The document provides an overview of the Victoria National Parks Association (VNPA) on the occasion of its 60th anniversary. It outlines VNPA's vision, mission, and goals of conservation, education, and promoting enjoyment of natural areas. It summarizes VNPA's founding in 1952 and key accomplishments over 60 years, including expanding protected areas from 124,000 hectares to almost 4 million hectares. However, it notes more protection is still needed as Victoria remains the most cleared state with many threatened plants and animals and degradation of waterways and wetlands.

2. CONTENTS
• VNPA Overview
• 60 th
Anniversary – Foundations
• State of the State
• VNPA Priorities & Projects – Summary
• 60 th
Anniversary Events

3. VNPA VISION & MISSION
• Victoria is a place with a diverse, secure and
healthy natural environment that is cared for
and appreciated by all
• VNPA is an independent, not for profit,
supporter and membership-based group

4. VNPA Goals
• Conservation: work with Victorians to conserve and protect
natural environments
• Educate & Empower: educate and empower more Victorian so
they understand, and respond to, conservation issues
• Activities & Adventures: participate with more Victorians to
drive - and promote - enjoyment, care and protection of our
unique natural heritage

5. VNPA FOUNDATIONS
• VNPA Established 1952 following ‘Combined Societies’
conference
• Including 16 groups Field Naturalist Clubs, Bushwalking Clubs,
Bird Groups, Museum, Youth Hostels + individuals
• Campaign to get a National Park Act – First Act passed 1956
• Foundation Leaders:
• Crosbie Morrison 1st
President,
• Ross Garnet, 1st
Honorary Secretary

6. OUR RECORD – 60 Years !
• Since 1952, VNPA & its supporters have achieved great
things
 national parks and reserves expanding 124,000ha to almost 4
million hectares
 Protecting many different bushland types and ecosystems
 Protecting native plants and animals – many threatened !
 But more is needed !

7. HIGHLIGHTS
• 30 year campaign  create an alpine national park
• Protection of the Grampians
• Box-Ironbark parks in central Victoria
• Lead the ‘Hands Off’ the Prom Campaign
• Controls on the clearing of native bushlands
• The creation of a world first system of Marine National
Parks and Sanctuaries
• Alpine national park – cattle free (almost !)
• Consolidated Point Nepean National Park
• 100,000 ha of new red gum parks

8. Conservation Reserves before 1952

9. National Parks & Conservation Reserves 1952-1972

10. National Parks & Conservation Reserves 1972-1992

11. National Parks & Conservation Reserves 1992-2012

12. National Parks & Conservation Reserves 1992-2012

13. National Parks & Conservation Reserves + Public Land

18. THE STATE OF THE STATE
• One third of the world’s mammal extinctions since 1600AD
have been in Australia
• Victoria is the most cleared state 50%-70% gone. On private
land 80% - 90% [1]
• 44% of native plants and 30% animals extinct or threatened [2]
• 78% of bushland types threatened [3]
• 75% of our waterways degraded and 35% of our wetlands
totally lost [4]
[1] National Land and Water Resources Audit, 2002. Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment
2002. SOE 2008
[2] CSIRO, 2004, Environmental Sustainability Issues Analysis for Victoria, SOE 2008
[3] Traill and Porter, 2001, Nature Conservation Review Victoria 2001, VNPA
[4] Vic Catchment Management Council. 2002. The Health of Our Catchments: A
Victorian Report Card (p.32)

19. THREATS
• Extinction debt
• Decline in ecological quality/ integrity
• Threatening processes:
 Invasive weeds and animals
 Agricultural intensification
 Urban development
 Overgrazing
 Fire
 Climate change

20. www.vnpa.org.au
THANK YOU