|
The rationale for the national endangered species strategy as a
key element in the broader national biological diversity strategy is that
it directs attention to the cases where there is immediate threat and
forces attention to the wider environmental issues that have led to the
decline.
The
introductory sections present the case for action to conserve our
endangered and vulnerable species and ecological communities, namely:
-
The
unique characteristics of Australian flora and fauna and the reasons
for their conservation;
-
The
extinction of species in Australia and the main threatening processes;
-
Responsibilities
for conservation action and some recent developments that provide hope
for the future.
The
overall aims defined in the strategy are:
-
To
ensure that endangered and vulnerable species and ecological
communities can survive and flourish;
-
To
ensure that endangered and vulnerable species and ecological
communities retain their genetic diversity and potential for
evolutionary development in their natural habitat; and
-
To
prevent further species and ecological communities from becoming
endangered.
Objectives
to achieve these aims cover:
-
A
national education program;
-
Adequate
resources for conservation agencies;
-
Identification
of endangered or vulnerable species and ecological communities;
-
Increased
research on threatening processes;
-
Development
and implementation of plans to mitigate the effects of threatening
processes;
-
Preparation
and implementation of recovery plans for all endangered species and
ecological communities and selected vulnerable species and ecological
communities;
-
Involvement
of all levels of government;
-
Provision
of incentives and support for conservation on private and leasehold
land;
-
Introduction
of appropriate legislation by the Commonwealth, States and
Territories;
-
Integration
of endangered species conservation into economic planning and
assessment procedures;
-
Promotion
and participation in international conservation efforts; and
-
Measures
to effectively implement the strategy.
|
