Media release
27 October 2010
Tony Burke, Minister for Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and Communities,
today released Australia’s new strategy
for biodiversity conservation on behalf
of the Natural Resource Management Ministerial
Council.
Australia’s Biodiversity
Conservation Strategy 2010–2030 sets 10
targets to measure the nation’s progress
in protecting our natural environment.
“The strategy sets a
new standard for addressing the challenges
facing our biodiversity, with Australia
now one of very few countries to have committed
to national measurable targets for biodiversity
conservation,” Mr Burke said.
“The long-term vision
of the strategy is that Australia’s biodiversity
is healthy and resilient to threats, and
valued both in its own right and for its
essential contribution to our existence.
“The release of the
strategy, in the United Nations International
Year of Biodiversity, provides a clear signal
of Australia’s commitment to biodiversity
conservation.
“The strategy establishes
a new approach to protect the essential
ecosystem services that support a sustainable
Australia.
“These services include
the clean air we breathe, the fresh water
we drink, the variety of foods and fibres
we consume, as well as the natural spaces
we value for our recreational and cultural
activities.”
The strategy’s three
priorities: ‘Engaging all Australians’,
‘Building ecosystem resilience in a changing
climate’, and ‘Getting measurable results’
are supported by clear outcomes and measurable
targets.
The strategy recognises the important contribution
of the many groups who have been working
to improve Australia’s conservation of biodiversity
and our management of natural resources.
“The strategy will guide
how governments, the community, Indigenous
peoples, farmers and other land managers,
industry and scientists manage and protect
Australia’s biodiversity over the next 20
years,” Mr Burke said.
