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Thursday
3 December 2009
Boobook Declaration Environment
groups call for action in 2010 International Year of Biodiversity
Forty environment groups from across
Australia today called for the Australian Government to
act decisively to protect biodiversity in 2010, the United
Nations International Year of Biodiversity.
The groups, representing hundreds of
thousands of Australians, want the Government to triple
biodiversity investment to $9 billion over three years
for on-ground work, stewardship payments, water buy-back,
protected area extension and management, research, education
and training.
“In the International Year of Biodiversity
we should celebrate the beauty and diversity of the natural
world but also recognise that Australia’s biodiversity
is in serious trouble.
“The warnings are coming thick and fast
that ecosystems ranging from coral reefs to woodlands and
grasslands are sliding towards ecological collapse.
“Protecting our biodiversity is as important
for Australia’s future as defending our territory and we
are calling on the Government to act decisively to stem
the loss, starting in 2010”, said Aila Keto, President
of the Australian Rainforest Conservation Society.
“Safeguarding biodiversity is good news
for the climate because it is one of the quickest and most
effective ways of keeping carbon locked up in the landscape
and out of the atmosphere.
“We also know that investment in protecting
and managing biodiversity secures jobs as well as social
and economic rejuvenation, especially in regional and remote
Australia.
“With 2010 just weeks away, we have written
to the three major parties asking them to support the Boobook
Declaration and make 2010 the turning point for nature
in Australia”, said Luke Chamberlain from the Wilderness
Society.
Note
The Boobook Declaration calls on the
Australian Government to
1. Acknowledge the critical importance of safeguarding
biodiversity as part of Australia’s climate change response
and commit to correspondingly urgent action to address
the systemic drivers of biodiversity loss.
2. Increase investment in biodiversity and ecosystem
protection, restoration and management to at least $9
billion over the three years to 2012 and establish an
independent consultative process into future funding
and stewardship of Australia’s terrestrial, aquatic and
marine biodiversity.
3. Restore and increase publicly funded research capacity.
4. Develop education and training programs for all sectors
of the community.
The International Year of Biodiversity
is designated by the United Nations to celebrate biodiversity
and raise awareness of the huge loss of biodiversity on
Earth.
Full text of the Boobook Declaration:
www.boobook.org.au
International Year of Biodiversity: http://www.cbd.int/2010/welcome/
More information: Aila Keto 0408 451
061, Luke Chamberlain 0424 098 729, Meg Switzer 0434 930
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