James Watson and colleagues write in The Conversation (14.12.16) about habitat loss and risks to ecosystems from overdevelopment in sensitive areas, including in parts of Queensland.
‘Habitat loss is the most insidious of all threats facing land-living wildlife, and protected areas like national parks are one of the best ways to combat the destruction. But in research published recently in Conversation Letters, we show that in some places the pace of protected areas isn’t keeping up with the losses.
‘We found that since 1992, an area of natural habitat two-thirds the size of Australia has been converted to human use (such as farms, logging or cities). Half of the world’s land area is now dominated by humans.
‘When we looked at specific habitats (or “ecoregions”), we found that in almost half of them, more habitat has been lost than has been protected. Of developed nations, Australia is performing the worst.
‘This week, 196 signatory nations of the Convention of Biological Diversity, including Australia, are meeting in Cancun, Mexico, to discuss their progress towards averting the current biodiversity crisis.
‘While topics will vary widely from dealing with climate change, invasive species and illegal wildlife trade, a chief issue will likely be one that has been central to the convention since its ratification at Rio in 1992: how best to deal with habitat loss.’
- Half the world’s ecosystems at risk from habitat loss, and Australia is one of the worst »
- Building nature’s safety net 2016: the state of Australian terrestrial protected areas 2010-2016 »
- More than half the world’s most important natural sites are under threat: it’s time to protect them »
- Earth’s wildernesses are disappearing, and not enough of them are World Heritage-listed »
- Review of historic stock routes may put rare stretches of native plants and animals at risk »
- One-third of the world’s nature reserves are under threat from humans »
- Earth’s wilderness is vanishing, and just a handful of nations can save it »
- ‘We are clearly losing the fight’: scientists sound alarm over invasive species »
- We can ‘rewild’ swathes of Australia by focusing on what makes it unique »
- Logged native forests mostly end up in landfill, not in buildings and furniture »
- Invasive species are Australia’s number-one extinction threat »
- Non-native species should count in conservation – even in Australia »
- Scientists re-counted Australia’s extinct species, and the result is devastating »
- Invasive species are threatening Antarctica’s fragile ecosystems as human activity grows and the world warms »
- Weakening Australia’s illegal logging laws would undermine the global push to halt forest loss »
- 1.7 million foxes, 300 million native animals killed every year: now we know the damage foxes wreak »
- ‘Worst it’s ever been’: a threatened species alarm sounds during the election campaign – and is ignored »
- Community groups angered as Queensland government proposes logging in state forest »
- Has time been called on the native forest logging deals of the 1990s? Here’s what the Albanese government can do
- Labor push for publicly owned plantations to end native forest logging
The continuing loss of plant, animal and reptile species has dire consequences
David Shearman writes in Pearls & Irritations (20.1.21) about the cascading consequences of the continuing destruction of habitats and ecosystems in Australia and around the globe.
‘The global pandemic has engulfed the media, which consistently features health care workers struggling heroically in intensive care units to save stricken lives, sometimes at the expense of their own.
‘Intensive care units provide patients with mechanical support to breathe oxygen and maintain their nutrition, water needs and temperature control.
‘The same life support systems are provided to humanity by a stable climate, clean air, adequate water and the biodiversity of productive land. All are increasingly harmed by our failure to act on solid scientific evidence that we are harming them irrevocably.
‘These life support systems provide the basis for the sustainability of this continent for our health and survival.
‘A report card for each of these environmental life support systems would focus most attention on biodiversity because its importance is poorly understood and little is being done to maintain it. On most measureable environmental criteria, Australia’s environment is fast deteriorating.’
- The continuing loss of plant, animal and reptile species has dire consequences »
- Six million hectares of threatened species habitat up in smoke »
- Forest thinning is controversial, but it shouldn’t be ruled out for managing bushfires »
- Logging is due to start in fire-ravaged forests this week. It’s the last thing our wildlife needs »
- ‘Compelling evidence’ logging native forests has worsened Australian bushfires, scientists warn »
- ‘Compassionate conservation’: just because we love invasive animals, doesn’t mean we should protect them »
- New research finds native forest logging did not worsen the Black Summer bushfires »
- Native forest logging makes bushfires worse – and to say otherwise ignores the facts »
- Biodiversity loss is a risk to the global financial system »
- Raze paradise to put in a biofuel crop? No, there are far better ways to tackle climate change »
- Pest plants and animals cost Australia around $25 billion a year – and it will get worse »
- Some animals have excellent tricks to evade bushfire. But flames might be reaching more animals naive to the dangers »
- Human progress is no excuse to destroy nature. A push to make ‘ecocide’ a global crime must recognise this fundamental truth »
- Link between native forest logging and bushfires prompts calls for rethink of forest management »
- More than 200 Australian birds are now threatened with extinction – and climate change is the biggest danger »
- Native birds have vanished across the continent since colonisation. Now we know just how much we’ve lost »
- Reversing nature destruction in Australia: five improvements we must make »
- The true damage of invasive alien species was just revealed in a landmark report. Here’s how we must act
- Invasive species lead driver of biodiversity loss in Australia – and feral cats have biggest impact, report finds
- Why Australia is on the front line of a global war on invasive species
- Australia’s least wanted – 8 alien species and diseases we must keep out of our island home
- 10-year feral cat plan brings us a step closer to properly protecting endangered wildlife
- What are gene drives, and how can they help eradicate invasive species in Australia?