13 September 2006
GREATER COMMITMENT NEEDED TO MANAGEMENT OF WA’S INTERNATIONALLY
IMPORTANT WETLANDS, SAYS AUDITOR GENERAL
Des Pearson’s last report as WA’s Auditor General has focused
on the management of WA’s wetlands, specifically the 12 listed
as being of international importance under the International Convention
on Wetlands established in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar.
In a foreword to the report, tabled in Parliament today, Mr Pearson
notes that since European settlement WA has lost, and continues to lose,
much of its wetlands.
“Wetlands are a litmus test for the broader environment – healthy
wetlands are indicators of healthy land around them, and vice versa,” he
says.
“It follows that good management of wetlands is an important part
of protecting the environmental assets of the State for the benefit of
West Australians into the future.”
In regard the 12 Ramsar wetlands, Mr Pearson expresses concern over
the State’s level of commitment to their ongoing management.
“Whilst there is every evidence that the people working on the
management of these internationally recognised wetlands are committed
to their protection, I am not assured that the State is equally committed,” he
says.
“The State has rightfully gained kudos from the nomination of
wetlands to the Ramsar Convention, but it will miss opportunities for
long-lasting benefits unless it prudently provides for the continuing
needs of those wetlands.”
When examining the management of the 12 Ramsar wetlands by the Department
of Environment and Conservation (DEC) and the Conservation Commission
Mr Pearson found that conservation of these sites needs to improve, particularly
the management planning and implementation of strategies if degradation
is to be prevented and prohibitive rehabilitation costs avoided.
Other key findings included:
- Whilst it was expected that Ramsar
sites are managed in accordance with overarching policies and strategies
it was found that this is not the case – rather, they are managed
as individual sites with significant differences in activity and control
across the 12 sites.
- There is no dedicated program of funding by either
the Commonwealth or State for Ramsar wetlands, with management activity
to prevent site degradation limited in the absence of funding.
- A lack
of coordinated and uniform monitoring means that DEC cannot provide
an overview of the health of the 12 wetlands.
- There is clear evidence
of a worsening in ecological character in at least two Ramsar wetlands
and DEC has not reported to the Commonwealth on such changes since
1999.
- Six of the 12 Ramsar wetlands at present have no plans for their
management even though the preparation of management plans is a State
obligation.
- There is no agency with final responsibility for the protection
and management of the ecological character of three Ramsar sites and
part of a fourth – DEC is charged with implementing the Ramsar
Convention but it has no legal authority to do so on these four sites
because they are not vested in the Conservation Commission.
In responding to Mr Pearson’s concerns DEC supported some of the
findings but maintained that these must be placed in context, recognising
that the principal responsibility for Australian Ramsar site obligations
rests with the Commonwealth Government.
Its view was that there is scope for additional Commonwealth assistance
to both the State and private land managers in the development of Ramsar
site management plans and also in their implementation.
DEC does not support the notion that Ramsar sites should be managed
separately from other conservation land management.
The Conservation Commission supported the findings and recommendations
presented in the report.
Ends/.
Media Contact: Peter Villiers,
Manager Reporting and Communications
Tel: (08) 9222 7558. Mobile:
0417 936 171 Fax: (08) 9322 5664
4th Floor Dumas House 2 Havelock
Street West Perth
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