Mass extinctions underway but it's still possible to stop species loss
22 Mar 2006
Australia as a biodiversity heavy weight has a special role to play in halting the biggest mass extinction since the dinosaurs, says WWF, the conservation organisation.
A United Nations report into global biodiversity has found an increasing number of animal and plant species threatened with extinction, and warns the rate of species decline has surged to the highest level since the demise of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.
The just released Global Biodiversity Outlook 2 calls on governments to make 'unprecedented efforts' to stabilise species loss by 2010.
"Australia really has an important part to play in this global effort to stop species decline as we are one of only 17 countries considered to be a biodiversity 'heavy-weight' - an estimated 10% of life on Earth is found here," says WWF-Australia's Senior Policy Adviser, Andreas Glanznig.
The report comes as delegates gather in Brazil under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention is aimed at slowing species loss and the decline in habitats around the world by 2010.
The report found that threats to biodiversity around the world - such as deforestation, global warming and pollution - are generally increasing. The report also states that:
- Humans are contributing more nitrogen to ecosystems globally than do all natural processes combined through fertiliser runoff, human sewage and other activities.
- The rate and risk of alien species introduced into countries have increased significantly in recent years, and will continue to rise as a result of increased travel, trade and tourism.
- Unsustainable consumption is continuing, evidenced by the growing global ecological footprint. The global demand for resources now exceeds the biological capacity of the Earth to renew these resources by some 20%.
"Many of the findings are very relevant for Australia. In particular, Australia has a huge pool of introduced invasive plant and animal species that place our environment and agricultural lands at risk. Many of these alien species have yet to escape or are just emerging as threats," says Mr Glanznig.
"We need to learn from those pests and weeds that have already escaped and become widespread - they already cost Australia billions of dollars each year and have caused the extinction of native animals," he says.
"Part of the solution is to rapidly implement measures that fuse State and Territory controls on weeds and pests into a seamless national system that is of the same standard as those in place at the Federal border."
More information
Charlie Stevens, Press Officer, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 8202 1274
Mobile: 0424 649 689
