10 May, 2017
Conservation groups cry foul on World Migratory Bird Day
The NSW Government is subverting Australia’s obligation under international environmental treaties to protect migratory bird habitat, according to the Nature Conservation Council and Inland Rivers Network.
“World Migratory Bird Day is a day of shame for the NSW Government because it is actively undermining national efforts to sustain healthy wetlands that are critical for the long-term survival of migratory water birds,” Nature Conservation Council of NSW CEO Kate Smolksi said.
“NSW constitutes the largest part of the Murray-Darling Basin, and uses the most water out of the river systems. Irrigators are using their political influence over the Berejiklian government to subvert a Howard-era national agreement designed to return our rivers and wetlands to ecological health.
“We calling out the Berejiklian government today, World Migratory Bird Day, and asking everybody who loves our inland rivers and wetlands and the birds they support to sign our petition to call on the state government to support a fair share of water for nature.”
Inland Rivers Network President Bev Smiles said: “The Macquarie Marshes and Gwydir wetlands are looking healthy right now after a pretty good wet season, but we know it is only a matter of time before there is another big drought.
“The NSW Government is not prepared to protect environmental flows from extraction for irrigation. This is disastrous for our beautiful wetlands and the birds that depend on them for survival. The NSW Government must honour its agreement to restore environmental flows as originally outlined in the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
“It is also critical that the Minister for the Environment maintains a concurrence role for water sharing plans in NSW to ensure that internationally significant wetlands like the Macquarie Marshes, Gwydir Wetlands and other key waterbird areas get a fair share of water to support key environments.”
Petition: http://www.nature.org.au/get-involved/take-action/world-migratory-bird-day/
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Rivers and wetlands
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