Alpine grazing precedent threatens all national parks
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Media release
The Victorian Government's so called 'scientific trial' of cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park could set a precedent that would open the gate for cattle grazing and other damaging activities in national parks around the country, environment and heritage groups have warned.
"Unless the Federal Government takes action to enforce national environment and heritage laws, other states and lobby groups could see this as a green light to try their own hare-brained schemes in some of our most precious natural areas," said Victorian National Parks Association Executive Director Matt Ruchel today.
"What will we see next? Scientific logging in the Daintree? Scientific grazing on Kosciuszko? Scientific oil drilling on the Great Barrier Reef?"
Fourteen leading environment and heritage groups have released a statement calling on Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke to use his powers under federal environment laws to intervene and halt the trial.
"Allowing cattle grazing in national parks is against the globally accepted purpose of national parks - to conserve nature and heritage," said Cam Walker, National Campaign Coordinator for Friends of Earth.
"This is a test of the integrity of our national environment laws, and whether the current government has the backbone to enforce them," he added.
"Cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park has already been shown to have a significant impact on endangered alpine wetlands, sphagnum bogs and fens, and species like the Alpine Tree Frog, which are protected under federal environment laws," said Phil Ingamells, VNPA's parks protection spokesperson.
Organised by the Victorian National Parks Association, the statement is signed by the Australian Conservation Foundation, WWF Australia, the National Trust, The Wilderness Society, Birds Australia, Bird Observation & Conservation Australia, Friends of the Earth, Humane Society International, Invasive Species Council, National Parks Australia Council, Environment Victoria, National Parks Association of NSW and the National Parks Association of ACT.
Download a copy of the statement
For comment
- Philip Ingamells, VNPA Park Protection Project Officer - 0427 705 133.
- Matt Ruchel, VNPA Executive Director - 0418 357 813.
- Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth - 0419 338 047.
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