Tony Burke, Australia's Environment Minister, announced today some important news affecting Australian wild koalas.
For
the first time ever, koalas will be listed as 'endangered' in two
Australian states, namely Queensland and New South Wales, as well as the Australian
Capital Territory (ACT).
This landmark legislation will give koalas -- and their essential eucalyptus forest habitat -- a somewhat higher level of protection against land developers in those states.
Still, koalas in the southern state of Victoria remain unprotected for reasons that, not surprisingly, are explained differently by different people.
For his part, Bundaleer wants to express today his sincere thanks to Tony Burke for better protecting a sizable percentage of wild koalas!
Bundy says he will carry his homemade sign happily for as long as his little arms can manage.
Still, our favorite mini-marsupial has confessed to musing about staging an Occupy Gum Trees! event in Victoria.
In fact, Bundy's Victorian koala contacts beamed over a message today saying they could host a number of visitors up in the trees... that is, if the visitors didn't mind occupying themselves, and the forest, while the koalas got their 18 hours of sleep each day!
_____________________________
If you would like to read more about this legislation and how it may better protect koalas, Bundaleer recommends this interesting article published in the Guardian.
Thank you for your continued support of Bundaleer, and of koalas everywhere!
Hi Julie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for this. I also enjoyed the pictorial
review of past issues, especially that of
Bundy on the Xmas tree.
John Pichione
Thank you for letting us know of this new and very encouraging legislation..Do you happen to know if koalas live primarily in these states? Or, do you think that these states were the only ones included in the legislation due to the fact that Queensland and NSW face the most development pressure....I think I'll make a point of looking into the "story behind the story". I'm sure it is a long and complex one.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, I first read the title and thought it said, "Koalas Elevated Today to 'Venerable' Species", which seemed kind of odd, seeing as how they have always been highly venerable creatures! Thanks again!
Anonymous -- thank you so much for your comment! :) From what I have read, the three areas that are covered in the legislation are areas where koalas numbers and habitat are both in real trouble.
ReplyDeleteHowever, in Victoria, the rate of decline is thought to be slower. But also in Victoria, pressure from industry/development groups is particularly strong.
The lack of protection in Victoria is seen as a moderate concession to industry/development. Of course, if industry/development prospers in Victoria, the rate of koala decline will increase there as it has in Queensland and NSW. So when it's nearly too late to save them, maybe then protection will begin.
We have to remember that once tree habitat is destroyed, it is almost never "returned" to prior animal dwellers, no matter what the legislation.
No tree, no me...
PS LOVED the VENERABLE observation!!! :)))