18 October
2006 - The Australian Government's National Reserve
System (NRS) Programme has been lauded as an outstanding
flagship of biodiversity conservation, according
to an independent evaluation released today.
Since 1997, the NRS has seen
more than 10 per cent of the continent's land
set aside for conservation and protection of Australia's
unique wildlife.
Australian Minister for the
Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell,
today released the evaluation by the former Director-General
of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service,
Mr Brian Gilligan.
“We set up the National Reserve
System Programme in 1997, under the $3 billion
Natural Heritage Trust, to accelerate the protection
of Australia's unique landscapes, and their flora
and fauna for future generations,” Senator Campbell
said.
“Since then we have invested
more than $80 million to build and grow the National
Reserve System, adding 21 million hectares to
the nation's protected land areas, bringing the
total area of protected reserves to almost 11
per cent% of the continent.
“Our unprecedented investment
in the NRS has leveraged a further $90 million
from conservation groups, private landholders
and state and territory governments to purchase
properties that are home to a myriad threatened
species and precious landscapes.
“This independent report praises
the program success and vindicates the cost effectiveness
of the Government's investment.”
The Gilligan report found that
the National Reserve System Programme is based
on good science and appropriately targets ecosystems
that are poorly protected.
It also praised the Programme
for fostering the involvement of non-government
organisations with governments in what has become
one of the most ambitious and wide ranging national
reserve programs of its type in the world, while
delivering enduring on-ground conservation outcomes.
“We've improved biodiversity
conservation in more than 50 of Australia's 85
bioregions,” Senator Campbell said.
“Under the Howard Government's
stewardship the area protected in perpetuity under
private and public management has grown by 25
per cent - this compares with a growth of just
1 per cent under the previous Labor Government's
meagre $5 million investment.”
Senator Campbell has asked his
Department to implement relevant recommendations
that strengthen the National Reserve System Programme
as a priority.
“Faced with the need to prepare
our environment and its plants and animals to
adapt to some inevitable impacts of climate change,
and other threats to our unique wildlife, this
is a farsighted investment.
“Nowhere else in the world has
a national Government joined with so many partners
in a concerted strategy to conserve examples of
all the country's important environments.
“This is an achievement of which all Australians
can be proud.”
For the full evaluation report, visit http://www.deh.gov.au/parks/nrs/evaluation/index.html
Rob Broadfield
