25 August 2017
NSW Government green-lights new wave of tree clearing and species loss
As the leading conservation organisations in NSW, we reiterate our steadfast opposition to the NSW Coalition Government’s new land management regime that weakens tree-clearing laws and takes effect tomorrow.
These new arrangements, imposed by the Coalition Government against the wishes of the general community, significantly erode hard-fought safeguards for native species, soils and water supplies, and represent the most significant backward step in nature conservation in NSW in a generation.
The NSW Coalition Government has introduced this package against the advice of well-informed professional and civic organisations, including scientific societies, legal bodies, local councils and regional local government organisations, conservation groups, farmers, and even one of the government’s own key advisors on the reforms, Professor Hugh Possingham.
The government has also disregarded the wishes of the great majority of citizens who made their views known during the drafting and consultation process. More than 5000 people made submissions opposing the weakening of environmental protections and warning of the increased risk the proposals posed for native wildlife and bushland, soils and water supplies.
The number of species in NSW listed as threatened with extinction now exceeds 1000, a list that includes the iconic koala and about 60% of our remaining native mammals.
Land clearing is one of the key threats to the long-term survival of many of these species, so any measures likely to increase this form of habitat destruction amounts to environmental vandalism and will be vigorously resisted.
Today we give a commitment that we will not rest until the protections removed or weakened by these deeply flawed laws are restored and strengthened.
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Forests and wildlife
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