Mascot will disappear without protection
06 Sep 2004
This Biodiversity Month WWF is urging the Victorian government to ensure its new clearing guidelines will protect the remaining threatened species habitats in the state.
WWF is concerned the new guidelines will continue to allow clearance of threatened species habitats. Less than 3 per cent of the original extent of buloke woodlands remain in habitat range of the endangered south-eastern Red-tailed black cockatoo, the Commonwealth Games mascot.
"With the guidelines to the Native Vegetation Framework to be released any time now, we are concerned that the 5 per cent of native vegetation remaining on Victorian private land will be compromised due to a lack of political will and significant pressure for unsustainable developments, including centre pivot irrigation," WWF senior policy officer, business and industry Michael Rae said.
Between 2000 and 2003, the West Wimmera Shire in western Victoria, a critical habitat for the cockatoo, received 62 applications to clear native vegetation of which 61 were approved - many of them for centre pivot irrigation. The shire also falls within a key National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality region, which receives significant public funding to remedy salinity problems.
"It is hard to believe the region is allowing continued clearing and irrigation development in the cockatoo's critical habitat while at the same time receiving money to remedy similar damage," he said.
Mr Rae said remedial planting could not replace the loss of the endangered buloke woodlands - the trees take around 100 years before they can provide reliable food for the endangered cockatoo.
The problem was highlighted again in the City of Greater Shepparton where 40 mature red gum and grey box trees were removed under permit from the shire for the development of centre pivot irrigation.
"The clearing guidelines must ensure all significant vegetation on private land is protected in Victoria,"said Mr Rae, "If we compromise on the last 5 per cent standing we will be witness to the extinction of several threatened species."
Interview opportunities available with Michael Rae 0414925545.
WWF-Australia Press Office - Jacqueline McArthur (02) 9281 5515 Mobile 0408626780 and Virginia Dew (02) 82021290 or email - vdew@wwf.org.au, Andy Ridley (02) 82021237, 0415865992.
