[Greens-Media] Green minority report shows failings of national parks

[Twomey, Chris (Sen R. Siewert)]

Green minority report shows failings of national parks

"The Senate Committee report into national parks and protected areas
released today fails to come to grips with the major threats to their
viability - particularly the combined pressures of under-funding and
climate change," said Senator Rachel Siewert today.

"The Australian Government needs to massively increase funding to the
national reserve system," she said. "Australia is not going to meet its
commitments on protected areas unless it significantly increases
investment in national parks."

Senator Siewert has written a minority report on the Senate Environment
Committee (ECITA) report on protected areas, which is critical of major
gaps in the committee report. 

"The Australian Greens felt compelled to write a minority report because
the majority report misses the key point of protected areas - that is,
biodiversity protection," she said. 

"The majority report's emphasis on the demands of user groups such as
4WDers, horse-riders and fishers takes the focus away from biodiversity
protection at a time when even greater protection is needed to cope with
the threats posed by climate change."

"Other uses of protected areas are subsidiary to the main purpose of
national parks and protected areas," said Senator Siewert.

"The committee report doesn't adequately deal with the threat posed by
climate change. We need to be building resilience and gaining a better
understanding of how systems can adapt to a drying, warming and more
variable climate," she said.

"Last month the Australian National Audit Office released a scathing
report on Australia's management of its biodiversity. The lack of
funding for the reserve system simply adds insult to injury."

"Australia's funding of the reserve system is disgraceful," concluded
Senator Siewert.

	           
For more information or comment call 
Chris Twomey on 0407 725 025

Email senator.siewert at aph.gov.au
http://www.rachelsiewert.org.au

RESCUE THE SENATE

Senator Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens spokesperson on Environment

Thursday 12th April 2007