WWF welcomes $180m investment in new protected areas
01 Apr 2008
WWF-Australia has welcomed an announcement from the Australian Government that it would increase the budget for the National Reserve System to $36 million a year over the next five years.
WWF has been calling for a $250 million commitment - or $50 million a year over five years - from the Australian Government towards increasing Australia's protected areas system, especially in areas that are poorly represented such as arid parts of Central Australia and the Top End.
WWF's Protected Areas Policy Manager, Dr Martin Taylor, said the $180 million funding boost was a promising step toward saving Australia's wildlife from a "decade of neglect".
"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.
"This significant boost in investment is critical for the sake of Australia's unique species and, given the increasing threats to wildlife, even more investment will be worthwhile."
About $8 million on average was spent annually by the Commonwealth over the last decade in acquiring new protected areas for wildlife, but experts believe at least $50 million a year over five years is needed.
Telstra is a proud partner of WWF's Building Nature's Safety Net campaign.
Telstra Executive Director Mr Martin Mercer, said Telstra’s partnership with WWF demonstrates that Telstra takes 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.
According to WWF analysis, 72 per cent of Australia's threatened species are declining but declines are less common in regions with more land area protected.
"The government urgently needs to re-estimate just how much it should be investing in protected areas for wildlife habitats in light of climate change. The states and territories also need to boost their parks acquisition and management budgets to take advantage of the increased funding now available to them." Dr Taylor said.
The National Reserve System program offers grants to states, territories and private land trusts for purchase of new protected areas in locations identified as important for saving Australia's unique heritage of native wildlife and plants.
For more information:
Charlie Stevens, WWF-Australia Press Office, 02 8202 1274, 0424 649 689
Dr Martin Taylor, WWF-Australia's Protected Areas Policy Manager, 07 3211 2749, 0406 384 289
