Policy A2: Biological Diversity

Issued: June 2008

Principles

The Australian Greens believe that:

1. biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem processes maintain Earth’s life support systems, including the climate system.
2. the protection and conservation of biodiversity is essential for the wellbeing of all life on Earth, including human life.
3. the loss of Australia’s biodiversity poses an unacceptable threat to human and ecosystem health, and dramatically reduces our ability to cope with major ecological threats such as climate change.
4. protected areas are vital to the preservation of Australia’s biodiversity, and therefore to the health and wellbeing of all Australians.
5. habitat loss and fragmentation, together with the spread of alien invasive species exacerbated by climate change, are the greatest threats to the biodiversity of the planet. 

Goals

The Australian Greens want:

6. Australia’s biological diversity (in ecosystem, species and genetic diversity) to be maintained.
7. a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of terrestrial, freshwater and marine protected areas (MPAs), including all remaining areas of high conservation value, managed primarily to protect biodiversity.
8. effective habitat management, including ecologically appropriate use of fire.
9. protection from accidental or deliberate introduction of exotic plants, animals and organisms which pose a threat to Australia’s biodiversity, agriculture or human health.
10. protection, restoration and extension of the habitats of Australia’s native animals including marine and riverine species

Measures

The Australian Greens will:

11. promote the application of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) and the precautionary principle.
12. introduce national measures to end broadscale clearing and incremental loss of native vegetation.
13. establish buffer zones in high conservation areas, and link and restore ecological fragments on public and private land.
14. fund and enforce recovery plans for threatened and endangered species and ecological communities.
15. fund and enforce threat abatement plans for nationally listed threatening processes.
16. increase funding to biosecurity services to anticipate new alien invasive species threats posed by climate change and expanded pathways resulting from globalised trade and travel.
17. increase funding for research into humane and sustainable means of controlling existing and potential threats to biodiversity from feral animals, weeds and pest species.
18. increase and enforce penalties for the killing and/or capture of nationally listed threatened and endangered species, and for deliberate habitat destruction.
19. support programs that work with private landowners to protect and restore nature conservation values on their land, including conservation covenants.