Native vegetation
Parts of Victoria, the most cleared state in Australia, are nearing dangerously low levels of native habitat. Scientific reports continue to identify the loss of native vegetation as the key contributing factor for ongoing decline in the health of our natural environment. They reinforce the need to retain, protect and enhance native vegetation. Key to this work are strong controls that prevent the clearing of native vegetation critical to the health of our natural heritage, ecosystems and future survival of Victoria's threatened species. |
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That's why 36 national, state and local environment groups have released a joint statement calling on the Victorian Government to strengthen, not weaken the state's Native Vegetation Framework.
In spite of years of hard work by the community, environment groups, Landcare and landholders the health of Victoria's natural environment continues to go backwards, and we are now widely recognised as the most ecologically stressed state in Australia.
Building a sustainable, natural Victoria
We need a plan from the State Government to protect and build a sustainable natural Victoria.
The recent statewide investigation into remnant native vegetation by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) has some key recommendations that could form the basis of a plan for the future, they include:
- Support incentives for conserving native vegetation on private land.
- Improve conservation management of small and/or linear patches of native vegetation on public land such as roadsides.
- New conservation licences and programs to manage publicly owned stream frontages
- Public land use investigations of Central Victorian Uplands (e.g. Wombat Forest); Wimmera (south), Dundas Tablelands and Glenelg Plain; Gippsland Plain and Strzelecki Ranges, to fill gaps in the park system.
Habitat loss a major driver of biodiversity decline
The loss of native vegetation is widely recognised as major driver of biodiversity decline across Australia.
Native vegetation in Victoria's fragmented landscapes supports the majority of the state's biodiversity.
Along with the establishment of national parks and other conservation reserves, the control of native vegetation clearing is one of the few tools shown to help protect threatened species.
All governments over the past 40 years, including Coalition governments, have had policies to help retain native vegetation.
Even so, between 1998 and 2005 around 4000 ha of native vegetation were cleared each year - equating to about 1200 ha of woody vegetation and over 3000 ha of native grassland.
What you can do
Write to Premier Ted Baillieu and Environment Minister Ryan Smith asking them toretain strong native vegetation rules and undertake an open and thorough consultation process on any changes to the native vegetation framework or rules.
Premier Ted Baillieu
Office of the Premier, Level 1, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne, VIC 3000.
Email: ted.baillieu@parliament.vic.gov.au.
Hon. Ryan Smith
Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Level 17, 8 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, VIC 3002
Email: ryan.smith@parliament.vic.gov.au.
You can also contact your local state politician asking them to to support the recommendations in VEAC Remnant Native Vegetation report.
If you don't know who your local representative in the Victorian Parliament is you can find out by visiting the parliamentary website.
 State of Decline: habitat trends and native vegetation in Victoria Reconnecting the landscape | VEAC native vegetation report Media release: VEAC report provides blueprint Baillieu Government |