[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: 'International Day of Biological Diversity: Greens MP Calls on Government to Commit to Conserving Biodiversity ' EMBARGOED to 21/5/14

[Mehreen Faruqi]

Media Release
Embargoed until 22.05.14
International Day of Biological Diversity: Greens MP Calls on Government to Commit to Conserving Biodiversity
On the International Day of Biological Diversity Greens MP and Environment Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, has called on the NSW Government to commit to conserving biodiversity, at a time when attacks on the environment are at an all-time high.

"On this International Day of Biological Diversity, I call on the NSW Government to commit to sound policy on biodiversity which is based on conservation science and underpinned by preventing damage to our ecosystem, not one that leads to irreversible loss our unique habitat and wildlife.

"With hundreds of millions of dollars cut from environment programs in the 2014/15 federal budget and more responsibility for managing our precious environment being handed down to the states, our already threatened biodiversity faces a crisis situation.

"NSW Government's draft biodiversity offset policy completely abandons the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development while increasing flexibility for proponents.  It treats precious genetic diversity as just a commodity to be traded in a market-based economy rather than ensuring ecosystem protection as the foremost principle.

"The Government needs to actively recommit to conserving biodiversity and to take action before it is too late.

"Nature has to be protected for its intrinsic value, unique wildlife and habitat, as well as the instrumental value that ecosystem services provide through life-supporting resources, genetic diversity, clean air and water, and opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors.

"Trends show that we are losing our precious genetic diversity like never before. More than 70 species found in New South Wales before European settlement are now extinct.

"Unfortunately, recent weakening of native vegetation protections and the opening up of marine sanctuary zones to recreational fishing don't give me any confidence that this Government is serious about reversing the trend to biodiversity loss.

"The Government recently voted against my motion to recommit to ecologically sustainable development.

"Moreover, Coal Seam Gas and coal mining projects in the Leard forest and the Pilliga are destroying thousands of hectares of endangered ecological communities which are home to many threatened species including koalas, bats and glossy black cockatoos.

"The biodiversity offset areas set aside to 'compensate' for the loss of this ecosystem are completely inadequate and there is much doubt about the capacity of an offset system to lead to good conservation outcomes.

"To make matters even worse, conditions in the Biodiversity Management Plan have now been changed to allow White Haven to clear the Leard forest in the winter months. This will be devastating for the wildlife when many threatened and native species will be hibernating and unable to escape the bulldozers" she concluded.

Media contact: Matt Hilton 0423 106 247

Dr Faruqi's Motion: http://www.mehreenfaruqi.org.au/speech-ecologically-sustainable-development


Matt Hilton
Legislative, Policy and Media Adviser

Office of Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC
Legislative Council | NSW Parliament
E: matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au<mailto:matthew.hilton at parliament.nsw.gov.au>
P: (02) 9230 2625 | M: +61423106247|F: facebook.com/mehreenfaruqi | T: @MehreenFaruqi | W: mehreenfaruqi.org.au
Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

Our parliamentary office is on the land of the Gadigal of the Eora nation

This email is solely for the named addressee and may be confidential. You should only read, disclose, transmit, copy, distribute, act in reliance on or commercialise the contents if you are authorised to do so. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, please notify the sender by email immediately and then destroy any copy of this message. Except where otherwise specifically stated, views expressed in this e-mail are those of the individual sender.
[Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: MC900437266[1]]  Please consider the environment before printing this email.