Released 24/01/2018
Conserving our rivers and the land alongside them is crucial to the ongoing survival and wellbeing of the wildlife that relies on them, the environment and our people, Minister for the Environment and Heritage Mick Gentleman said today.
“The Conservator for Flora and Fauna is asking the community to comment on the draft 2018 Aquatic and Riparian Conservation Strategy, which looks at how we can best continue to manage and repair our precious waterways,” Minister Gentleman said.
“The consultation includes associated action plans for five threatened fish and two threatened plant species - the Tuggeranong Lignum and Murrumbidgee Bossiaea - which are found only in the ACT.
“Our waterways provide many critical ecosystem services. They are vital providers of water for consumption and habitat for plants and animals, as well as being sought out as aesthetically beautiful places. But they are threatened by climate change, water extraction, overfishing, erosion and sedimentation, pest plants and animals as well as disease.
“This draft strategy builds on the achievements of the original 2007 strategy by providing a regional approach to conservation and management of these environments and addressing current and future issues with best-practice conservation and management strategies.
“The strategy provides conservation management guidelines for the protection and enhancement of river areas; identifies threats and provides guidelines for threat management; outlines monitoring and research objectives; provides the strategic context for the action plans; and suggests strategies to increase community awareness and involvement.
“We are particularly keen to hear the community’s views on how to improve and increase their engagement in river-based activities and projects, for example by supporting and promoting citizen science, increasing awareness and engaging with local Indigenous communities on traditional ecological knowledge.
“The ACT’s waterways and rivers are valuable and fundamentally important components of our landscape. It is vital we conserve these areas both now and for the future and we are keen to hear the community’s ideas on how we can do this,” Minister Gentleman concluded.
The draft 2018 Aquatic and Riparian Conservation Strategy and action plans are open for comment until 11 March 2018 on www.yoursay.act.gov.au.
- Statement ends -
Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases