Hi Brian -
At 06:17 23/03/00 +1100, you wrote:
>Let us not yet condemn those who question the purchase of properties by
>Birds Australia. I am pleased that an area can be protected but still hope
>that it is not at the cost of public reserve systems across the country.
I agree completely with you about the need for governments, State and
Commonwealth, to accept the responsibility for establishing and managing an
network of reserves across the country adequate to maintain the diversity
of our biological heritage. The trouble is that it is just not happening
enough. We are seeing declines in funding and management respources as
well as a philosophical shift in the perceived function of national parks
from long-term biodiversity conservation to short-term monetary gain.
I disagree strongly with any suggestion that the ONLY way to go is to
encourage governments to carry out what we see as their responsibilities.
If a government has a monopoly of conservation reserves in a state (or
country) then a variety of possible events (e.g. financial cutbacks,
changes in electoral focus, failure of political will or leadership,
appointments of venial, stupid or ignorant ministers or bureaucrats) have
the potential to damage the entire reserve system under their control. Nor
can one depend entirely on the goodwill of electorates - there are powerful
lobby groups for those who make money from various unsustainable primary
production practices.
As we can see with the ongoing (in some places accelerating) degradation of
natural habitats in Australia, governments are failing in their
responsibilities (despite the best efforts of many dedicated individuals
and some worthwhile, though usually underfunded, programs) to protect our
land and our wildlife. Yet I have never heard the excuse that they do not
need to protect land just because some non-government organisations are
attempting to do so, and I believe that to suggest so is not only a false
argument but one that is defeatist and counter-productive.
We should continue to lobby governments to do the right thing, but we
should also lead by example. It is not only reserve acquisition that is
important; it is also reserve management. We have the opportunity not just
to replicate what governmenta are notionally trying to do within the public
reserve systems, but to do it better. We can establish research programs
that governments are unwilling to undertake. Maybe we can shame governments
into doing better and doing more. At the very least we can work towards
establishing a reserve system that is less vulnerable to changes in
government policy, electoral mood and economic fluctuations.
Cheers,
Hugo
Hugo Phillipps
Communications Coordinator
Birds Australia
415 Riversdale Road
HAWTHORN EAST 3123, Australia
Tel: (03) 9882 2622, fax: (03) 9882 2677
Email: <>
Web site: <http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au>
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