Conservation
Groups Join Forces Dr Francesca
Andreoni |
The National Parks Association and
Nature Conservation Council have long called for a stop to inappropriate land
clearing. Now the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Wilderness Society have
also joined forces to urge the Carr Government to control land clearing. Dr Francesca Andreoni writes... |
In NSW much of our bushland heritage is being destroyed through government inaction on land clearing. Land clearing is the greatest cause of land degradation and extinction of animals and plants in this state. The NSW Government’s response continues to be slow and ineffective and threatened types of bushlands and grasslands are still being cleared. The amount of vegetation being cleared is still much too high despite the fact that the NSW Government, through current legislation and planning, has the means to control inappropriate land clearing. Illegal clearing continues in addition to the tens of thousands of hectares being legally approved for clearing each year. |
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In response to this, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and The Wilderness Society have initiated a joint campaign to ensure that the NSW Government acts to control land clearing. I have a background in threatened species conservation and spent many years working with landholders and volunteers to address the impacts of land clearing — now I have been employed to lead their NSW Landclearing Campaign.
Over 1,100 animals and plants listed as nationally threatened are declining as a result of land clearing. Native mammals and birds play a vital role in the ecosystem and help control insect pests, pollinate plants, and provide the unique sights and sounds of the Australian bush. Their decline indicates serious degradation of natural systems crucial to the maintenance and cycling of water, soil and nutrients.
The Squirrel Glider, Regent Honeyeater, Black-striped Wallaby, and Spotted-tailed Quoll are just some of the many animals at risk. Their habitat is being destroyed. Over 20 bird species are threatened with extinction in the woodland belt of NSW alone.
It isn’t just the wildlife that suffers because of land clearing. Land clearing causes salting and degradation of healthy soil and clean water. Dryland salinity — the salting of valuable farming country — will continue to escalate whilst the NSW Government allows excessive land clearing of woodlands and grasslands. The resulting soil and water degradation costs us all millions of dollars already.
Whilst growing numbers of farmers recognise the valuable role native vegetation plays in keeping their land productive, their efforts are being undermined by the NSW Government. Farmers downstream are suffering land degradation on their land, through the land-clearing activities of others further upstream – all thanks to the lack of action and leadership from the NSW Government.
Given the disastrous long-term costs and impacts of overclearing, not just to farmers but to the whole community, the NSW Government must urgently improve and enforce existing land-clearing controls.
You can help protect species and landscapes. We hope to see significant improvements in the management of native vegetation in NSW, but will need your support to achieve this.
Dr Francesca Andreoni
is the Landclearing Campaigner for WWF and The Wilderness Society
Action: Contact Minister Aquilina and urge
him to intervene Letting us know about
inappropriate clearing activity in your region is another way you can
help. (02) 9282 9553 or email: francesca.andreoni@wilderness.org.au. |
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