|
| all news articles | by topics |
|
news
articles about singapore's wild places
|
| WWF
website 24 Oct 05 Plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef recognized as a Gift to the Earth Channel NewsAsia 24 Oct 05 Australia wins praise for Great Barrier Reef protection plan SYDNEY: Australia, a frequent target of criticism from environmentalists for refusing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, received the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) top accolade for its efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef. The fund, a leading international conservation group, bestowed its Gift to the Earth award on Australia for the 2004 implementation of a Great Barrier Reef Marine Park zoning plan, which banned fishing in a third of the World Heritage-listed park. The fund said the zoning plan was a "pioneering development in marine conservation that sets the benchmark for marine protected area network establishment in Australia and around the world". "The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's most treasured natural wonders, and the Australian government has shown it is truly a world leader in marine conservation by implementing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park zoning plan," said WWF official James Leape. The award was announced at the start of the inaugural meeting of the International Marine Protected Areas Congress in the Australian city of Geelong. The congress brought together several hundred experts in marine conservation from more than 60 countries. WWF said they hoped the Gift to the Earth award would inspire other countries to follow Australia's lead and establish similar marine protection areas. The Great Barrier Reef stretches over more than 345,000 square kilometres (133,000 sq miles) off Australia's northeast coast and is home to 1,500 fish species. Considered the world's largest living organism, the network of coral reefs is the centerpiece of a multi-billion dollar annual tourism industry, attracting divers from around the world. The Australian plan, implemented in July 2004, increased the area of the park covered by a ban on all fishing and tight restrictions on other activities from 4.6 percent to 33 percent. However, the reef - which has been listed by the United Nations as a World Heritage site - remains under threat, notably from coral bleaching believed to be caused by rising sea temperatures linked to global warming. Australia's government has refused to sign the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which imposed reductions in the production of so-called greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, saying the pact would harm its economy. But it recently joined the United States, the other major holdout from the Kyoto deal, in a six-country pact on curbing greenhouse gases. Meanwhile a leading conservationist in Australia for this week's congress called for the creation of a global system of marine protected areas to prevent the world's ocean resources from being depleted. "We are talking about a network of marine protected areas that is defined from both an ecological and eco-system perspective as well as from the perspective of the users," said Achim Steiner, director-general of the World Conservation Union. "We now know that 15 of the world's 17 largest fisheries - where the world depends on its fish - are either at full exploitation level or in fact, declining," Steiner said on national radio. "We need countries like Australia, but in fact every one of the 200-odd nations around the world, to try and come to agreements on new forms of ocean governance that allow us to not leave the rest of the oceans simply to anyone's whim in terms of exploiting the resources," he said. "Marine issues are not national issues - yes, they require national action - but above all, they require nations to work together." WWF website 24 Oct 05 Plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef recognized as a Gift to the Earth Australia – WWF has presented the Australian government with a Gift to the Earth — the global conservation organization's highest accolade — for the design and implementation of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park zoning plan. WWF regards the zoning plan as a pioneering development in marine conservation that sets the benchmark for marine protected area network establishment in Australia and around the world. “The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most treasured natural wonders, and the Australian government has shown it is truly a world leader in marine conservation by implementing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park zoning plan,” said James Leape, WWF International Director General designate. The Great Barrier Reef isn't just one of the world’s most precious natural treasures, it is also one of Australia's most valuable tourism assets. In 2004, reef industries contributed approximately AUD$5.8 billion (US$4.3 billion) to the Australian economy and employed about 63,000 people. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park zoning plan was implemented on 1 July 2004. Under the plan, strict protection rose from 4.6 per cent to 33 per cent of the Marine Park and World Heritage Area, covering more than 11 million hectares. While tourism and other non-extractive activities continue in the new, scientifically-based network of marine protected areas, all commercial and recreational fishing is now banned. “Protecting and restoring the resilience of the Great Barrier Reef is the most important goal for its future," said Leape. "The network of strictly protected areas outlined in the zoning plan will make a significant contribution to this goal.” WWF expects the Australian government to continue to take a leadership role in combating threats to the Great Barrier Reef, and will build on its success in protecting the reef as it establishes networks of Marine Protected Areas to safeguard the full range of Australian marine and coastal habitats. The Gift to the Earth ceremony took place at the opening of the inaugural International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC) in Geelong, Australia. Almost 700 experts in marine conservation from over 60 countries are attending the international meeting, and WWF hopes that the Gift to the Earth award will inspire other countries around the world to establish similar levels of protection in their marine environment. links Related articles on Wild Shores of Singapore |
| News articles are reproduced for non-profit educational purposes. | |
website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com |