Will you stop excessive tree-clearing?
Dear Minister,
I write on behalf of future generations of Australians urging you to act immediately to stop excessive tree-clearing in NSW.
Right now the future of the koala, our most iconic native species, is on the brink. Without dramatic and urgent intervention, koalas will be locally extinct in NSW by 2050.
Imagine if we are the generation that allowed that to happen. Imagine if you were the legislator that failed to stop it. It's unthinkable.
Excessive tree-clearing is taking place because weak laws are allowing it to happen.
Tree-clearing increased 800% from 2013/14 to 2015/16, and that was before the laws were further weakened in 2017. Reducing the clearing of koala habitat is the single best step we can take to protect this species and other native wildlife from extinction.
The NSW Government’s Koala Strategy has some positive elements but ignores three key recommendations regarding conserving koala habitat made by the NSW Chief Scientist in her independent review into the decline of koalas.
The strategy fails to protect the 99% of koala habitat that is at risk from tree-clearing on private land. There’s no point funding research or new koala hospitals if there is no habitat for wild koalas to live in.
Our team have worked out a simple plan that to protect the future of koalas:
- Pass strong laws to stop excessive tree-clearing and conserve and enhance biodiversity
- Establish a $1.5bn Land & Biodiversity Fund to conserve forests and wildlife, and support landholders to protect trees
- Protect all remnant vegetation and high conservation value regrowth vegetation
- Protect urban bushland and trees
- Ensure laws requiring the assessment of tree-clearing proposals are implemented
- Close tree-clearing loopholes
- Detect and prosecute illegal clearing
- Complete and publicly release accurate native vegetation mapping
- Promptly release accurate, transparent and regular statewide clearing data
This plan will not only stop excessive clearing and enable the koala to have a chance to thrive once again, it will also help bushland regenerate and give primary producers and others who work on the land, a better framework for protecting our ecosystems.
It is not just a commitment to the future of koalas and their forest homes, but a legacy for future generations of Australians to be proud of.
Please act urgently to put this plan in place. I'm counting on you to help us protect the koala - you represent the last generation with the chance to do so.
Yours Sincerely,
