Conservation in Australia

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Conservation in Australia is an issue of state and federal policy. Australia is one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, with a large portion of species endemic to Australia, preserving this wealth of biodiversity is important for future generations.

Humans have no right to destroy ecosystems. The existence and diversity of animal species is the dominate preference and therefore animal habitats like reefs and forests must be preserved. Conservation is vital for future study and for field research to be undertaken and because biological richness is an unmeasurable aesthetic that may be developed into commerical recreational attractions. Image:Daintree National Park.jpg

Federal and State governments manage protected areas and national parks, a number of non-governmental organizations are also involved in conservation.

1 Conservation issues
2 Legal framework
3 Protected areas of Australia
4 Conservation organizations
5 See also
6 Reference
7 Notes
8 External link

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Conservation issues

A key conservation issue is the preservation of biodiversity, especially by protecting the remaining rainforests. The destruction of habitat by human activities, including land clearing remains the major cause of biodiversity loss in Australia. The importance of the Australian rainforests to the conservation movement is very high. Australia is the only western country to have large areas of rainforest intact. Forests provide timber, drugs, food and they should be managed so as to maximise the possible uses.

Land management issues including clearance of native vegetation, reafforestation of once-cleared areas, control of exotic weeds and pests, expansion of dryland salinity, changed fire regimes and intensification of resource use in sectors such as forestry, fisheries and agriculture are widely reported to contribute to biodiversity loss in Australia. Coastal and marine environments also have reduced biodiversity from reduced water quality caused by pollution and sediments arising from human settlements and agriculture.

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Legal framework

International agreements that affect conservation policy in Australia.

Entry in force	Title, date, place of agreement
1948	International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, 1946, Washington
1961	Antarctic Treaty, 1959, Washington
1975	Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, 1971, Ramsar
1975	Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972, Paris
1975	Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), 1973, Washington
1982	Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Living Marine Resources, 1980, Canberra
1983	Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, 1979, Bonn
1985	International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983, Geneva
1993	Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992, Rio de Janeiro
1993	United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa, 1994, Paris
1994	United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982, Montego Bay
1994	United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992, New York

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Protected areas of Australia

There are numerous protected areas in all States and Territories that have been created to protect and preserve Australia's unique ecosystems. Protected areas include national parks and other reserves, as well as 64 wetlands which are registered under the Ramsar Convention and 16 World Heritage Sites. As of 2002, 10.8% (774,619.51 km²) of the total land area of Australia is within a protected area. Template:Mn Protected marine zones have been created in many areas to preserve marine biodiversity; as of 2002 they cover about 7% (646,000 km²) of Australia's marine jurisdiction.Template:Mn

Protected areas of include those managed by the federal Department of the Environment and Heritage, and national parks and other protected areas managed by the states, Agencies responsible for protected areas include include: