8 October 2019
Radiata Plateau is a victory for local conservationists
The Nature Conservation Council welcomes NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean’s decision to buy and protect Radiata Plateau, the last undeveloped peninsula-plateau in the upper Blue Mountains. [1]
“This is a great victory for local conservationists, especially the Blue Mountains Conservation Society that has campaigned for decades to protect this critical habitat,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.
“This adds a critical piece to the Blue Mountains National Park jigsaw puzzle, ensuring this prominent landform and its beautiful ecosystems are protected from development forever.
“Since his appointment in March, Environment Minister Matt Kean has proven to be the most committed and effective environment minister the state has seen in almost a decade.”
With only about 9.5% of the state now protected [2], NSW is well short of the 17% target Australia agreed to reach by 2020 under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. [3]
Additions to the national parks system slowed dramatically when the Coalition returned to power in 2011 and virtually stopped under Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
During her first two years as premier up to the election in March this year, she protected less than 4,200 hectares.
“We still have a lot of work to do to make up for years of lost opportunities and to unwind some terrible environmental decisions,” Mr Gambian said.
“The conservation movement looks forward to working with Mr Kean over the coming months to accelerate the state’s national parks addition program, which over the past eight years virtually stopped.”
References
[1] Blue Mountains' Radiata Plateau bought by NSW government, SMH, 8 October, 2019
[2] The public reserve system covers about 7.59 million hectares or 9.5% of land in NSW. p218 NSW State of the Environment Report 2018 or https://www.soe.epa.nsw.gov.au/all-themes/land/protected-areas-conservation
[3] Aichi Biodiversity Targets were established under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. “Target 11: By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.” https://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/
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Forests and wildlife
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