From the Victorian National Parks Association I have a request for FOGGS to join in a petition.
The next time you take a walk in one of Victoria’s great national parks, it might be good to remember that it was probably established on the advice of a remarkable independent government body called the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council. VEAC is an independent, science-based body that looks at the ecological value of habitats and advises the government on what to protect. VEAC and its predecessors have been providing sound scientific advice for almost 40 years. Now the Victorian Government has a proposal to abolish the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC). This will put future habitat protection at severe risk.
Why do we need an independent VEAC?
Community organisations like the Victorian National Parks Association have been key drivers for the greater protection and better management of our natural areas. But Victoria, unlike other states, has also had the benefit of a unique public institution: an independent body – part of government but acting at arm’s length, and empowered to conduct robust assessments of public land use before making recommendations to government.
Victoria is one of the country’s most cleared states, with around 70% of our native habitat cleared or damaged. Most remaining intact natural areas are on public land, of which about half is now protected in national parks and other conservation reserves. VEAC, and its predecessors, have been instrumental in the creation of Victoria’s world class national parks and conservation reserves.
There are many more large and small special places to protect … so let’s keep VEAC going to ensure we save and protect these places.
Please join the ‘Friends of VEAC’ in collecting petition signatures calling on the State Government to strengthen VEAC, not to abolish it. The target is 10,000 names, which are planned to be delivered to Premier John Brumby by World Environment Day, June 5 2010. You can help by downloading and printing out a VEAC petition form [http://www.vnpa.org.au/], collecting 10 names for each form, and then returning them to the VNPA office by 1 June 2010.
Contact: Victorian National Parks Association 9347 5188 or http://www.vnpa.org.au