An historic deal wraps up the end of the International
Year of Biodiversity.
The governing body of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD) is the Conference of the Parties (COP). This is the
ultimate authority of all governments (or Parties) and
meets every two years to review progress, set priorities
and commit to work plans. The CBD’s tenth Conference of
the Parties (COP 10) was held in Nagoya, Japan, at the
end of 2010 and was attended by the Boobook Declaration's
own Samantha Vine.
To
see a brief summary of outcomes from the
meeting click here:
To
see a more detailed analysis click here:
New Biodiversity
Fund Announced.Thanks to all the groups
who advocated for the establishment of a new Biodiversity
and Climate Fund: a New Biodiversity Fund of almost $1
billion was announced on the 10th July, 2011 as part of
the new Clean Energy Future Package.
The Australian Government has announced that it will provide
funding of $946 million over the first six years for landholders
to undertake projects that establish, restore, protect
or manage biodiverse carbon stores. The Fund will support
restoration and management of biodiverse carbon stores
including:
reforestation and revegetation in areas of high conservation
value including wildlife corridors, rivers, streams and
wetlands
management and protection of biodiverse ecosystems,
including publicly owned native forests and land under
conservation covenants or subject to land clearing restrictions
action to prevent the spread of invasive species across
connected landscapes.
Guidelines which will outline the
criteria for accessing support from the Fund will soon
be developed. The Biodiversity Fund will be managed by
the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water,
Population and Communities. An
independent 'Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Advisory
Board', also similar to that requested by Boobook Supporter
groups, will be established to provide advice to Government
on implementation, including setting funding priorities
and reviewing the success of the program. The Government
will also provide an ongoing Indigenous Carbon Farming
Fund ($22 million over its first five years) to assist
Indigenous communities to benefit from the Carbon Farming
Initiative, and $44 million over five years for NRM
regions to develop plans to guide where carbon farming
projects should be located in the landscape.
Biodiversity
Fund: establish,
restore, protect or manage biodiverse carbon stores
$946 million
Carbon Farming Futures
program help landholders participate in the Carbon
Farming Initiative through research, innovation and
on the ground action;
$429 million
Carbon Farming Initiative
purchase of CFI credits not yet recognised internationally
(such as from soil carbon projects);
$250 m
Research and development
on ways of reducing pollution and adapting to climate
change for the Australian land sectors.
$46 m
Climate Change Research
Program
$8 m
Ways of storing Carbon
and reducing pollution in the land sectors.
$201 m
Convert research into
practical methodologies that are recognised under
the Carbon Farming Initiative.
$20m
There will also be funding
to identify ways of integrating carbon farming into
normal farm business.
Grants for landholders
to take action on the ground, including testing new
ways to increase soil carbon and reduce pollution.
$99 m
Refundable tax offset
to encourage the uptake of conservation tillage farming
techniques and participation in soil carbon sequestration
research
$44 m
Information about opportunities
under the Carbon Farming Initiative to support communication
with landholders through the Landcare network and
other providers.
$4 m
Extension and outreach
activities. Similar to community inspired approach
which proved successful through the $34 million FarmReady
Program.
$64 m
Ongoing Indigenous Carbon
Farming Fund to support indigenous participation
by developing skills, governance arrangements and
methodologies;
$22 m
Natural resource management
regions to plan for climate change impacts and help
landholders participate in the Carbon Farming Initiative
through research, innovation and on the ground action.
$44 m
The Carbon Farming Initiative
will support environmental programs like the Gondwana
Link and others across Australia. This will be an
important part of improved biodiversity health into
the future.
