Media release
20 May 2010
Environment Protection Minister, Peter Garrett,
today launched the book ‘Health of Antarctic
Wildlife: A challenge for Science and Policy’
at Taronga Park Zoo in Sydney.
“The Book Health of
Antarctic Wildlife not only looks at the
human impact on Antarctica but also how
our activities over the rest of the globe
are affecting this remote and extraordinary
continent,” Mr Garrett said.
“The research provides
a fascinating insight, showing for example,
that the health of Antarctic seals and birds
are potentially being compromised by humans
introducing diseases, global warming, illegal,
unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing
and even by pesticides transported by global
atmospheric circulation.”
Edited by Australian
Antarctic Division scientists Dr Martin
Riddle and Dr Knowles Kerry, the book represents
over a decade of work by 28 contributors,
and provides a broad assessment of disease
and other threats to the health of Antarctic
birds and seals, with a focus on ensuring
that our presence in Antarctica does not
add to the natural challenges faced by these
animals.
The Minister echoed
the remarks of US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, who at a joint session of the Antarctic
Treaty Consultative Meeting and Arctic Council
in 2009 to celebrate the 50th anniversary
of the Antarctic Treaty, highlighted the
importance of continued commitment to better
managing the impacts of human activity on
Antarctica, including Antarctic tourism.
“The number of visitors
landing in Antarctica has expanded from
12,000 in 2000/2001, to around 36,800 in
the 2009/2010 Antarctic summer season. This
growth in the industry, along with the continuing
presence of people conducting scientific
research and changing attitudes to the environment,
bring into question how human activity should
be managed to protect the Antarctic environment,”
Mr Garrett said.
“As a consequence of
the research that went into this book, Australia
has developed our own procedures - building
on the principles of the Madrid Protocol
- to reduce the chance of disease introduction
and spread by human activity and we encourage
other nations to adopt similar precautions.”
“Australia is very aware
of the increased international activity
in Antarctica, including in the Australian
Antarctic Territory, and we are committed
to ensuring that the management of such
activities continues to improve, and our
interests are advanced."
“The Government has committed to continue
to fund the intercontinental Airlink, to
continue to undertake Antarctic Treaty inspections,
and to the development of a new 10 year
Science Strategic Plan which seeks to deliver
the maximum benefits to the Antarctic environment
and Australia.”
The book is targeted
at scientists, policy makers and administrators
involved in protecting and promoting the
health of Antarctic wildlife from around
the world.
Pictures and Vision
available at: ftp://ftp.aad.gov.au/Public/News_Media_Files/Human_Impacts/
+ More
$1000,000 for critical
rainforest research
Media release
18 May 2010
Rainforest research will continue to be
an important part of Australia's biodiversity
research under the Government's reconfigured
environmental research grants program, Minister
for Environment Protection, Peter Garrett
said today at the Opening Ceremony of the
Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility
Conference in Cairns.
"The Australian
Government recognises the vital role research
plays in effectively delivering environmental
management, policies and programs,"
Mr Garrett said.
"Earlier this year
I announced that $5 million transitional
funding was available as the Commonwealth
Environment Research Facilities (CERF) program
winds down, to be replaced by the new National
Environmental Research Program (NERP).
"I pleased to announce
today that a further $1000,000 will be provided
over six months in 2010-11 as additional
transitional funding for rainforest research
within the existing Marine and Tropical
Science Research Facilities (MTSRF). My
department is working with the administrators
of MTSRF in northern Queensland - the Reef
and Rainforest Centre (RRRC) to develop
details of this additional transitional
research plan.
"Like the CERF,
the new program aims to fund research with
a strong 'public good' focus, and build
stronger bridges between researchers and
environmental decision makers.
"NERP will provide
$20 million a year for applied research.
The department is now calling for expressions
of interest from research institutions to
apply for competitive funding under the
new program.
"It will focus
on emerging biodiversity issues, including
research in terrestrial and marine ecosystems,
northern Australia, and the Great Barrier
Reef and Torres Strait.
"Rainforest research
will continue to play an important role
under NERP. I anticipate that rainforest
research will be incorporated into the future
northern Australia or terrestrial ecosystem
hub or both. My department has prepared
policy questions which reflect some of the
research areas where rainforest research
is needed."
Member for Leichhardt,
Jim Turnour, welcomed the announcement saying:
"The natural environment of Far North
Queensland is one of our greatest assets.
Our rainforests and magnificent World Heritage
Area are important tourist drawcards that
help to generate jobs in the region."
"We need to understand
how these rainforests work and how to manage
them so that they are sustainable in the
long-term. We have a highly skilled research
community in the region who are making an
important contribution in this regard."
"Today's funding
announcement helps to keep this good work
going in the transition to the new program."
For more information about NERP, go to:
www.environment.gov.au/nerp
