Conservation on Australian Wildlife
australian
wildlife matters
wildlife
c o ns erv an cy
Summer 2009/10
Delivering effective conservation for Australia’s wildlife 2
australian
saving australia’s threatened wildlife
wildlife
Pictograph
Welcome to our Summer 2009/10 edition of Wildlife Matters. 2009 has been an immensely challenging year for most organisations. One measure of the nation’s wealth – our sharemarket – started the year in steep decline before turning a corner in
March. The relatively rapid turnaround in this financial indicator stands in stark contrast to the relentless decline in the indicators of Australia’s natural capital. Our indicators for threatened species, landscape health and matters such as water quality continue to deteriorate.
How do we turn around the decline in our natural capital? It is pretty clear that new business models are required to effectively deliver many conservation services.
Business as usual will mean more extinctions and a progressive loss of the natural capital that, among other things, underpins our economic health.
AWC is at the forefront of developing and implementing a new model for conservation.
In previous editions of Wildlife Matters we have outlined some of the key elements of this new model:
• A high proportion of our resources are invested in the field (80% of our staff are based in the field).
• We invest in science, and ensure that our science and operations are tightly integrated. • We work closely with neighbours and other partner organisations to help deliver fire management and other programs at a regional level.
In addition to reporting on progress around the AWC estate, this Wildlife Matters also focuses on another key element of our conservation model – measuring the ecological health of our sanctuaries. Identifying a need to measure outcomes is, of course, nothing new. However, implementing a scientifically rigorous process of measuring ecological health across a network of protected
wildlife matters
wildlife
c o ns erv an cy
Summer 2009/10
Delivering effective conservation for Australia’s wildlife 2
australian
saving australia’s threatened wildlife
wildlife
Pictograph
Welcome to our Summer 2009/10 edition of Wildlife Matters. 2009 has been an immensely challenging year for most organisations. One measure of the nation’s wealth – our sharemarket – started the year in steep decline before turning a corner in
March. The relatively rapid turnaround in this financial indicator stands in stark contrast to the relentless decline in the indicators of Australia’s natural capital. Our indicators for threatened species, landscape health and matters such as water quality continue to deteriorate.
How do we turn around the decline in our natural capital? It is pretty clear that new business models are required to effectively deliver many conservation services.
Business as usual will mean more extinctions and a progressive loss of the natural capital that, among other things, underpins our economic health.
AWC is at the forefront of developing and implementing a new model for conservation.
In previous editions of Wildlife Matters we have outlined some of the key elements of this new model:
• A high proportion of our resources are invested in the field (80% of our staff are based in the field).
• We invest in science, and ensure that our science and operations are tightly integrated. • We work closely with neighbours and other partner organisations to help deliver fire management and other programs at a regional level.
In addition to reporting on progress around the AWC estate, this Wildlife Matters also focuses on another key element of our conservation model – measuring the ecological health of our sanctuaries. Identifying a need to measure outcomes is, of course, nothing new. However, implementing a scientifically rigorous process of measuring ecological health across a network of protected