Environment

Protecting our environment and conserving the diversity of life are essential for the wellbeing of all life on Earth. Habitat loss and fragmentation, together with the spread of invasive species, pose serious threats. Loss of this biodiversity makes our ecosystems less resilient to climate change.

The Greens have a long-term commitment to protecting our environment. We take a comprehensive approach to conservation that recognises the interconnectedness of land and marine ecosystems.

The Greens will:

• End broad-scale land-clearing and clearing of remnant vegetation
• Fund and enforce recovery plans for threatened and endangered species
• Ensure a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of protected areas
• Support landowners to protect and restore nature conservation values on their land
• End the logging of old growth and high conservation value forests
• Introduce an Oceans Act to ensure the sustainable use of our marine and coastal resources
• Support a comprehensive international ban on commercial and “scientific” whaling.

Forests

The Greens are the only party campaigning to protect the great ancient forests of Tasmania and South Eastern Australia from logging and burning. The tremendous conservation value of these forests is increased by the fact that they are huge ‘carbon banks’ in the fight against climate change.

In 2006, Bob Brown won a landmark victory when the Federal Court found the Commonwealth environment law, which should protect threatened and endangered species, did not do so. The court ordered the Wielangta forest and its endangered species be protected. This has huge implications for logging native forests throughout Australia.