[Greens-Media] Government’s biobanking scheme could send some species to the brink

[Cate Faehrmann]

Media Release   17 May 2010
 
Government’s biobanking scheme could send some species to the brink
 
The first ‘land swap’ which has taken place today under the
Government’s controversial Biobanking scheme could signal the local
extinction of some threatened plant and animal species, the Greens said
today.
 
“Rather than Biobanking being the environmental success story the
Environment Minister Frank Sartor depicts it as, it signals the end for
some vital bushland and habitat,” said Ian Cohen, NSW Greens MLC today.
 
“The site conserved today in Camden is at the expense of some remnant
Cumberland Plain Woodland, an endangered ecological community which will
now be destroyed. 
 
“Biobanking is a backward step for threatened species conservation in
NSW because it allows land of significant ecological value to be
destroyed if land of supposed ‘equal value’ is protected elsewhere.
 
“Most of the land the Government claims they will be conserving under
Biobanking is either already earmarked for protection or unsuitable to
be developed. 
 
“Biobanking is essentially greenwashing some development, while being a
backward step for conservation.
 
“The biobanking scheme can allow a developer to develop in an area that
has a listed endangered ecological community by purchasing credits to
protect a site elsewhere.
 
“At present NSW has 957 species listed as threatened including 91
ecological communities and this number looks set to increase. It beggers
belief that the NSW Government can now trade these species and
ecological communities off for development.
 
“The fundamental principle behind native plant and animal species being
listed as threatened is so they can be conserved and protected.
Apparently not any longer.
 
“The only possible outcome under Biobanking is the continued loss of
bushland and an increase in extinction rates,” said Mr Cohen.
 
Further Information: Cate Faehrmann 0412 207 043
 
 
Cate Faehrmann
Adviser
Greens MLC Ian Cohen
NSW Parliament
Macquarie St
SYDNEY NSW 2000
p +61 2 9230 3305 m +61 412 207 043