ELECTION CANDIDATES FACE TEST OF CONSERVATION CREDENTIALS ON NATIONAL PARKS

The National Parks Association today launched its 10 point "Pledge to Protect and Extend National Parks". The Pledge will be sent to every significant candidate in the State Election.

"At a time when the major parties think they can gloss over the environment or easily break their promises on protecting the environment, this pledge will give voters a real bench mark to assess the conservation commitment of their local candidates, regardless of party", said Noel Plumb, Executive Officer of the NPA

"It will also act as a powerful reminder to successful candidates, and their electorate, of the conservation principles and initiatives which they will be expected to support in Parliament and with their colleagues."

"At a time when both major parties have committed themselves to continued logging of old growth and wilderness forests, pledges from candidates to incorporate all old growth and wilderness forests in new national parks are a potent test of their personal commitment."

Other key commitments sought from candidates are

publicly owned and managed national parks - this is necessary to affirm that private interests cannot be left with the primary responsibility for nature conservation nor can the future of our wildlife be left to so called "market forces".

the National Parks and Wildlife Service will retain its independence - there is a need to affirm the independent, professional role of the NPWS. In recent years there has been an orchestrated campaign of denigration of the NPWS from developers, loggers, miners, graziers, 4WD and horseriding groups and others who resent any restrictions on their use or abuse of natural parks, no matter how inappropriate or damaging to the primary purposes of a national park or the quiet enjoyment of other users.

Keep development out of national parks - the conservation priorities of national parks cannot be maintained in the face of commercial development. Kosciuszko National Park is the centre of this conflict with current proposals for further major urban development in the ski resorts.

Continue the expansion of the parks - this is a commitment to achieve a comprehensive reserve system, including a minimum goal of 15% of the State by 2005.

Funding of $30 million per annum to purchase private land for additions to the parks - many key areas needed to complete the reserve system, protect endangered species, or preserve the landscape are privately owned. In western NSW public land is quite insufficient to achieve an adequate reserve system. The current NPWS land acquisition budget is a tiny $2 million per year and many key purchases cannot be achieved

"This pledge is the beginning of a new and extended debate on the real commitment and performance of our politicians in protecting the environment," said Mr Plumb.

For more information contact the National Parks Association office (Kristi Macdonald or Jorn Macris) on (02) 9233 4660.

3 March 1999

PLEDGE TO PROTECT AND EXTEND NATIONAL PARKS

I support the NSW national parks system and I am committed to the following principles and objectives for national parks

  1. the core reserve system for nature conservation will be publicly owned and managed national parks
  2. nature conservation will remain the primary objective of national parks
  3. the National Parks and Wildlife Service will remain as an independent statutory agency, separate from any land use or natural resources agency
  4. national parks will not be revoked or reduced to meet mining, grazing, logging or other resource demands NOR will these or other exploitative uses be permitted in the parks
  5. appropriate access and use must maintain conservation values as well as quiet enjoyment for all visitors, in particular:-
  6. recurrent funding for control of feral animals and weeds, fire management and neighbour relations to be doubled from the 1997/98 allocation
  7. a comprehensive reserve system to be completed by 2005 with at least 15% of each of the State's land area and marine area in national parks
  8. all old growth, wilderness and key habitat forests to be incorporated in national parks
  9. all intertidal zone areas to be incorporated in adjoining national parks
  10. a dedicated fund of $30 million per annum be provided to buy private land for parks

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For more information contact the National Parks Association office (Kristi Macdonald or Jorn Macris) on (02) 9233 4660.

10 March 1999


National Parks Association