On Dec 6th the Australian Government released the “Australia State of the Environment 2006, Independent report to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Heritage” which may be viewed at: http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2006/index.html
With commendable honesty the report states: “As many as 231 nationally important wetlands are under pressure across Australia. Of the 64 Ramsar wetlands, latest assessments indicate that 22 have changed in ecological character or have the potential to change …”. The report goes on to outline some of the key threats, increased conservation activity, and hopes that national programmes may begin to improve the health of wetlands. What is less clear are the specific steps that the state (provincial) and federal governments will take to reduce threats to the ecological character of each of the 22 Ramsar wetlands that ‘have changed or have the potential to change’.
(Mr) Jamie Pittock
Director, Global Freshwater Programme
WWF International
15/71 Constitution Ave
Campbell ACT 2612
Australia
Phone: +61 (0)2 6257 4010
Fax: +61 (0)2 6257 4030
Mobile: +61 (0) 407 265 131
E-mail: jpittock@wwf.org.au
www.panda.org