Media release
19 February 2010
A concerted focus
on biodiversity for the Commonwealth Environment
Research Facilities (CERF) program will
mark the International Year of Biodiversity,
Environment Minister Peter Garrett announced
today.
The Australian Government
program provides more than $20 million each
year for environmental research in Australia.
The first stage of CERF, which began in
2006, ends in June 2010.
"The Australian
Government recognises the vital role research
plays in delivering environmental management,
policies and programs," Mr Garrett
said. "As Australia confronts the challenges
of climate change, we are aiming for both
a stronger, more resilient environment and
a sustainable economy."
The International Year
of Biodiversity provides an excellent opportunity
to redirect funds to targeted areas of research
while building on the lessons learned from
the current program.
"We will be looking
to strengthen our own conservation and research
efforts while also contributing to international
work."
The current CERF program
provides funding for research with a strong
'public good' focus. CERF promotes research
in areas identified as priorities, including
Australia's natural assets, threats and
risks and the social and economic aspects
of our environment.
"For the future
program, we are considering three or four
large research groups or hubs to research
emerging biodiversity issues in terrestrial
and marine ecosystems, across Northern Australia,
and the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait,"
Mr Garrett said.
"It will be directed
towards research the Australian Government,
particularly my portfolio, needs to make
informed environmental policy and decisions,
both in the short term and into the future.
This includes understanding how ecosystems
function, monitoring their health, maintaining
and building their resilience, using them
sustainably and exploring how to use markets
to protect biodiversity."
"The Government
is allocating up to $7m per annum for the
Great Barrier Reef Hub, including the Torres
Strait, to complement the $9 million investment
in research in support of the Caring for
our Country Reef Rescue initiative.
"There are significant
advantages in the research program being
administered out of northern Queensland,
and better able to coordinate the research
efforts, including the Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park Authority and industry sectors
such as the tourism industry. I am therefore
keen to see this hub continue to be administered
in the region," Mr Garrett said.
Program guidelines and
a call for expressions of interest in the
new three or four large research groups
or hubs will be issued shortly. Funding
will be allocated through a competitive
process and will be open to all research
groups hosted by an Australian research
institution. The outcome of the competitive
process is expected to be announced in July
2010.
In addition, a total
of up to $5m will be available for the first
3 to 6 months in 2010-11 as transitional
funding for existing CERF research hubs.
This will ensure continuity between the
current and future research programs. Research
under the transitional arrangements will
be able to commence on 1 July 2010.
"I would like to
thank all the researchers and the group
of experts that advised me on CERF for their
hard work, commitment and contribution to
the program over the last four years,"
Mr Garrett said.
"The future program
will build on their work, and help fill
the gaps in our knowledge that urgently
need filling to protect our unique flora,
fauna and ecosystems."
For more information on the CERF program,
visit www.environment.gov.au
