The Bob Brown Foundation has today released a new report identifying key ways to strengthen national environment laws and improve protection of critically endangered species.
The EDO Tasmania report, Critically Endangered, Under-Protected, was commissioned by the Bob Brown Foundation following the recent uplisting of the Swift Parrot.
‘The Bob Brown Foundation is concerned that Australia’s national environment law fails to provide any special additional protection for critically endangered species despite the seriousness of the risks to their survival. Current laws enable, rather than prevent, the clearing of critical and irreplaceable habitat.
The environment is a priority for voting Australians and they want action by political parties to prevent further loss of endangered species,’ Bob Brown Foundation’s spokesperson Jenny Weber said.
‘Critically endangered species are those recognised as being at imminent risk of extinction. They are the most vulnerable species on the planet,’ EDO Tasmania spokesperson, Jess Feehely, said.
‘The Commonwealth Minister is responsible for ensuring compliance with Australia’s international obligations to protect threatened species. This responsibility cannot be met simply by listing species. Our national laws must provide actual protection for these species,’ Jess Feehely said.
Action required to strengthen Australia’s national laws include:
o Automatic recognition of IUCN listings
o Clear, up to date recovery plans outlining actions needed to reverse the decline in the species, and funding to support those actions.
o Identification and protection of critical habitat for these species
o Refusal of development that will impact on critical habitat
‘One of the key threats to critically endangered species like the Swift Parrot is habitat loss. Despite this clear threat, the RFA exemption in the EPBC Act prevents the Commonwealth Minister from taking any action to control forestry operations that drive this habitat loss,’ Jess Feehely said.
‘Streamlining the listing and recovery planning process is essential to ensure that threats are recognised and actions put in place to better protect critically endangered species, and to prevent more species from reaching that point,’ Jess Feehely said.
‘Our foundation has delivered more than 800 emails to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Premier Will Hodgman. We have sent this report and a questionnaire to all political parties in the federal election, asking what actions will they take to improve the protection of critically endangered species in Australia, including the Swift Parrot,’ Jenny Weber said.
Jenny Weber, Jess Feehely
