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The Victoria Naturally Alliance
Victoria is facing a biodiversity crisis. The most cleared state in the country, a third of our native animals are either extinct or threatened and our indigenous plants are faring even worse.
Many of the valuable ecological services we take for granted are also under threat, including clean air and water, pollination and pest control. Add the pressures of climate change, habitat fragmentation, rampant weeds and feral animals, and it's easy to see why Victoria's environment is in a state of crisis.
The Victoria Naturally Alliance, which is made up of eight environment groups including Trust for Nature, the Victorian National Parks Association and Greening Australia (Vic), has been formed to work with government and the community to solve this crisis.
The State Government has responded to our concerns by launching a Land and Biodiversity White Paper and we're pushing for more funding to help land managers protect and enhance native vegetation on their property.
We want to see a White Paper that sets an agenda not only for the protection and preservation of current ecosystems but also for restoration of native vegetation on both public and private land.
The Victoria Naturally Alliance also includes the Australian Conservation Foundation, The Wilderness Society, Environment Victoria, Bush Heritage Australia and the Invasive Species Council.
Victoria Naturally Alliance members:
The Victorian National Parks Association is Victoria’s leading nature conservation organisation and is currently working towards new national parks to protect the River Red Gum Forests and Wetlands of northern Victoria.
It is also asking for greatly increased resources to ensure successful management of the state’s national parks and reserves in the face of climate change.
Victoria has been helping Victorians reduce their ecological footprint for more than 30 years and is working to address the urgent issues of climate change, preserving our rivers and waterways for future generations and empowering Victorians to live sustainably.
To achieve its vision of a sustainable and healthy environment for all Victorians it works with groups, governments, businesses and communities to meet the urgent environmental challenges facing society today.
Environment Victoria supports 150 member organisations, representing thousands of Victorians, many specifically concerned about habitat conservation and restoration.
Bush Heritage Australia is a national, independent, non-profit organisation committed to preserving Australia's biodiversity. It is Australia's most widely supported organisation dedicated to protecting threatened species and habitats through the creation of reserves.
It currently owns and manages 29 reserves throughout Australia covering 720,482 hectares. These reserves are safeguarding more than 242 vegetation communities, of which at least 83 are threatened. More than 3200 plant and animal species have been recorded so far, including at least 250 plant and 195 animal species that are listed as threatened.
Once properties are purchased, Bush Heritage collaborates constructively with the owners of neighbouring properties to manage fires, pest animals and weeds.
It also works with pastoralists, governments, scientific institutions, indigenous groups, and other conservation organisations to encourage regional conservation outcomes.
The Australian Conservation Foundation is committed to inspiring people to achieve a healthy environment for all Australians.
For 40 years it has been a strong voice for the environment, promoting solutions through research, consultation, education and partnerships. ACF works with the community, business and government to protect, restore and sustain our environment.
Since 1966 ACF has focused on the most important and urgent environmental problems, seeking change with lasting political, economic and social support. It has played a key role in increasing protection for some of Australia's most outstanding natural assets including the Franklin River, Kakadu, the Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef.
Greening Australia (Vic) is the largest not-for-profit environmental organisation in Australia and is committed to creating practical solutions to Australia’s environmental problems.
With more than 25 years of industry experience in creating sustainable environmental outcomes, Greening Australia is a solutions-driven organisation that is committed to doing something practical about Australia's environmental problems.
Managing world-class environmental projects of all scales, Greening Australia is also actively involved in research and development of landscape restoration technologies.
The Wilderness Society is a national, community-based, environmental advocacy organisation whose purpose is protecting, promoting and restoring wilderness and natural processes across Australia for the survival and ongoing evolution of life on Earth.
Since its formation in 1976, The Wilderness Society, in conjunction with conservation partners, has achieved the secure protection of over eight million hectares of wilderness and other high conservation value areas in Australia, including:
• Kakadu
• The Daintree
• Kangaroo Island
• South West Tasmania
• Australia's sub-Antarctic Islands
• Victoria's mallee woodlands
• Cape York wilderness
As an isolated island continent Australia is highly vulnerable to invasive species introduced from other countries.
We have the worst record of mammal extinctions in the world, largely because of the damage done by foxes and cats.
The impacts of invasive species include rabbits degrading vegetation over vast areas, dieback disease killing trees and shrubs in national parks, and introduced carp and starfish degrading aquatic habitats. At last count Australia had 2700 weed species and more than 200 marine invaders.
Experts agree that climate change will only worsen invasive pest problems. As native plants die during extreme heatwaves, droughts or severe cyclones, weeds will often take their place. Pathogens will benefit from higher temperatures and climatic stresses that weaken native wildlife.
The Invasive Species Council exists to tackle such issues. We are the first group in the world created solely to campaign for better policies on invasive species, and now serve as a leading voice on this issue. Because prevention is much easier and more cost-effective than cure, ISC has a particular focus on preventing new pests becoming established. We work closely with governments to improve policies in this area.
In Queensland we were successful in getting a weed declaration for Cecropia, a tree listed by the IUCN as one of the world's 200 most invasive species. ISC was the first conservation group in the world to draw attention to the weed risk posed by many biofuels.
As part of the Victoria Naturally Alliance ISC takes the lead on invasive species issues and provides technical and policy advice.
Other helpful links:
Australian Plants Society (Victoria)
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