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Globally
Global biodiversity is being lost at a rate many
times higher than that of natural extinction due to land
conversion,
climate change, pollution, unsustainable harvesting of
natural resources and the introduction of exotic species.
Land conversion is most intensive in tropical forests
and less intensive in temperate, boreal and arctic regions;
atmospheric nitrogen deposition is largest in northern
temperate areas close to cities; introduction of exotic
species is related to patterns of human activity. Human
population growth together with unsustainable patterns
of consumption, increasing production of waste and pollutants,
urban development and international conflict are further
contributory factors to biodiversity loss. Over the past
three decades, decline and extinction of species have
emerged
as major environmental issues. Although insufficient
information is available to determine precisely how many
species have
become extinct in the past three decades, about 24 per
cent (1 130) of mammals and 12 per cent (1 183) of bird
species are currently regarded as globally threatened.
The
past three decades have been marked by the emergence of
a concerted response to the biodiversity crisis. Civil
society, including a hugely diverse and increasingly
sophisticated NGO network, has been a major driving force
behind this.
Increased stakeholder participation relating to conservation
action has seen the emergence of partnerships between
NGOs, governments and the private sector. A number of international
conventions have been developed that deal specifically
with conservation of threatened species. These include
the 1973
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the 1979 Convention
on the
Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
A major policy response of the 1990s is the adoption,
ratification
and implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD).
Locally - Australia
| The Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment,
the biggest audit of Australia’s wildlife and bushlands
ever undertaken, reveals that: |
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- New technology has allowed scientists to map the natural
groupings of plants and animals, and assess their well-being.
For the first time we are able to get a comprehensive
scientific assessment of the health of our wildlife and
their habitats. The report finds nearly 3000 whole bushland
ecosystems are at risk, from the Coolibah woodlands of
Queensland to Western Australia's heathlands.
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- The endangered eco-systems provide homes for species
such as bilbies, spectacled hare-wallabies, Gouldian
finches and hundreds more. At least 1595 native plant
and animal species are threatened with extinction, including
some types of gum trees and wattles. The report proves
that in general the more land clearing there is in a
region, the more threatened species and ecosystems occur
there.
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- New information points to crashing mammal populations
and declining bird species in areas previously thought
to be un-touched, such as Northern Australia. Over-grazing,
changed fire practices, pests and weeds and increased
land clearing, all threaten areas such as Kakadu, the
Kimberley and Cape York.
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The Solution
Our federal, state and territory governments
must renew their efforts to protect Australia's wildlife
and bushlands for
future generations. Nature conservation must be placed high
on the agenda of federal, state and territory governments
and significant funding put towards protecting intact bush
lands and whole eco-systems.
Key Goals
- End the destruction of Australia's
bushlands and wildlife habitat by controlling land
clearing;
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- Complete a comprehensive, well managed
system of nature conservation parks and reserves
to include all of Australia's species and bushland
types.
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- Avoiding the mistakes made in southern
Australia by developing a new, ecologically and culturally
appropriate approach to land use and regional development
across Northern Australia, in partnership with local
people and Traditional Owners.
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