Scientists identify need for better river and wetland protection

The protection of Australia's freshwater ecosystems has been discussed at the Australian Protected Area Congress finishing today at the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.

More than 300 scientists, government officials and environmental advocates have been attracted to the conference.

Conference attendee, UQ researcher Dr Simon Linke, said presentations included new research by Dr Janet Stein from the Australian National University that show that less than two percent of Australia's rivers are flowing freely with their catchments intact – this is in contrast to 12 percent of all land in Australia in national parks and nature reserves. Many types of rivers have no protection at all.

Significant advances were discussed at the meeting. They included work by Dr Linke — in conjunction with the eWaer CRC and various state agencies — to develop decision support software that will facilitate planning and prioritzation of high value aquatic ecosystems.

Dr Linke said the Commonwealth and the States were also working together with scientists to develop a national inventory of significant rivers and wetlands.

The congress was the biggest event of its kind to draw together scientists, managers and advocates working on protected areas.

Dr Linke said the scientists and managers at the conference agreed that there was an urgent need for better protection and congratulated the Commonwealth Government on their new initiatives to identify and protect important rivers and wetlands in Australia.

Media contacts
Dr Simon Linke (UQ) 0410 022 221
Dr Janet Stein 0427 588 122
Dr Eren Turak (NSW DECC) 0411 270 816
Jon Nevill 0422 926 515
Dr James Fitzsimons (The Nature Conservancy) 0410 576 695