| THREATENED SPECIES RECOVERY AT RISK | |
16 May 2001
The Government is considering withdrawing critical funding from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to implement the Threatened Species Conservation Act, just at a time when more funds are needed to implement newly adopted recovery plans.
"Since the commencement of the TSC Act in 1996, the yearly $4M allocation to NPWS has been supplemented by about $2.5M, mainly to prepare and implement recovery plans", said Andrew Cox, Executive Officer, National Parks Association of NSW.
"Now we understand that Treasury is considering withdrawing the $2.5M supplementary funding, and either the NPWS find funds from other critical conservation programs, or recovery planning ceases."
"NPWS's responsibilities under the TSC Act include dealing with development applications affecting threatened species, supporting the Act's Scientific Advisory Committee that decides on the status of species, preparing species recovery plans, conducting research and implementing the recovery plans."
"A recovery plan is legally required for each of the 226 animal species and 485 plant species currently listed as threatened. The plan must be completed within five years of their listing", said Mr Cox.
"So far there are 11 recovery plans in place and 19 awaiting approval."
"The total $6.5M/year is still insufficient to complete the work required by the Act, let alone the massive additional effort required to recover species from the path towards extinction. This year the NPWS has sought a total of about $10M for its TSC Act responsibilities."
"As more recovery plans are completed, there is a need to spend more funds on implementing recovery actions, not less."
"Already some NPWS staff undertaking threatened species conservation and research programs have being laid off."
"If these changes go ahead, it will send a clear signal that the Carr Government no longer considers threatened species important", said Mr Cox.
"Otherwise recovery plans will be consigned to collect dust on a shelf and threatened species will only be found in specimen jars in museums."
Contact: Andrew Cox 9299 0000 or 0438 588 040