02
December 2008 - Environment Minister Peter
Garrett today announced Hobart as the official
headquarters of the Agreement on the Conservation
of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) Secretariat.
Mr Garrett said the
formalisation of the historic June agreement
to establish the Secretariat in the Tasmanian
capital would further cement Hobart’s reputation
as a hub for Antarctic and Southern Ocean
studies, research, policy and decision-making
processes.
“The research institutions
and scientists in Hobart have a reputation
around the world for their work and its
contribution to our understanding of the
Antarctic and the vast array of wildlife
that call it home.
“Just last month the
international Commission for the Conservation
of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
adopted an Australian proposal for the declaration
of two Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems in the
Southern Ocean.
“The areas were surveyed
by an Australian-led team during the 2007/08
Antarctic summer season and uncovered a
wealth of previously undiscovered species,
further underlining just how much of our
vast oceans we are yet to fully understand,”
Mr Garrett said.
However, the Minister said albatrosses and
petrels continued to be threatened in the
Southern Ocean particularly from long-line
fishing, with birds often inadvertently
hooked.
“CCAMLR has achieved
outstanding success in eliminating seabird
mortality in CCAMLR-managed long-line fisheries
even though fishing activity has increased.
Indeed, thanks to the work of Australia
and other party countries, seabird deaths
have fallen from around 7,000 per annum
to zero.
“However, it is in the
vast areas of the Ocean not managed by CCAMLR
that we must be more vigilant including
by improving international understanding
of the risks. Australia is hopeful we can
bring more signatories to the Agreement
on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels
and by housing the Secretariat in Hobart
we can continue our leadership role in the
protection of these special bird species.”
Mr Garrett said Brazil
and Uruguay had recently signed the agreement
bringing to 13 the number of ACAP signatories.
The others are Argentina, Australia, Chile,
Ecuador, France, New Zealand, Norway, Peru,
South Africa, Spain and the United Kingdom.
The development of ACAP
was an Australian initiative and has been
a government priority since the mid-11000s.
It came into force in 2004. The Australian
Government is the Depositary for ACAP. The
Department of Environment, Water, Heritage
and the Arts worked closely with the Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the establishment
of the ACAP Secretariat in Hobart.
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Australia helping Cambodia
protect World Heritage icon
1 December 2008 - The
Australian Government today announced $1.13
million to assist the Cambodian Government
to better protect Angkor Wat, one of the
world's most outstanding heritage sites.
The Angkor World Heritage
site is visited by more than two million
people each year. As a significant archaeological
and cultural centre containing the remains
of the capitals of the Khmer Empire, it
is under pressure from its high tourist
traffic and the rapid development of neighbouring
communities.
Minister for the Environment,
Heritage and the Arts, Peter Garrett and
Parliamentary Secretary for International
Development Assistance, Bob McMullan, today
made the announcement as part of the Government's
efforts to assist countries in the Asia-Pacific
region maintain their World Heritage sites.
"This project is
part of Australia's program to build the
capacity of countries in the Asia-Pacific
region to better look after their very special
World Heritage sites - places that are of
outstanding universal value to all humankind,"
Mr Garrett said.
"Working with the
Royal Government of Cambodia to ensure that
Angkor is appropriately maintained, will
not only protect this universally significant
site for future generations, but will ensure
that it continues to attract visitors from
all over the world to experience its wonders.
"Ensuring Angkor
is maintained and protected will help to
make sure visitors from all over the world
can continue to experience this universally
significant site, which brings major economic
and social benefits to Cambodia."
Mr McMullan said careful
management of Angkor is critical to preserving
its World Heritage value as well as its
potential as an ongoing source of economic
development to help reduce poverty in Cambodia.
"Angkor is Cambodia's
most valuable tourism and heritage asset.
This initiative will help local communities
boost their incomes by participating in
the tourism industry, drawing on their unique
culture and history," Mr McMullan said.
"Through projects
like the Heritage Management Framework we
are working with the Royal Government of
Cambodia to improve its capacity to manage
the future sustainability of heritage sites."
Australia's contribution
has been made through UNESCO's World Heritage
Centre to help fund the Angkor Heritage
Management Framework. The framework is designed
to strengthen the technical expertise and
governance of the Cambodian Government managing
agency, APSARA, so that the benefits of
tourism and development at Angkor can be
shared fairly, as well as to ensure environmental
protection.
The Royal Government
of Cambodia has also committed approximately
AUD$900,000 towards this work.
Emphasising the urgent
need for a strong management plan for Angkor
and for other major Cambodian heritage sites,
Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of APSARA
National Authority Sok An said: '"Cambodia
is very proud of its cultural heritage and
is very pleased that the Australian Government
is supporting the development of a sustainable
future for this World Heritage site. This
important initiative will help us to strengthen
the management of Angkor and our national
heritage management."
The project builds on
development initiatives led by Sydney University
- the 'Greater Angkor Project' and the 'Living
with Heritage Project'. Australian consultants
have been involved in the development of
the Angkor Heritage Management Framework,
coordinated through UNESCO's World Heritage
Centre.
