Australia is recognized as a mega-diverse country, with Sydney being the fifth most biodiverse region, yet it faces significant biodiversity threats, including 267 threatened species and a high level of habitat destruction. The tourism industry, heavily reliant on biodiversity, contributes 24.2% to Australia's GDP, with international visitors spending $20.5 billion. To mitigate ongoing losses, solutions include creating wildlife corridors and promoting government initiatives to protect and restore habitats.

1. bio diversity Australian Museum 2007 www.amonline.net.au

2. Australia is one of only 17 countries recognised as “ mega-diverse” BIODIVERSITY Sydney is the 5 th most bio-diverse region in Australia....but there are 267 species listed as threatened in Sydney Australian Govt, Dept of the Environment and Water Resources 2007 www.environment.gov.au

3. 90% of native and riparian vegetation has been cleared since 1788 SYDNEY: 2007 Wikipedia 2007 Wikipedia.org Widespread habitat destruction fragmentation landscape degradation

4. More than 950 native plants and animals are threatened in NSW 24 marsupials threatened in NSW (such as Koalas, Wallabies, Pygmy-Possums, Hairy-nosed Wombats) – represent Australian Identity on international level. 37 ecological communities, 96 animal species, 50 plant species and 9 fungi species threatened in Sydney Metro CMA STATE OF SPECIES DIVERSITY Dept of Government & Climate Change NSW 2007 www. threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au

5. Australian Conservation Foundation 2007 www.australianwildlife.org EXTINCT BIODIVERSITY EXTINCTION 40 animal and 41 plant species are listed as presumed extinct

6. Pagiola et al, October 2004 The World Bank Environment Department Environment Department Paper No.101, Assessing the Economic Value of Ecosystem Conservation VALUE OF BIODIVERSITY Australian National Identity + Kenefick B 2006 blog.cyberworksmedia.com Global community includes international tourists/visitors

7. Domestic + international tourism = 24.2 % of total GDP, or $37.6 billion TOURISM: Sydney is the Gateway to Australia Australian Government – Tourism Australia 2007 www.tourism.australia.com Warren Adrian 2007 www.adrianwarren.com

8. $20.5 billion International visitors bring in … representing 10.5 % of Australia’s total exports of goods and services TOURISM Australian Government – Tourism Australia 2007 www.tourism.australia.com

9. Half of their favorite activities are biodiversity-dependent TOURISM ACTIVITIES Australian Government – Tourism Australia 2007 www.tourism.australia.com

10. The tourism industry employed 464,500 persons in 2005-06, approximately 5% of total Australian employment TOURISM EMPLOYMENT Australian Government – Tourism Australia 2007 www.tourism.australia.com Eco Point www.ee.columbia.edu

11. Biodiversity: extinct, endangered and vulnerable species EXTINCTION VS POPULATION GROWTH RATES: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2007 Peter McDonald 2007 www.sos.org.au Population growth www.australianfauna.com 20007 Golden Bandicoot – presumed extinct in NSW+Sydney Grevillea nematophylla florabase.calm.wa.gov.au

12. If current trends continue, biodiversity will be considerably diminished by 2030: human-caused event transformation of the landscape overexploitation of species pollution the introduction of alien species the first recorded global extinction event that has a biotic, rather than a physical, cause THE 6 TH MASS EXTINCTION Eldredge N, 2007, American Institute of Biological Sciences FATE 2006 www.fate.unsw.edu.au

13. Diminish fragmentation by establishing corridors/networks connecting habitat/ecosystems Mitigate climate change impacts with north-south connections, facilitating wildlife movement and plant re-establishment Australian natives only — animal/plant SOLUTIONS

14. FEDERAL - Tax abatements, rebates for protecting land - Purchase of development rights STATE - Strict enforcement and penalties authorities for damage to biodiversity - Moratorium on greenfield development - Measures to mitigate barrier effect of roadways LOCAL Residential/private initiatives: - No exotic nursery stock; - No exotic plants or animals SOLUTIONS

15. GOVERNMENT SOLUTION “ The Alps to Atherton wildlife corridor, including much of the Great Dividing Range mountains, spans a 2800km stretch of Eastern Australia.” NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2007

16. Proposed Wildlife Corridors by Sydney Metro Strategy Proposed Wildlife Corridors

17. Biodiversity has unquestion able value , economic & intrinsic Sydney – bio diverse region Provide connected network of h abitats, especially N-S Integrate with larger federal pla n Maintain and increase biodivers ity Mitigate the impacts of climate change and global warming Increase resilience of Sydney an d its inhabitants to adverse climatic crises Livability of Sydney CONCLUSION www.uprct.nsw.gov.au