Media release
4 November 2012
The Gillard Labor Government today announced
the National Wildlife Corridors Plan—a bold
vision for reconnecting the Australian landscape
through a network of wildlife corridors
across Australia.
Environment Minister,
Tony Burke, said the Corridors Plan was
a Labor initiative to improve resilience
for the environment by connecting protected
areas.
"You can look at
a map of reserved areas and sometimes it
looks like someone has dipped a toothbrush
in paint and splattered different unconnected
dots across the land," Mr Burke said.
"Corridors are
about connecting those dots; it's a way
of improving resilience and ensuring that
we are protecting nature in a way that preserves
it for generations to come.
"The Plan unveiled
today outlines a process for communities
to identify and nominate areas they believe
will contribute to a national network of
wildlife corridors.
"An area that meets
the criteria and is declared as a National
Wildlife Corridor may be eligible for priority
funding under a range of Australian Government
funding programs.
"This is about
setting priorities for conservation funding.
The plan does not, of itself, lock up any
land.
"The Corridors
Plan identifies a number of ways communities
can become involved in wildlife corridor
initiatives, contributing to biodiversity
conservation at the landscape scale and
improving the sustainability of their local
and regional areas.
"Under the Corridors
Plan, communities will be able to nominate
wildlife corridors for recognition and declaration
as National Wildlife Corridors. Over time,
a network of wildlife corridors will be
established across Australia, benefiting
our biodiversity, and our agricultural and
built environments."
Endorsement of the Corridors
Plan meets the Government's 2010 election
commitment to establish a wildlife corridors
plan that increases the resilience of Australia's
native plants and animals, and agricultural
landscapes, so they are more able to withstand
the impacts of climate change.
Mr Burke thanked the
National Wildlife Corridors Plan Advisory
Group who undertook a thorough consultation
process on the draft plan with stakeholders
across the community.
"The consultation
undertaken by the independent advisory group
was essential in ensuring the community
had input into the National Wildlife Corridors
Plan," he said.
"The insights provided
by regional natural resource management
organisations, environment groups, local
and state governments, scientists, Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples, tourism
organisations, planning organisations and
agricultural and mining peak bodies were
all considered by the Advisory Group during
the consultation on the draft Plan."
The plan will help guide
future government investment through a range
of initiatives, such as Caring for our Country
and the Biodiversity Fund. The Clean Energy
Future Plan's Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity
Board will provide advice to the Environment
Minister on wildlife corridors within the
landscape.
+ More
Biodiversity fund opens
for land managers in Northern Australia
Media release
5 November 2012
Environment Minister Tony Burke today announced
new funding to help protect and manage the
unique biodiversity values of northern Australia.
Mr Burke said the Northern Australia Targeted
Investment, the latest round of the Biodiversity
Fund, would help Indigenous communities,
farmers, environmental groups and land managers
protect the unique biodiversity of northern
Australia.
The Biodiversity Fund
seeks to protect and sustainably manage
high value ecosystems in Northern Australia
including places which support significant
natural and indigenous heritage values,
for example through projects located in
and adjacent to current or potential national
and World heritage areas.
"Providing long-term
support to land managers leads to enduring
results for our environment and for the
community," Mr Burke said.
"Across Australia,
farmers and other land managers already
do a great job through Landcare work and
the Biodiversity Fund will build on this
work.
"Invasive species,
inappropriate fire regimes and changing
land use are having a significant negative
impact on some of Australia's northern landscapes.
"Northern Australia
contains magnificent sights that are like
No other place on earth. This round is intended
to acknowledge and preserve those irreplaceable
values.
"Declines in the
numbers of native birds and mammals in Northern
Australia are of particular concern along
with the impact that certain feral animals
play in the decline of small mammals.
"Today's announcement
demonstrates the government's commitment
to take action now to manage threats to
northern Australia's landscapes and protect
the environment for future generations.
"Through this round
we are seeking to support projects that
help protect and manage high value ecosystems
in Northern Australia, including places
which support significant natural and Indigenous
heritage values."
The Biodiversity Fund:
Northern Australia Targeted Investment is
a key component of the Gillard Labor Government's
Clean Energy Future, Land Sector Package.
It is taking a targeted approach to investment
and will help inform future targeted investments
around the country.
The Biodiversity Fund
provides funding to build connectivity and
resilience in the landscape by promoting
biodiverse carbon plantings and revegetation,
management of existing biodiverse carbon
stores and managing pests in a connected
landscape.
The Biodiversity Fund
complements other Australian Government
initiatives including the Carbon Farming
Initiative and Caring for our Country to
achieve a healthier, more productive and
more sustainable Australia. The Northern
Australia Targeted Investment round also
supports the government's ongoing commitment
to Closing the Gap.
The application round
is now open and will close 5pm AEST 4 December
2012.
