Welcome to this edition of the North Australian Indigenous Land
and Sea Management Alliance, Dugong and Marine Turtle Project
Newsletter. The Newsletter is about sharing information on dugong
and marine turtle and sea country management. If you belong to an
Indigenous ranger group and have a story idea for the next edition,
email Joshua
Kitchens at NAILSMA.
The federal government released a statement today outlining the
package that will replace NHT funding.
An unedited copy of the media release below.
Caring for our Country - better
land management, less red tape
Joint Media Release
Hon Peter Garrett MP Minister for the Environment, Heritage and
the Arts Hon Tony Burke MP Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry
The Federal Government will invest $2.25 billion over five years
on a new program to restore the health of Australia’s
environment and build on improved land management practices.
The Caring for our Country program will deliver funding to local
communities through a simple, ‘one-stop shop’ covering
the Natural Heritage Trust and the National Landcare, Environmental
Stewardship and Working on Country programs.
The $2.25 billion package represents a new, coordinated approach
to environmental management in Australia built on transparent and
consistent national targets.
It recognises that the previous system was not working
efficiently, with funding scattered across the country to
individual projects, often working in isolation from each
other.
Caring for our Country will be backed by an annual business plan
to ensure the investment is targeted to deliver the best results
for the environment.
It will also cut excessive administration costs and instead
allow more funding to be provided directly to farmers and other
land managers.
The program will complement the $130 million Australia’s
Farming Future initiative, which will ensure the primary industry
sector has a vibrant and sustainable future in a changing
climate.
The Government will provide an annual report card on progress
under Caring for our Country.
The program will focus on the key goals of a healthier
environment, which is better-protected, well-managed and more
resilient against the challenges of climate change.
It will invest in projects which match six national
priorities:
- Australia’s national reserve system
- biodiversity and natural icons (including weeds, feral animals
and threatened species)
- coasts and aquatic habitats
- sustainable farm practices and Landcare
- natural resource management in remote and northern Australia
and
- community skills, knowledge and engagement.
The new program will deliver on key Rudd Government election
commitments including:
- the $200 million Great Barrier Reef rescue plan
- a strengthened Landcare
- the $50 million expansion of Indigenous Protected Areas
- the employment of an additional 300 Indigenous Rangers
- $10 million to save the Tasmanian Devil
- an extra $2 million to fight the cane toad menace
- $100 million to protect and repair fragile coastal ecosystems
and
- $5.25 million to improve water quality in the Gippsland
Lakes.
Under a streamlined system, the World Heritage programs and
others related to it will be overseen by the Minister for the
Environment, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett and Landcare will
be overseen by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Tony Burke.
The regional natural resource bodies will remain central in
delivering Caring for our Country, with a guaranteed share of
program funds.
In fact, Caring for our Country will offer many regional bodies
significant new opportunities.
Regional bodies will receive guaranteed funding of at least 60
per cent of historical average funding to secure their
operations.
They can then access additional funds for projects which will
help to deliver on key national priorities, or for extra assistance
in adapting to the program.
The Government will be flexible and look at how each bid would
help to achieve the best environmental outcomes.
Caring for our Country recognises that a modern and prosperous
Australia is inextricably linked to the health and sustainability
of our ecosystems.
Our waterways, atmosphere and soils all rely on functioning
ecosystems.
Successful farmers know that to be profitable and to pass a
productive business on to the next generation, farming practices
need to be environmentally sustainable.
Farmers across Australia are already leading the fight against
climate change, adopting cutting-edge technology to increase
sustainability while also boosting production.
Caring for our Country will help to arm them with the skills and
knowledge to make the agricultural sector even more resilient and
productive.
Business, communities and farmers around the country have cried
out for clear national leadership in land management and
environmental protection in the face of climate change.
That is what Caring for our Country is all about.
For more information see http://www.nrm.gov.au – or ring
the hotline on 1800 552 008.
Media contacts:
(Minister Garrett) Margot Marshall 0418 624 847
(Minister Burke) Ann-Marie Wilcock 0413 872 275
http://www.nrm.gov.au/funding/future.html
http://www.maff.gov.au/media/releases/2008/024bj.html
Stephen Ambar, Senior Ranger with the Hammond
Island Council in Torres Strait, recently wrote a report on
his trip to Mexico for the symposium and cultural exchange
with the Seri Indians.
The article "Indigenous Australians contribute to Native Oceans
Forum at sea turtle symposium in Mexico" was published on the
Marine Coastal Community Network (MCCN) Website. [Read the
article]
Photo:
Stephen and Djawa on a filed trip in Mexico. Supplied by Kenny
Bedford.
Caring for country - ABC Online
Caring for country ABC Online, Australia - 43 minutes ago ...
groups working to protect fragile ecosystems can now apply for
funding under a new two billion plus environment program called
Caring for Country. ... New enviro program transparent: Garrett The
Age all 22 news articles
Six-pronged plan to replace Howard's green
scheme - Sydney Morning Herald
Six-pronged plan to replace Howard's green scheme Sydney Morning
Herald, Australia - 12 hours ago Included in the $2.25 billion are
election commitments including a $200 million Great Barrier Reef
rescue plan, more indigenous rangers for northern ... Garrett may
slash heritage funds The Australian all 4 news articles
Protestors rally against gas giant -
NEWS.com.au
Protestors rally against gas giant NEWS.com.au, Australia - 5 Mar
2008 According to The Wilderness Society, the Kimberley Coast and
the Maret Islands are home to turtles, dugong and rare snub-nosed
dolphins. ...
Residents picket mining firm's office in Mati -
Minda News
Residents picket mining firm's office in Mati Minda News,
Philippines - 4 Mar 2008 A biodiversity hotspot, it is home to the
endangered dugong (sea cows), sea turtles and sting rays and is a
major source of livelihood of the community, ...
Previous Editions of the DMTP
Newsletter
28 Feb |
12 Feb
The NAILSMA Turtle and Dugong Project is funded by the
Natural Heritage Trust.
Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
To make a comment, email Joshua
Kitchens.
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