A major Federal Government forestry policy that was rejected by the United Nations World Heritage Committee last year was a captain’s call by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, a prominent conservation group says.

The Wilderness Society (TWS) said documents obtained under Freedom of Information show Mr Abbott ignored advice from senior ministers when he pressed ahead with a number of election commitments.

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In 2013, the Government pledged to revoke an extension of Tasmania’s Wilderness World Heritage Area so that 74,000 hectares of forest could be re-opened to logging.

The Unesco committee took just 10 minutes to reject the proposal at a meeting in July, 2014.

TWS said immediately after the election that Environment Minister Greg Hunt and Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce wrote to Mr Abbott seeking time to “examine the implications” of the commitments.

In an excerpt of the document written by Mr Hunt and Mr Joyce and released by TWS said:

In light of the complexity of the issues surrounding Tasmanian forestry, we have come to the view that it would be appropriate to have a six-month review of the Tasmanian forestry package that would enable us to consult more broadly with a wide range of stakeholders on our election commitments.

The group said election commitments made in 2013 including scrapping the Tasmanian forest peace deal.

The move was ultimately rejected by Unesco’s World Heritage Committee.

Vica Bayley from TWS said Mr Abbott’s captain’s call on forestry had embarrassed Australia internationally.

“The de-listing attempt was termed feeble by one of the member groups of the World Heritage Committee,” he said.

A response has been sought from the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Tasmanian Senator Richard Colbeck.