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[created on 25/07/2008]
In Northern Australia, WWF is working to conserve and sustainably manage the region's 1.5 million square kilometres of tropical savannas and 1 million kilometres of rivers and creeks. Key threats include water resource development, broad scale land clearing, inappropriate mines and industrial development, altered fire regimes, weeds and feral animals, and over-grazing. We work to address such threats through on-ground work in partnership with communities and landholders, developing policy proposals for government and industry, and advocacy.
Australia's tropical rivers are unique and form one of the last great river networks in less-impacted condition in the world today. The Living Rivers system is extremely biodiverse, providing havens for a range of plants and animals, including Australia's well known crocodiles and barramundi, as well as threatened species such as the freshwater sawfish (an amazing creature which is part shark, part stingray) and the pig nose turtle. In addition, Living Rivers provide unique habitat for dugongs, turtles, quolls and varied birdlife. Targeted protective management is required for rivers, river reaches, floodplains, wetlands and estuaries that are particularly valuable assets.
Living Rivers are a Precious Asset
Most of the Territory's rivers flow through catchments that have experienced little land clearing and are free of weirs and dams. River systems provide important free ecosystem goods and services which underpin the Territory's economy and unique lifestyle and which help support the natural resource base of social and economic development.
Ecosystem goods include clean water, fish, prawns, crabs, turtles, water plants and waterbirds. Ecosystem services include water purification, tourism, recreation, flooding of pastures for grazing, medicinal resources, and beauty.
Rivers in good ecological condition have important intrinsic values that are not easily measured or costed, but provide great enjoyment and peace-of-mind to Territorians and visitors from around the world.
Australia Northern Territory's Living Rivers system contains rivers and associated wetlands, floodplains and estuaries, that are highly significant cultural and economic assets to Indigenous people, landholders, fishers and tourism.
An Investment in the Future
Maintaining river health is cheaper than restoration. The costs of repairing degraded natural ecosystems has been assessed to be as high ten to one hundred times as much as maintaining good quality ecosystems. Sometimes there is no opportunity to repair systems once they have degraded - meaning their value is lost forever. With the Murray Darling system under threat of collapse, we can act now in Australia's north and learn from past mistakes.
Political and Public Support for the Living Rivers Program
WWF is drawing attention to specific opportunities for strengthening legislation that will increase public participation in natural resource and land use planning, ensuring culturally appropriate engagement with Indigenous communities, and enhancing transparency in decision making in Australia's Top End.
[created on 25/07/2008]
In Northern Australia, WWF is working to conserve and sustainably manage the region's 1.5 million square kilometres of tropical savannas and 1 million kilometres of rivers and creeks. Key threats include water resource development, broad scale land clearing, inappropriate mines and industrial development, altered fire regimes, weeds and feral animals, and over-grazing. We work to address such threats through on-ground work in partnership with communities and landholders, developing policy proposals for government and industry, and advocacy.
Australia's tropical rivers are unique and form one of the last great river networks in less-impacted condition in the world today. The Living Rivers system is extremely biodiverse, providing havens for a range of plants and animals, including Australia's well known crocodiles and barramundi, as well as threatened species such as the freshwater sawfish (an amazing creature which is part shark, part stingray) and the pig nose turtle. In addition, Living Rivers provide unique habitat for dugongs, turtles, quolls and varied birdlife. Targeted protective management is required for rivers, river reaches, floodplains, wetlands and estuaries that are particularly valuable assets.
Living Rivers are a Precious Asset
Most of the Territory's rivers flow through catchments that have experienced little land clearing and are free of weirs and dams. River systems provide important free ecosystem goods and services which underpin the Territory's economy and unique lifestyle and which help support the natural resource base of social and economic development.
Ecosystem goods include clean water, fish, prawns, crabs, turtles, water plants and waterbirds. Ecosystem services include water purification, tourism, recreation, flooding of pastures for grazing, medicinal resources, and beauty.
Rivers in good ecological condition have important intrinsic values that are not easily measured or costed, but provide great enjoyment and peace-of-mind to Territorians and visitors from around the world.
Australia Northern Territory's Living Rivers system contains rivers and associated wetlands, floodplains and estuaries, that are highly significant cultural and economic assets to Indigenous people, landholders, fishers and tourism.
An Investment in the Future
Maintaining river health is cheaper than restoration. The costs of repairing degraded natural ecosystems has been assessed to be as high ten to one hundred times as much as maintaining good quality ecosystems. Sometimes there is no opportunity to repair systems once they have degraded - meaning their value is lost forever. With the Murray Darling system under threat of collapse, we can act now in Australia's north and learn from past mistakes.
Political and Public Support for the Living Rivers Program
WWF is drawing attention to specific opportunities for strengthening legislation that will increase public participation in natural resource and land use planning, ensuring culturally appropriate engagement with Indigenous communities, and enhancing transparency in decision making in Australia's Top End.
