Conservation groups have welcomed a $250 million federal funding boost towards conserving Australia’s nature. 

Environment minister Tanya Plibersek today announced “Saving Australia’s Bushland Program”, with funding allocated towards building Australia’s protected areas network.

Biodiversity Council Co-chief Councillor and former Queensland Government Chief Scientist Professor Hugh Possingham from the University of Queensland said the “investment is important to enable Australia to meet our commitment to protect 30 per cent of our lands and seas by 2030 as a signatory to the Global Biodiversity Framework”.

“This is a positive move toward setting aside space for our unique plants and animals, but we also need to see greatly increased funding to effectively manage these conservation areas so native plants, animals and ecosystems can survive and thrive in these places,” Mr Possingham said.

Tim Nicol, National Director for Pew Charitable Trusts:

“Australia currently leads the world in mammal extinctions so this vital increase in nature funding is welcome, and will help to preserve Australia’s wildlife and bushland,” Mr Nicol said.

“To protect 30% of land by 2030 Australia must conserve an additional 60 million hectares, which will protect wildlife, help address climate change, and help secure clean air and water for future generations.  

“As we make our way towards achieving 30 by 30, we need a bipartisan commitment of at least 1% of federal spending to protect nature. We know how to turn around the decline in Australia’s nature but we need adequate investment to get there.

“Investing more funds in Australia’s nature makes good sense for communities and our economy – it’s about protecting the wildlife we all love and securing a healthy and prosperous future for our children and young people,” he said.

Fraser Thompson, co-founder of specialist sustainability project development and advisory firm, Cyan Ventures, said nature matters, not just from an environmental standpoint, but also to our economy.  

“The forthcoming research of Cyan Ventures with the 30 by 30 coalition has found that nature contributes at least A$138 billion per annum of direct economic benefits to Australia (equivalent to about 5.3 per cent of Australia’s GDP, almost the same as manufacturing),” he said. 

“Including indirect benefits, this grows to A$511 billion (equivalent to almost 20% of GDP, which is roughly the same size as the finance and mining sectors combined).”  

Remember, 30 by 30 is non-partisan, we will never issue advice on how to vote. We are committed to working with all sides of politics at all times to secure the best outcomes for nature.