National Reserve funding welcomed – with reservations

Three new funding initiatives by state and the federal governments have been welcomed – with reservations – by the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (Wildlife Queensland) as evidence that the National Park system is finally being recognised as a resource for wildlife and a buffer against climate change.

'Wildlife Queensland welcomes these new funding and acquisition plans, especially the commitment by Premier Bligh to increase the state’s National Park estate by 50% by 2020,' said Des Boyland, Wildlife Queensland spokesperson.

'However, we are concerned about the controversial nature of its funding source,' Mr Boyland said.

Mr Boyland, Wildlife Queensland's Polices and Campaigns manager, was commenting on recent separate announcements by federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh that promised increased amounts of funding and the planned acquisition of more national reserve land.

On Friday 28 March, Queensland Premier Bligh used the platform of the 'Centenary of National Parks' in Queensland to announce an increase in the state's total National Parks to 7.7 million hectares within 12 years, much of it paid for out of the Eco Fund Queensland.

Eco Fund Queensland consists of payments by developers and government institutions who contribute to a fund for biodiversity offsets for 'unavoidable' impacts of development as part of the state government's offsets policy.

'We will be paying for National Parks out of funds raised, in some cases, from developments in inappropriate environmentally sensitive areas around Queensland,' said Mr Boyland. 'It doesn’t make sense.'

The Queensland Premier's announcement was followed on Monday 31 March by the federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett's promise of $180 million to boost Australia's National Reserve System and $250,000 in research funds to study climate change refuges for native species following the release of a CSIRO report confirming the role the National Reserve System could play in conserving Australia's biodiversity in the face of climate change.

'Wildlife Queensland congratulates Minister Garrett on his support for expanding national reserve,' said Mr Boyland.

'Wildlife Queensland has been actively promoting the preservation of significant land parcels as a safe haven for our wildlife and ecological processes to continue unabated as well as act as a buffer against climate change since 2005,' Des Boyland added.

For more information on Wildlife Queensland's activities, contact us by email or call +61 7 3221 0194.