Caring for our Country program welcome but more commitments needed
14 Mar 2008
WWF today welcomed many elements of the Federal Government's $2.25 billion Caring for our Country program, including the priority placed on biodiversity conservation and delivery of $200 million to clean up pollution on the Great Barrier Reef.
In February 2007 WWF called for a significant increase in Reef funding – today's $200m commitment ensures regional groups, farmers and the Reef are all better off.
However, while the six priorities outlined in the Caring for our Country program reflect the main areas of concern for WWF in Australia, WWF is still waiting on clear commitments from the Commonwealth that it will allocate the $250 million needed to expand Australia's National Reserve System.
WWF is also urging the Federal Government to support community efforts to prevent species loss by continuing to fund the Threatened Species Network.
"The Federal Government must commit to addressing the decade of neglect of our protected area system and create a climate safety net for Australian species. The Government must also ensure the vital on-ground work of the Threatened Species Network continues," said WWF-Australia's Biodiversity Policy Manager Averil Bones.
"Australia has a shocking record of species extinction and we hope the new Government's Caring for our Country program will give communities support in responding to key threats such as habitat loss and invasive species," Ms Bones said.
"Australia has the worst record of mammalian extinctions on the planet. It is time for the government to take the gloves off and commit to securing this country's unique wildlife. Without community-based, species recovery efforts, such as the Threatened Species Network, Australia's extinction crisis can only continue."
Only 10.5 per cent of Australia's land area is safeguarded in protected areas, less than that of other, poorer megadiverse countries such as Colombia, China, Peru, Malaysia and Venezuela. WWF this week released its report into Australia's national reserve system, called Building Nature's Safety Net 2008, and called on the new Federal Government to invest at least $250 million in building a safety net of protected areas to save Australia's wildlife and natural ecosystems.
For more information
Charlie Stevens, WWF-Australia Media Office
02 8202 1274, 0424 649 689
Averil Bones, WWF-Australia Policy Manager Biodiversity
0437 864 153
