<
https://theconversation.com/koalas-parrots-frogs-and-orchids-share-our-cities-their-fate-depends-on-protecting-each-ones-habitat-not-just-30-of-all-land-192176>
"The global 30x30 target aims to protect 30% of the planet by 2030 to secure
its biodiversity. This involves legal protection for land and sea areas
designated as national parks and nature reserves. Australia has joined more
than 100 countries in this bold initiative.
However, if we are to adequately protect all species, we must acknowledge we
never start with a blank slate. As a major academic review of fragmented
ecosystems observed:
“Conservation managers must work with the remnants and virtually never have
the opportunity to design a reserve network before an area is fragmented.”
The areas we choose to protect must include ecosystems where biodiversity is
under pressure from human land uses. Australia’s urban areas still have a
surprisingly high level of biodiversity.
Our major cities are home to almost 380 threatened species. They range from the
western ringtail possum, koala and grey-headed flying fox to the orange-bellied
parrot, red-crowned toadlet and several orchids. Indeed, 39 endangered species
are found only in our cities and towns.
These urban areas also include threatened ecological communities such as the
banksia woodlands of the Swan coastal plain in Perth and blue gum high forest
of the Sydney region.
So, what does the 30x30 target mean for our cities and how we protect their
biodiversity?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
