Federal government pledges 30% of all land for conservation to protect threatened species
The federal government will reserve 30 per cent of land for conservation to improve biodiversity and set a goal of no new extinctions in an overhaul of its threatened species action plan.
Fifteen new animal and plant species have also been added to the endangered list primarily due to human activity and in part as a result of the Black Summer bushfires.
Ms Plibersek described Australia as “the mammal-extinction capital of the world” and said previous strategies to save plants, animals and places had failed and must be reconsidered.
“It is a very ambitious thing to have a goal of zero extinctions when we have had catastrophic natural events like the Black Summer bushfires, proceeded by drought and followed by flood,” Ms Plibersek told the ABC.
“It is important to set this goal because it means we focus our efforts in protecting the animals, plants and landscapes that are particularly vulnerable.”
More than 50 nations have already pledged to reserve 30 per cent of their land and water for protection by 2030, in a bid to protect biodiversity.
Key points:
- Tanya Plibersek will outline the government’s threatened species action plan on Tuesday
- The plan includes a commitment to protect an additional 50 million hectares of land by the end of the decade
- Fifteen new animal and plant species have been added to the endangered list
We have identified 20 priority places around the nation which are places we know are very rich with biodiversity and where we can make a really big impact on protecting biodiversity,” Ms Plibersek said.
They include Bruny Island, French Island, Kangaroo Island, Christmas Island, Norfolk Island and Raine Island.
Source
ABC News
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