HABITAT DESTRUCTION AND BIODIVERSITY LOSS

 A recent Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) report has highlighted some major problems with the way the health of our biodiversity is assessed and protected from sliding further towards extinction.  In 2023 the addition of 144 animals, plants and ecological communities to the threatened species list was more than in any other year since the list was established.

Among those listed for the first time were the Pink Cockatoo (endangered), the Northern Blue-tongued Skink (critically endangered) and the Jardine River Turtle (critically endangered).

“Scientists nominated many of these species for listing years ago, so 2023’s high number shows the Environment Minister (Tanya Plibersek) and her department are clearing the backlog and making the list better reflect the reality,” said ACF nature campaigner Peta Bulling.

“The problem is the factors driving species onto the endangered list are not being stopped.  In the last 12 months, 10,426 hectares (25,800 acres) of habitat destruction was approved under Australia’s national nature laws.”

She added that this amount of clearing approved was likely to be a fraction of total habitat actually cleared because land clearing in Australia often happens without being assessed under environmental laws.  Along with many others concerned about biodiversity loss, Bulling wants to see the upcoming reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act address habitat destruction which is pushing our biodiversity towards extinction.

Consultation on the EPBC Act reforms commenced last year with experts and key stakeholder groups.  It is expected that draft legislation will be introduced to federal parliament some time this year.

Since the new federal government was elected, Minister Plibersek has made listing decisions on 223 threatened species and eight ecological communities. These included 130 bushfire-affected species and eight bushfire-affected ecosystems.

While habitat clearing is a major driver of biodiversity loss that affects our region, we now have another major environmental problem – the arrival of fire ants – which requires urgent effective action from local, state and federal authorities – including from our local members of parliament – Hogan and Williamson.

-        Leonie Blain

 Published in the "Voices for the Earth" column in The Clarence Valley Independent , January 31, 2024.

 

 

HELP SAVE THE KOALA

In the first half of 2012 the Federal Environment Minister listed koalas in NSW, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) as vulnerable under the  Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation  (EPBC) Act 1999.  This followed years of campaigning by people concerned with declining koala numbers.  This decline has been the result of loss of  habitat, urban expansion leading to deaths on roads and from dog attack as well as an increased prevalence of disease.

Despite this  listing koalas are still under considerable threat.  Examples of this were given in two recent  Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition posts illustrating how State Forests has little regard for the well-being of this iconic species -
   On June 14 - Logging in Core Koala Habitat in Northern NSW
   On July 11  - NSW Forestry's Destruction of Koala Habitat

Obviously much more needs to be done to have these vulnerable animals properly protected.  

Koala campaigner Pat Edwards has created an on-line petition through the Avaaz organisation.  It's called SAVE AUSTRALIA'S KOALAS.

Pat points out that campaigns like this start out small but they can grow quickly when concerned people get involved.

In her petition Pat has stated:
Koalas are a billion dollar industry to Australia, yet still rate a poor second to any development or logging activity that destroys their habitat and causes colony collapse. We urgently call on Australian governments at all levels to finally recognise the importance of koalas, not only to Australia but to the global community.


SAVE AUSTRALIA'S KOALAS Petition

Example of a Koala needing Help

  

                                                                                   Photo:  Pat Edwards

Young Koala Gumnut, who lived west of Grafton, was orphaned when his mother was killed by a dog. He was called in at 2 a.m., and at around 5 months old weighed just 450g. Right now he's at the Currumbin koala clinic, under  supervision by the Australian Wildlife Hospital, and so far is doing OK.

KOALAS STILL WAITING FOR FEDERAL PROTECTION

On 16^th February federal Environment Minister Tony Burke announced that he was delaying his decision on whether to add the koala to the list of nationally threatened species.  The Minister was originally scheduled to make his decision public on 17^th February.  His decision will now be made by 30^th April 2012.

The reason Minister Burke gave for deferring his decision was the need for more information from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee. 

His Media Release stated:

"There is a strong case that a nationally threatened species listing is required for koalas in areas where numbers have been under greatest threat.

"But I can't provide a blanket threatened species listing across Australia when there are many places where koala numbers remain high.

"That means any listing would need to apply only to specific parts of Australia.

"The advice I've received from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee suggests that I could generalise these areas to state boundaries.

"I agree with the Committee's findings about the need to treat populations differently in different parts of Australia but am seeking further advice on whether there are more precise habitat boundaries than simply adopting state boundaries."

It's a pity the Minister did not identify the need for more information earlier.  Perhaps he is reluctant to make a decision which, while it might assist in saving many koalas from the impacts of habitat loss, disease and other causes of mortality, will irritate those who are anxious to promote development in areas of prime koala habitat.

Those anxious to see our national icon given greater protection can be sure of one thing.  Minister Burke will be under considerable pressure from developer interests and the state governments who are concerned that development should not be impeded in any way.  

Obviously those who want to see the koala protected should continue to put their views to the Minister and to their local federal members.

There have already been three unsuccessful attempts to list the koalas as a threatened species under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity  Conservation Act (EPBC Act).  Will it be a case of fourth time lucky ?

Burke Media Release

Threatened Species Scientific Committee