Conservation and Environment

Land and biodiversity at a time of climate change - Home

Home | Green Paper | What you've said | Initial Consultation Paper | Victoria's natural environment | Governance | Media releases | FAQs The ecosystems of Victoria are globally significant. Victoria’s land and aquatic environments support a wider range of ecosystems than any area of similar size in Australia. However, despite the efforts of Victoria’s pioneering Landcare movement, a long history of environment protection legislation and widespread action by governments, businesses and the community, the health of our natural environment continues to decline. In addition to long-established pressures, we also need to contend with an unpredictable and changing climate. In the face of these challenges, the Victorian Government’s Our Environment Our Future: Sustainability Action Statement 2006, made a commitment to the development of a Land and Biodiversity White Paper (Action 7.1). Terms of Reference The White Paper, due for release in 2009, will: set the direction for Victorian Government policy and investment priorities in natural resource management, land health and biodiversity for the next 20-50 years consider how environment and natural resource management activity at the regional, catchment, local and farm scale, and on public land, is contributing to Victoria’s overall environmental health make sure Victorian Government policy and investment is responsive to new threats and opportunities. Following the release of an initial Consultation Paper in April 2007 over 360 submissions were received. The key themes from these submissions were analysed extensively and used to inform the development of a Green Paper which was released on 6 April 2008. An independent analysis of the Consultation Paper submissions (PDF - 500 Kb) was also provided by the Environment Defenders’ Office. The Green Paper represents the second stage in the process for developing the final White Paper or statement of the State Government’s policy and intentions in this area. The Green Paper outlines the ongoing decline in our land health and biodiversity and discusses suggested approaches for tackling the problems we face. It provides an opportunity for all Victorians to have some input into the development of new policy approaches that will underpin the future health of our natural ecosystems and the biodiversity that supports them. The Green Paper is complemented by a Summary brochure, reference papers and fact sheets. All Green Paper documents are available for download. If you would like a hard copy of the Green Paper or the Summary brochure, please call DSE’s Customer Service Centre on 136 186. page top Timelines page top Parallel to the development of the White Paper the 1997 Biodiversity Strategy is being renewed. See also: Biodiversity Strategy Renewal Contact To find out more, email land.whitepaper@dse.vic.gov.au or contact the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s Customer Service Centre on 136 186.