1. T he World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2020 listed biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse as one of the top five threats humanity could face in the next ten years 1.In 2021, BlackRock named natural capital as one of the year's investment priorities 2.In tandem, pioneering companies published credible biodiversity strategies with robust biodiversity goals aligned to the Science . CLIMATE CHANGE POSES a major threat to a biota already in decline. We missed [understanding] this here and thats why small mammals have been going extinct in northern Australia. Biodiversity faces a wide number of threats, including land-use change, habitat loss and fragmentation (e.g. If you or your organisation have any questions regarding biodiversity protection or require any assistance in biodiversity restoration please contact Integrate Sustainability on 08 9468 0338 or enquiries@integratesustainability.com.au. No single discipline like ecology or conservation biology has all the answers. The sheer scale and intensity of the Australian bushfire crisis have led to apocalyptic scenes making the front pages of newspapers the world over. Robyn Williams: So, mosquitoes, those sorts of things have to go? In other words, I love everything and every part of biodiversity, I think it's a crying shame and it's an irreversible loss when we lose that. The latter phenomenon can be temporary or permanent, depending on whether the environmental degradation that leads to the loss is reversible through . They include: While the Act provides new arrangements for Biodiversity Conservation Covenants, these arrangements do not replace or invalidate existing registered Nature Conservation Covenants which will continue unaffected by the Biodiversity Conservation Act. But thats only 20 per cent of Australia. As part of its Caring for Country initiative released in 2008 the Federal Government allocated $180 million to buy land, aiming to increase the National Reserve System from 11 per cent (890,000 sq. Their property, which falls within the key Slopes to Summit area of the GER corridor, supports species such as the gang gang cockatoo and agile antechinus. A genial Aussie with an American accent, Mike gesticulates as he meanders from one fascinating topic to another. The beginning of biodiversity conservation in WA is rooted in the setting aside of land by the State for the protection of flora and fauna in the late 1800s and early 1900s when the first reserve declared was in September 1899 for the purpose of the Protection of Boronia near Albany; and the first national park, Greenmount National Park (which has now become John Forest National Park) was established in 1900 on the outskirts of Perth. Other landholders are putting conservation covenants on special patches of their property to protect them in perpetuity. Connectivity conservation aims to give them the opportunity to roam more widely across landscapes, by persuading landholders to provide protected links between existing parks and reserves. "We found that conservation spending strongly reduced [the biodiversity decline score]," they stated. Biodiversity loss affects economic systems and human society. Scientists based their findings on the worsening in conservation status of species between 1996 and 2008 on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list. You have reached the end of the main content. Home Topics Science & Environment Saving Australias biodiversity. Land-use change for urbanisation, agricultural, minerals and industrial development. When we go away, theres such a beautiful feeling when we come back herethe smells and fragrances at different times of year, or when its wet it helps you get grounded and get rid of some of the stress of the city, Wayne says as we watch a horse cantering across a paddock far below. Nigel agrees that there are a whole lot of opportunities in the balance between sustainable resource use and conservation. At the University of Queenslands Fuller Biodiversity Lab, Richard Fuller, with colleagues and students studies the connection between people and nature. The Fuller Biodiversity Lab at the University of Queensland, Published: SatSat 25 Feb 2023 at 1:00am/with Robyn Williams, Published: 18 Feb 2023Sat 18 Feb 2023 at 1:00am/with Robyn Williams, Published: 11 Feb 2023Sat 11 Feb 2023 at 1:00am/with Robyn Williams, Published: 4 Feb 2023Sat 4 Feb 2023 at 1:00am. live, learn and work. DBCA Biodiversity and Conservation Science is delivered at multiple sites across Western Australia, including national and marine parks, Kings Park, Perth Zoo, Rottnest Island, and the WA Herbarium. km sounds daunting. Robyn Williams: Yes, but isn't that the kind of blank cheque argument that the hard economic realities will no longer accept? Students learn about food webs at school. Yet the pressures placed on ecosystems from human impact and changing climate are increasing, with more species lost due to extinction. We still have work to do on our engagement with biodiversity in Western Australia, and Perth specifically, before we can become a model for future cities. Robyn Williams: The late Tom Lovejoy, one of those I mentioned before in The Science Show we should remember, whose work was so significant, at the same level maybe as Rachel Carson, whose book Silent Spring was published 60 years ago. I'm really interested in conservation, and conservation ultimately depends on repairing the broken relationship between people and biodiversity. The wetlands in WA support a rich natural heritage of plant and animal life. In the past 20 years extinctions have also become common on continents. In other words, if you are saying that variety is the best thing, then the hard-nosed developer and the people who want to build a factory where you are protecting wilderness will say, well, you can't have everything, times are too tough, and your argument is that you do want everything. The Southwest Australia Ecoregion is a triangular corner of WA, most of which is to the west of a line drawn from Shark Bay to Esperance. They've spent thousands of years honing these migration journeys to arrive at the right moment and in the right physiological condition. We pay our respect to Aboriginal Elders and recognise their continuous connection to Country. Since the arrival of Europeans in Australia, just over 200 years ago, there has been an extraordinary increase in the rate of environmental change and in the loss of biodiversity. Reduction in biodiversity was calculated by looking at species that had their IUCN red list upgraded during the period, such as from "least concern" to "threatened", or "vulnerable" to "endangered". The UN global assessment report painted a stark picture: the decline of the world's natural support systems means that human society is in danger.. You can imagine a migratory species showing up and being unable to refuel on its journey, for example. [The] challenge is not to prognosticate about the height of the piles of dead species that will litter the wayside of the future if we stick with current strategies. The total number of species of birds on earth is estimated to be around 10,000! Instead, he argues that the hotspot has the highest incidence on Earth 15 per cent of plants pollinated by birds and mammals, and this might explain why it is so unusual. It offers the biggest elevation range in Australia from a few hundred metres above sea level to more than 2200 m. It covers an array of environments from slopes and plains to mountain peaks, has some of our richest communities of species and is home to two-thirds of NSWs threatened plants and animals. Its better that we try [Mikes] method now, than wish we had in 10 years time. Red Sea and northern Australia. SW Western Australia is one of the worlds major biodiversity hotspots. ' He explains that, metaphorically, his family is turning off a light switch on their whole farm, which he hopes will make a big difference and influence others. No, there is a race to clear it. The total area of protected land and sea in the U.K. increased from 27 . A new study reveal why this may be the case. "We can no longer say . This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience onourwebsite. Environmental change over the last few hundred years. People ask, What difference can it make if you turn off a light switch? And when you are talking about biodiversity to maybe a sceptic, maybe a sceptic in business who doesn't want to be interfered with by all theseMargaret Thatcher used to say 'moaning minnies', saying you want to preserve all these obscure frogs and all these bits of flies, where do you actually join the limit biodiversity? The loss of wetlands that began in 1829, and continues into the present day, is a deciding factor in Perth being able to retain its status as a biodiverse city. During the past 24 million years, close relatives of the mountain pygmy possum have been common throughout Australias lowland rainforests. The researchers conceded that species native to multiple countries presented an obstacle to their calculations, but lead author Anthony Waldron says they were able to narrow down where the pressures were coming from. The success of Western Shield and previous programs has resulted in the removal of the woylie, tammar wallaby and quenda from Western Australia's threatened species list. They have a right to live here just as much as we do. excess fertiliser use and marine litter), invasive alien species and climate change (OECD, 2012 [7]; A marsupial is born in a very incomplete state. During this time they undoubtedly influenced the course of evolution. Were excited; greater gliders are normally found in the high country of Woomargama National Park, several kilometres to the south-east not down here towards the Hume Highway. ONE ALPINE SPECIES the GER may not be able to help is the mountain pygmy possum. He describes farmers as frontline environmentalists and argues that many of Australias 136,000 farms are already actively managed for conservation. The WA wheatbelt covers an area of ca. 141 of Australias 207 mammal species, 25 unique to the state; more than 400 reptile species, more than 40% unique to the state; hundreds of thousands of invertebrate species; and. Its a legacy.. UN Common Approach to Biodiversity. Mike thinks that because of its evolutionary heritage in lowland rainforests, the pygmy possum already has the capacity to thrive in warmer conditions, and this is what he wants to test. These trends are all shaped by other indirect . WWF's 2020 Living Planet Report held some alarming news: The world has seen an average 68% drop in mammal, bird, fish, reptile, and amphibian populations since 1970. (2006). A key part of their approach has been to plant silver wattles and other trees that provide important habitat for gliders and threatened species such as migratory swift parrots, known to visit a neighbouring property. This can be done in a number of ways, and can be as simple as seeding native woodland along hill tops and fencing-off creek lines. The Australian Government promotes the conservation of threatened species and biodiversity through the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Developed by a partnership of the UK Business & Biodiversity Forum, IEMA, RSPB, WSP, the Aldersgate Group and . Mitsch and Gosselink describe wetland environments as falling between the cracks of two disciplines (Mitsch & Gosselink 2007). I dont want Australians, particularly the younger generation, to feel so depressed about our current path that they cant be motivated to do things that have the capacity to result in a far brighter future. Indigenous people have been interacting with Australia's natural environment for tens of thousands of years. Theyve fenced off a creek line and are encouraging native vegetation in order to protect the endangered booroolong frog. Richard Fuller: We spend a lot of time studying migratory birds, species that migrate from Australia up to the Arctic and back, and that has been a fascinating line of work, looking at the amazing migration journeys of these animals, the threats that they face along the way, and what could be done about those threats. We cause habitat change through agricultural, urban and industrial development, and the exploitation of natural resources. Get incredible stories of extraordinary wildlife, enlightening discoveries and stunning destinations, delivered to your inbox. Richard Fuller: We put citronella burners outside, how about that, as some kind of compromise. His work, starting in the 1980s, showed that birds tended to move between different trees to feed, rather than between flowers on the same tree. Come and explore what our researchers, curators and education programs have to offer. So, in other words, that sort of message seems to say you need to consult the conservationists before you do something and rewilding is an interesting move. It needs funding, but it could be the most exciting project of this kind in the world in terms of an innovative way to counter the unquestioned threat to the survival of a species through climate change, he says. Similarly, Australia lost 5-10% of its biodiversity between 1996 and 2008 while high levels of deforestation to make way for agricultural plantations have particularly affected the species rich rainforests of Indonesia. Allowing landholders to benefit from the harvest of kangaroos for meat and skins is one idea. RESEARCH INTO THE birds and mammals that pollinate banksias and eucalypts in south-west Western Australia is challenging existing theories on the region's enormous biodiversity. ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center South Tower, Sable Park 14 Bridge Boulevard Century City, Cape Town, 7441 +27 21 202 0381; biodiversity@iclei.org Much like climate change, the global challenge of biodiversity loss is defined by large geographic and economic disparities. Perths wetlands directly or indirectly support most of its wildlife. Robyn Williams: Apart from noisy miners, what sort of research are you doing at your lab? Write an article and join a growing community of more. Their hunting practices may have affected population levels of some animals, and the building of fish traps in coastal and inland rivers may also have had environmental effects. In addition, they may compete with native plants and animals for food and shelter. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions ( DBCA) is the Western Australian government department responsible for managing lands and waters described in the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984, the Rottnest Island Authority Act 1987, the Swan and Canning Rivers Management Act 2006, the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority While there have certainly been extinctions in Australia during the past 40,000 to 50,000 years, scientists are unsure about which, if any, were caused by Indigenous people. Image copyright Holly Story, Black Swans (Cygnus atratus), Perth (WA), John Oldham Park, September 2006. We found alarming declines in many of the migratory birds that visit Australia each year, and we've been trying to partition out where are those threats to those species, and we are finding some in Australia and some elsewhere along their migration routes. Biodiversity loss includes the worldwide extinction of different species, as well as the local reduction or loss of species in a certain habitat, resulting in a loss of biological diversity. "Modest recovery of biodiversity in a western European country: The Living Planet Index for the Netherlands", Biological Conservation, Vol. Robyn Williams: And that's quite an interesting example, isn't it, because if you are a bird lover or even some of those furry creatures, then if they are migratory they need to turn up in a certain place so that their timing is right for the emergence of certain insects in great numbers, and if the insects aren't there, these creatures just starve. If the conditions are too hot there, you can spread your seeds or fly around the corner and its potentially a bit cooler.. Land and natural resource use practices have also left a legacy of problems that have set in train a number of degrading processes which continue to impact on biodiversity. Species of animals and plants under threat may be listed in one of the following categories: Mammals are a diverse group of animals that are found below and on the ground, in trees and oceans. Get incredible stories of extraordinary wildlife, enlightening discoveries and stunning destinations, delivered to your inbox. Australia has a high percentage of endemic species (meaning, they occur nowhere else in the world). But we are just one of many species on Earth, and our demand for resources - land, water, food, and shelter - shapes the environment for other wildlife too. They are not going to damage other species in those rainforests because theyve always been there. Western Australia; Travel Videos; Entertainment. WABSI will contribute to this need by providing more certainty around the decision making processes. Biodiversity loss can come in the form of habitat loss through land converted to agriculture, combined with land degradation through intensive farming practices - which is the principal contributor to the decline and extinction of species - and it can also come in the form of unsustainable food production, where our meat and dairy consumption That's a native bird but it has been declared a key threatening process by the Australian government in its role in disrupting other bird communities. Perth also has 71 reptile species and is believed to have more reptiles than any other urban area in the world, including the western swamp tortoise, which is WAs most endangered reptile (World Wildlife Fund 2013). Coupled with persistent biophysical threats and socioeconomic causes is human-induced climate change, which is projected to exacerbate biodiversity loss through increased risk of species extinctions and ecosystem decline, especially among those already at risk and limited in their climatic range (Conservation, 2006). Credit: M Hele. Private conservation group Bush Heritage Australia set a goal for itself of purchasing and protecting a further 1 per cent of Australia by 2025. Most of our work on Our World in Data focuses on data and research on human well-being and prosperity. Some scientists believe that we are now witnessing the sixth mass extinction, the only mass extinction caused by a single species - humans. Robyn Williams: And what else, apart from birds? Changes in the environment including altered fire regimes, changed hydrological processes and broader climate change. It wasnt always my plan to come back;but it had a lot to do with these conservation projects, the 26-year-old tells me. And we play around with the way the world works at our peril, and we may find ourselves being unable to reverse the situation or control the situation when repeated studies have shown us that we are close to planetary tipping points of human pressure on the environment, whether that's through climate change, through human consumption patterns, through us driving species extinct without any real sense of the role that those species play in our own life-support, let alone the support of the ecological systems on Earth. Established in 2002, we have a proven history in managing and delivering specialist environmental consulting services for . So I'm fascinated by what constitutes a healthy relationship between people and nature and how can we enhance that to drive the conservation agenda forwards. Another problem with Australias national parks is that the land they cover is not often intensively managed and this may not be the best way to protect native wildlife. Ecological conditions range from pristine to ecologically extinct. [2] If you look at what we currently have under protectionwe only need to get another 9 per cent of Australia into conservation-capable form. To pick up the shortfall, he argues, we must find ways of getting pastoralists to value the native wildlife on their properties. The Australian Museum respects and acknowledges the Gadigalpeople as the FirstPeoples and TraditionalCustodians ofthe land and waterways on which theMuseumstands. The diverse landscape and extensive coastline of Western Australia provides abundant opportunities to study species in spectacular marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments. You develop ownership of these little gliders. 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