New biodiversity plan is a significant commitment

Environment Victoria has today welcomed the release of the Andrews government’s biodiversity plan Protecting Victoria’s Environment – Biodiversity 2037. The plans sets out a long-term framework for protecting our natural environment and halting the decline of our threatened species.

Environment Victoria Nature Campaigner Juliet Le Feuvre said today:
“It’s encouraging to see the Andrews government making a significant commitment to protecting Victoria’s natural environment.

“This is the first time in 20 years that Victoria has updated its strategy for managing biodiversity. We welcome their long-term approach and the focus on stopping species from becoming endangered.

“We are excited to see cross-government commitment and strong encouragement for more Victorians to become involved in protecting nature.

“The plan sets out 20-year targets to stop any more of our precious species from becoming endangered, to provide more habitat and to help already endangered species survive. It has a strong emphasis on the risks of climate change to the natural environment, and on the economic benefits that protecting the environment brings. These are welcome developments.

“We look forward to seeing more announcements over coming weeks and months, including implementation and funding details, which need to spell out the actions, responsibilities and budget resources required to meet the 5 year interim targets in the plan.

“The Andrews government is also currently reviewing the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, which provides the legal foundation for the biodiversity plan but has failed to live up to its ambition to guarantee that all Victorian species can survive and flourish in the wild. Significant reform of the Act is needed to provide strong legal protection for Victoria’s threatened species.”