MEDIA RELEASEEMBARGOED until Thursday, 13 March 2014

World’s leading parks body appeals to Prime Minister to reverse conservation retreat

In an unprecedented step, 114 Australian experts from the world’s leading protected area organisation, the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), have written an open letter to Prime Minister Tony Abbot urging the Australian government to take a path of leadership on nature conservation.

They stress that national parks and other protected areas are major national assets yet there is a broad retreat by governments from nature conservation goals.

The WCPA members point to moratoriums and reviews of marine parks, cessation of funding for key programs like the National Reserve System, the controversial decisions over Abbots Point and the Tasmanian World Heritage extensions, reduction in protection laws, introduction of hunting, grazing and mining into parks and reserves, and downgrading of environmental departments.

The Prime Minister’s recent comments on Tasmania having ‘too many’ parks and opposing ‘locking up of land’ have also been a catalyst.

The letter argues that conservation can help achieve the Coalition Government’s goals. ‘Protected areas deliver on many priorities of the Abbot government including a sustainable national economy, regional economies, Indigenous employment and national health and well-being goals. There is every reason for the PM to support parks and encourage state premiers also to continue in a positive direction’, Ms Penelope Figgis AO, WCPA Vice Chair for Oceania said The letter refutes the accusation that parks are “locked up”. ‘They are certainly not locked up’ said Prof Marc Hockings WCPA Vice Chair for Science and Management ‘protected areas are rich in benefits – our major global attractions are our World Heritage national parks with nature tourism bringing $19.5 billion into our economy, but also major social benefits through the more than 100 million visits that Australians and international tourists make to our parks to enjoy nature and find cultural connection, health, wellbeing and adventure.

Protected areas should been seen as major national assets of ‘natural capital’ ‘ They also deliver the huge benefits of intact nature - freshwater catchments and filtration, erosion prevention, pollination, carbon capture and resilience to climate change, fishery nurseries and many more’ said Dr Graeme Worboys, WCPA Vice Chair for Connectivity and Mountains.

Australian has a great opportunity in November when Australia hosts the IUCN World Parks Congress the largest meeting in the world on protected areas held every 10 years. ‘It would be wonderful if at the end of the year, Australia truly illustrates our pride and onward commitment to these national assets’, Ms Figgis said.

Media contacts Professor Marc Hockings, Vice Chair for Science and Management 0422 842 714 Dr. Graeme Worboys, Vice Chair for Connectivity Conservation and Mountains 0419 163 126

Penelope Figgis AO, Vice Chair, Oceania……………………………………………………………………...0416 364 722