{"id":8881,"date":"2013-08-24T11:34:39","date_gmt":"2013-08-24T01:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/?p=8881"},"modified":"2022-05-02T00:41:17","modified_gmt":"2022-05-01T14:41:17","slug":"if-threatened-species-could-vote-wills-candidates-discuss-biodiversity-with-takvera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/if-threatened-species-could-vote-wills-candidates-discuss-biodiversity-with-takvera\/","title":{"rendered":"If threatened species could vote … Wills candidates discuss biodiversity with @takvera"},"content":{"rendered":"

By John Englart<\/a><\/p>\n

23 August 2013<\/p>\n

Environment and biodiversity have hardly rated a mention in this election campaign. But the election is being held on September 7, Threatened Species Day<\/a>, with World Wildlife Fund Australia launching<\/a> a series of television ads on the impact of climate change on the environment.<\/p>\n

Even many common plants and animals are facing dramatic biodiversity decline<\/a>\u00a0as a result of climate change. But environmentalist Margaret Blakers argues in The Guardian, we do have time to turn it around if there is political will<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Leadbeaters

Leadbeaters possum is on the endangered list, presently being assessed for upgrading to critically endangered Photo: John Englart<\/p><\/div>\n

Australia is grossly\u00a0underfunding biodiversity conservation<\/a>.\u00a0The carbon pricing package that Julia Gillard negotiated with the Greens and independents included the establishment of a $1 billion fund for biodiversity programs. Rudd recently axed<\/a> A$213 million for biodiversity conservation in the carbon price shake-up.<\/p>\n

Coalition environment spokesperson Greg Hunt has announced<\/a> the appointment of a Commissioner for Threatened Species if his side is elected, but no additional biodiversity funding. The Coalition has also promised to devolve environmental approvals to the states. If the policies of Victoria and Queensland are anything to go by, we should fear for our threatened species.<\/p>\n

The Victorian government has been accused<\/a>\u00a0of driving the Leadbeaters possum, an emblem of the state, to the verge of extinction by allowing logging to continue in native mountain ash forests for little economic gain.\u00a0In Queensland, a large number of conservation scientists have condemned land clearing changes<\/a>, warning of significant biodiversity loss.<\/p>\n

The Greens promised in July a $120 million plan<\/a> to halt Australia\u2019s biodiversity decline.<\/p>\n

Researchers estimate<\/a> that $10 million per year could prevent extinction of all Australian birds, and $100 million a year could prevent further extinctions of all Australian animals and plants. Is this too large a price to pay for maintaining our natural heritage?<\/p>\n

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"Australia has the world's worst extinction record for mammals and there is no sign of a slowdown" http:\/\/t.co\/vJbfviJgYx<\/a> #leadbeaterspossum<\/a><\/p>\n

— Brad Lemon (@tyabblemons) August 21, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n