees that the developments will be small-scale and low-impact.

It's unlikely that any developer would try and build a resort in the wild South-West or other remote WHAs.

The government would be mad to allow it, because we are building the state's clean and green image, and visitors seeking wilderness want exactly that.

What is expected is low-impact tourism experiences such as Mr Johnstone's walks.

Having been lucky enough to see Melaleuca and Bathurst Harbour, there should be more options to experience the beauty of our wild areas.

The South Coast track is gruelling and limited to the experienced bushwalker.

As former environment minister John Cleary said in the letters page this week, Dove Lake is now probably the state's best walk, and it too received opposition.

The consultation period is a great opportunity for everyone to have their say on how to manage our beloved wild areas.

Greens leader Christine Milne was right when she said they lured people to the state and contributed immensely to the romantic image of Tasmania's remoteness.

But there is a balance, and we must get it right.

In the meantime, a narrative of division and conflict won't help.