FFG meeting presentation 2017

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VNPA VISION & MISSION • Victoria is a place with a diverse, secure and healthy natural environment that is protected and respected by all • VNPA is an independent, not for profit, non party political, supporter and membershipbased group



State of the State – SnapShot On Land: •

Victoria is the most cleared state 50%-70% gone. On private land 80% - 90%.

Less habitat means: •

more than 80 species terrestrial are extinct, more than 1000 threatened

about a fifth of Victoria’s mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and plants are threatened

more than half the state’s habitat types (ecological vegetation classes) are threatened

eleven habitats (ecological communities) are listed nationally as endangered or critically endangered


State of the State – SnapShot On the coast: • Coastal species threatened include more than 30 plants and more than 30 birds. • Threatened marine species include 17 invertebrates, 10 seabirds and five mammals

In wetlands/ Rivers : • Victoria has 3820 named watercourses extending 56,000 kilometres. Around 30 % of wetlands have been lost, more substantially degraded. • Less than one quarter (23%) of river length was in good or excellent condition • close to one-third (32%) was in poor or very poor condition, with the remainder (43%) in moderate condition.


Distribution of habitat (EVCs) in Victoria prior to 1750




Nature Print + Parks & Reserves



Why are species declining in Vic ? • Legacy of land clearing – squatters, gold rush, solider & closer settlement, urban development, agriculture intensification • Habitat loss continues both extent & condition Victorian State of Environment Report (2013) the, most common threatening process for species: • Habitat loss (109) species • Weed Invasion (108 species) • Grazing (99 species) • Inappropriate fire regimes (63 species) + climate change will make it worse


• Diverse, intact, healthy ecosystems will always fare under climate change better than neglected, damaged ones. • Many of the things we need to do to help nature adapt to a new climate are not new… we need to do much more, more tools, more resources……. 10 Things We can help Nature Adapt to a new climate http://vicnature2050.org/


A new Act should help us ? • Stop creatures and habitats on the brink disappearing from the wild • Stop more common creatures and habitats becoming ‘critical’ • Stop & reduce threats (threatening process's) • Helps us cope with quickly changing & complex shifts • Deal with the whole landscape (across tenues private & public land) at the correct scale


Lead beater's Possum Our only endemic mammal - Critically Endangered (nationally)



ORIGINAL EXTENT


WHATS LEFT !


Northern growth areas Sunbury growth area

existing urban existing urban

existing urban

Western growth area existing urban


Southern Brown Bandicoot • Listed as Endangered – Nationally • Threatened in Victoria



What about local or regional species decline ?


Brush-tailed Phascogale (Tuan) Threatened – FFG Act





Brush-tailed Phascogale “Threatened” – Habitat Distribution


Brush-tailed Phascogale (Tuan)

• Range reduced by about 50%, nationally due to loss of habitat • Presumed extinct in SA (last reliable record 1967). • Dependent on dry forests and open woodlands that contain hollow-bearing trees • Greatest current threat is the increasing decline in the availability of hollow-bearing trees + cats

Possibly thousands of hollow bearing trees have been removed by DELWP as part of hazardous tree removal programs to prepare for prescribed burning



Deer Distribution


Alpine Cattle - Photos from Treasure ‘Scientific Grazing’ site, Alpine National Park Jan 2011.


• Long Spined Sea urchins • Native species • Moving South due climate change • Creates ‘urchin barrens” "The equivalent is that you take a bulldozer into a rainforest and razing it back to bare earth," Professor Craig Johnson, marine scientist with University of Tasmania

• Main predator LARGE ROCK LOBSTERS


ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE - Flaws • Nine Auditor General reports between 2009-2013, two state of the environment reports and numerous community, academic reports. • Highlight systemic flaws in governance systems • Consistent pattern of failures and deficiencies include: • lack of integration of laws, administration, programs and plans • poor leadership and coordination • weak laws and inadequate enforcement • low political commitment to the environment • funding is extremely inadequate • progress made under earlier reforms is slipping back.


5 key messages – ACT on Extinction - A fair go for threatened species by removing exemptions and special treatments for government departments and some industries. - Stronger stop and protect powers with clear requirements for the Minister to intervene when important species or habitats are under threat - A nature cop on the beat with stronger enforcement, real penalties and better monitoring - Clear targets and timelines to direct investment and programs for threatened species protection and recovery, across the whole state. - Giving community power to act, including capacity to determine regional plans and ability to initiate legal action to protect threatened species.


THANK YOU

www.vnpa.org.au



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