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Its biodiversity month. I think it might be a very good idea if we make it biodiversity decade as I am VERY embarrassed to say Australians can lay claim to being the worst global environmental vandals in the last 200 years. Read all the bad news here and see the statistics here
Australia has experienced the largest documented decline in biodiversity of any continent over the past 200 years. Under the EPBC Act, more than 50 species of Australian animals have been listed as extinct, including 27 mammal species, 23 bird species, and 4 frog species. The number of known extinct Australian plants is 48. Australia’s rate of species decline continues to be among the world’s highest, and is the highest in the OECD Environmental Performance Index
Recent natural disasters including drought, the bushfire crisis and flooding have further damaged this continent’s fragile biodiversity.
I am super excited to share with you, young Australians everywhere are taking joint action on this travesty. Picture You in Agriculture, our supporting partners and our Young Farming Champions are currently working with thirty three schools from Cairns to Launceston participating in The Archibull Prize and Kreative Koalas who are designing and delivering Sustainability Action Projects that will signpost to everyone that we understand this
The river is like our refrigerator that keeps fresh the meat. The forest is like our drug store that has our medicines. It is like a supermarket with all of the food and things we need. Why would we poison our water or clear the forest? Paiakan, a Kayapo Indian, Quoted in Knudtson and Suzuki, Wisdom of the Elders, 1992
Australian farms have an important role to play in improving and protecting biodiverse ecosystems and its pivotal the sector strike that delicate balance of improving environmental outcomes while concurrently remaining profitable and increasing climate resilience to meet growing demand. You can learn more about what farmers and the agriculture sector are planning here
There are simple things we can all do and its starts with awareness.
- Lets talk about it more. For example
- Its biodiversity month and our surveys have show over 50% of Australians have heard of the term but aren’t sure what it means.
- I have been working in this space for 15 years and I had no idea that our track record over the last 200 was so abysmal so lets talk about it more.
2. We can stop squabbling about it. We can say NO to it being used as a political football. Its not a left and right wing issue. Caring for the environment means you care about a massive part of what makes Australia unique and it makes economic sense. Smart people protect their waterways and nurture the landscape that feeds us
The National Party environmental vandals were also happy to keep the message simple. In NP terms, protecting the environment means Left wing radical greenies running the country, losing your jobs and being forced to give up your ute. Source
The Federal Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Streamlining Environmental Approvals) Bill 2020 is environmental vandalism in the extreme. It completely ignores Professor Graeme Samuel AC’s interim recommendations to accompany changes to the Act with stringent national standards and an independent regulator. And it hands decision-making to state and territory governments who have shown time and time again to be conflicted and incapable of protecting the environment. Source
3. And we can all show leadership. Does leadership get any better than this?
Fun Fact: Did you know the our very own Daintree Forest is listed as the most biodiverse place in the world
#GlobalGoals #Sustainability #SDGs #BtheChange #Changemakers #KreativeKoalaKids #ArchieAction