Qld has most wildlife with poorly protected habitats: WWF
11 Sep 2008
Queensland has the most wildlife with poorly protected habitats in the country, a new report released today by WWF-Australia has revealed.
Of threatened species in Australia estimated to have less than 10 percent of their habitats in protected areas, 39 per cent are located in Queensland, WWF found. The next worse off State was Western Australia with 18 percent.
The leading conservation organisation also recently revealed that Queensland has the lowest percentage of total land in protected areas of all the States and Territories.
WWF has called on the Qld Government to guarantee at least $10 million a year to bring poorly protected habitats of the state’s vulnerable species into new national parks and nature reserves.
"Queensland recently committed to more than double protected areas by 2020," said Dr Martin Taylor, author of the report and Protected Areas Policy Manager with WWF Australia.
"Queensland needs to boost its parks acquisition and management budgets immediately to keep this commitment and take advantage of $180 million of new Commonwealth funds available for the expansion of protected areas, announced earlier this year," Dr Taylor said.
The Queensland species with least habitat protection include the Mary River Cod and Turtle, whose river habitats are seriously threatened by the proposed Traveston Dam.
"National parks and nature reserves are the proven best and most secure method of arresting declines of threatened wildlife toward extinction and buffering nature against climate change," Dr Taylor said.
Telstra is a proud partner of WWF's Building Nature's Safety Net campaign to expand wildlife protected areas.
Telstra Executive Director Mr Martin Mercer said Telstra’s partnership with WWF demonstrates Telstra is committed to taking its environmental responsibilities very seriously.
“We are proud to partner with WWF to play a part in developing solutions and encouraging the expansion of protected areas for Australia’s native wildlife, with a focus on safeguarding poorly protected and endangered ecosystems for Australia’s unique native species,” Mr Mercer said.
WWF said the analysis was restricted to information contained in recovery plans. A more comprehensive analysis is underway that may reveal different patterns."
The full report can be downloaded from wwf.org.au/publications/species_gap_analysis
For more information
Dr Martin Taylor, WWF-Australia's Protected Areas Policy Manager
Phone: 0406 384 289
Julian Murphy, WWF- Australia Press Office
Phone: 0418 970 778
