8
May 2006 - The Australian Government has reinforced
its commitment to protect regional biodiversity
by announcing the successful projects to receive
$1 million in funding in the third round of the
$10 million Regional Natural Heritage Programme
(RNHP).
Making the announcement today,
the Acting Minister for the Environment and Heritage,
Senator Eric Abetz, said the programme was actively
helping to protect the significant biodiversity
hotspots in our region, and this funding round
would enable this work to continue.
"Australia has a strong
record of protecting biodiversity and supporting
the Asia-Pacific region," Senator Abetz said.
"We have been working closely
with regional governments, non-government organisations
and communities to protect biodiversity hotspots,
while remaining sensitive to the challenges of
sustainable development in the South-East Asia
and Pacific region.
"We received many outstanding applications
for worthwhile conservation projects around the
region. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage
has made a decision to support six projects that
help to protect marine and terrestrial biodiversity
in five neighbouring countries."
Senator Abetz said projects
to be funded aim to:
• Save the last remaining Golden
Headed Langurs from extinction on the Cat Ba Island,
Vietnam, by addressing habitat loss and population
fragmentation (Australia Foundation for the Peoples
of Asia and the Pacific Ltd): $249,589;
• Conserve marine biodiversity by integrating
marine conservation with a developing tourism
industry in Votua Village, Fiji (National Marine
Protected Areas Centre (USA)): $62,110;
• Protect the heart of the Coral Triangle by strengthening
the five Marine Protected Areas in Eastern Indonesia
through better management and additional research
(The Nature Conservancy): $509,000;
• Work with the community in Torricelli Mountain
Range, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea, to
conserve the Scott's Tree Kangaroo (Zoos Victoria):
$51,390;
• Conserve key biodiversity areas within the Sierra
Madre Mountain Range, Luzon Island, Philippines,
through researching biodiversity and training
local scientists and students (Conservation International):
$77,125; and
• Protect the Coral Reef Reserve Areas in Central
Provinces of Vietnam by training local community
in coral reef monitoring and conservation enforcement
(Centre for Marinelife Conservation & Community
Development): $52,786.
Launched by the Prime Minister
on 18 February 2004, the programme is providing
$10 million over three years to help conserve
biodiversity hotspots in Australia's region. These
initiatives build on the successes of current
Regional Natural Heritage Programme projects.
