Australia’s endangered species listing was updated with gang-gang cockatoos this year. Credit:Jayden Gunn
This clarion cry is not just from scientists. In 2018, a Senate inquiry on the extinction of Australian wildlife found that native fauna was in decline and that an independent regulator was needed. The federal auditor general found the Environment Department. It has seen a 40% reduction in its budget since 2013, according to the auditor-general. Was not able to achieve the desired outcomes Monitoring and reporting endangered species.
A landmark review of Australia’s environment laws was conducted last year. Professor Graeme Samuel, an ex-competition watchdogIt was determined that urgent reforms were necessary to prevent further extinctions. These included the appointment an independent environment commissioner. The core of the recommendations was the adoption of legally-enforceable national environmental standards.
Samuel wrote that it was unacceptable to ignore the fundamental reforms recommended in this review.
Professor Brendan Wintle from the University of Melbourne gives the Morrison Government a zero for its inadequate response to the Samuel review. All key stakeholders supported the review and about 85 percent agreed on the reforms that should be implemented. He says that the government failed to deliver on its promises, which is very disappointing.
Australia’s environment protection is chronically underfunded. 2019 Wintle and his associates, researchIt was found that Australia spent $122 million per year on endangered species. This is about 10% of what was spent in the United States and 15% of what was required to prevent extinctions or recover threatened species.
Wintle projects that Australia’s endangered species would cost $1.7 billion annually to rescue (in comparison, the Australian pet care industry is about $12 billion). Only two days of Coalition election promises (estimated to be at $833 Million per Day) would fund recovery for Australias entire threatened species list for a year.
In the weeks leading up to the election Environmentalists have repeatedly called forEnvironment Minister Sussan Léy to Release the State of the EnvironmentReport a five-yearly scorecard of Australia’s natural environment. Voters have a right of access to more information about the extent of the damage. The government caretaker period ended and nothing was made publicly.
Scott Portelli, a photographer, won the declining species category of the Australian Geographic Nature Photography of the Year Exhibition in 2021 for his photograph of a grey nurse Shark. Credit:
People love nature
There is ample evidence that people care about Australia’s unique animals and plants. Recent polling done by the Australian Conservation Foundation regarding the electorates commitment towards nature revealed that 95% of those surveyed believed it was important for future generations to protect nature, while 90% said it was essential for the Australian economy. 88% of respondents stated they care about the eventual extinction of certain species.
It’s not like wildlife recovery or ending extinctions is impossible. The Invasive Species council and other conservation groups have good news stories. In the 2000s, thousands died from albatrosses due to long-line fishing. The government partnered with the fishing industry to improve their practices. Australia had achieved 243 successful exterminations of feral species on islands, including black rats and cats.
Wintle believes the Coalition government was hampered by the Nationals desire to protect farmers’ rights over land management. He also notes that many farmers are doing outstanding environmental recovery work.
Wintle states that Labor has been limited by the enmeshed relationship with the union movement and forestry industry when it comes to dealing with biodiversity issues, especially logging.
The first party to free itself from the ideological associations of biodiversity conservation will have policies that will change the way we do things.
The rare hoary sunrayCredit:Debbie Reynolds
What’s on the menu?
Labor has not yet released an overall environmental policy. Shadow minister for the environment and water Terri Butler said that Labor leader Anthony Albanese had to decide when the policy would be launched. Already, the party has pledged$80 million for projects related to the Great Barrier Reef, and $200 million for urban river and catchments. It has also stated that it would double the number Indigenous rangers as well as Indigenous Protected areas.
Butler states that one of the first actions by a Labor-led government is to respond fully to the Samuel review. It would also release all the State of the Environment report. She feels close to the recommendation of an independent environmental commissioner for environment protection and biodiversity conservation reviews.
She states that there is a real problem with compliance in the environment law.
Ley, Environment Minister, spokesmen for the Coalition.Government has committedA total of $6 billion more in environmental spending, including $53 million to help koala recovery. It would continue to fight feral pests, weeds, as well as partner with local communities for practical, on the ground action.
The spokesperson stated that a further Coalition government would also reform the national environment laws to protect the planet and provide greater certainty. It would spend $52 million to roll out digital environment assessments across the country with states and territories in order to reduce red tape.
The Greens have a comprehensive strategyThis includes a goal for zero extinction by 2030 as well as investment in mass-greening and restoration programs.
A corroboree Frog. Credit:Taronga Zoo
Natural cost
Megan Evans, University of NSW researcher, says the business sector has realized that there is a cost to not dealing with the biodiversity crisis. The risk of climate change is now recognized as a threat, and there is increasing awareness that biodiversity loss will impact the bottom line.
These losses could include: physical risks (for instance, natural disasters that are exacerbated by loss to coastal protection from nature), reputational and legal risks, the risk of ecosystem collapse (through loss of pollinators), and diseases that impact global supply chains or availability of materials.
Evans states that we have seen increasing threats to biodiversity over recent years and that funding has been reduced. It won’t change the fact that revegetation isn’t enough to make a difference.
Conservation measures work: The population size of the endangered Lord Howe Island woodhen increased by more than 50% to 565 after a rodent control program was implemented on the Island in 2019.
What should you do?
Professor Euan Ritchie of Deakin University says that solutions to Australia’s biodiversity crisis are already available and will benefit all Australians. Ritchie says that the next government should strengthen and enforce environmental laws and policies, look to First Peoples leadership as well as their long-standing cultural practices, increase environmental investment, and take steps to improve environmental policy and laws.
He says that a strong economy and healthy people are fundamentally dependent upon the environment.
BirdLife Australia’s urban bird program manager Holly Parsons says it was a very sad day when the ganggang cockatoo was placed on the endangered species list. Global warming is putting pressure on the ganggang, a cold-climate species that breeds at higher elevations.
BirdLife was also granted $140,000 in federal funding to collect basic information on the bird, including its migratory patterns.
Parsons admits that it is not easy, but they are an iconic species. They can fly the flag to support other species.
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