There’s a lot that needs action, but the most immediate and severe risk is to Federal threatened species funding.
We’ve provided a briefing note to the upcoming Environment Ministers Meeting – which is where the Federal Minister for the Environment, and Environment ministers from all states and territories set shared national targets and priorities, and coordinate action to implement decisions in their own jurisdiction.
It summarises the current key issues facing nature, and opportunities for collective action to better protect, steward and restore. Issues include the urgent need for a National Restoration Strategy, revision of the Australian Bushland Program, and fair fringe benefits treatment for the environment sector.
However, of most concern is the risk to Federal threatened species funding.
Chronic underinvestment has contributed to accelerating biodiversity loss across Australia and one of the highest extinction rates globally. Despite this, Federal funding for threatened species recovery through the Saving Native Species Program is due to terminate at the end of this financial year. There is no guarantee of renewal, and discontinuation is a real possibility. If the program lapses, responsibility and costs for threatened species recovery will be shifted onto States and Territories.
This funding risk directly contradicts the joint commitment by Federal, State and Territory governments to achieve “no new extinctions” (June 2024 Environment Ministers Meeting). Even maintaining current funding levels would deliver “business-as-usual” outcomes, which equals continued species decline and extinctions. Ending the program altogether would accelerate extinctions.
Continued - and expanded - Federal investment is urgently needed.
Image: Chris Charles/Unsplash
