The Biodiversity Council acknowledges the First Peoples of the lands and waters of Australia, and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and future and expresses gratitude for long and ongoing custodianship of Country.
The Biodiversity Council is an independent expert group founded by 11 Australian universities to promote evidence-based solutions to Australia’s biodiversity crisis. It is hosted by The University of Melbourne. It receives funding from 11 university partners and The Ian Potter Foundation, The Ross Trust, Trawalla Foundation, The Rendere Trust, Isaacson Davis Foundation, Coniston Charitable Trust and Angela Whitbread.
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Submission to South-east Marine Parks Network Draft Management Plan
14 November 2024
We support the creation of 11 new sanctuaries across 10 marine parks, but are concerned that commercial fishing has been prioritised over biodiversity protection in some parks.
Preventing extinctions of Australian freshwater fishes: A national assessment
12 November 2024
This factsheet summarises key findings of the first comprehensive assessment of the extinction risk of Australian freshwater fish species and includes urgent recommendations to prevent extinctions.
Submission to Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve proposed proclamation and proposal to prepare a draft management plan
10 October 2024
The Biodiversity Council is concerned that the proclamation and management plan will not substantially improve levels of protection for marine biodiversity around Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
What does Nature Positive mean for business and governments
8 October 2024
Achieving our Nature Positive commitments requires ambitious and targeted effort from government, business and the broader community. This report outlines the key requirements from these groups to ensure we meet our commitments.
Identifying and assessing subsidies harmful to biodiversity in Australia
7 October 2024
This report summarises findings from a project undertaken by the Biodiversity Council to do a first pass assessment to identify and assess subsidies from Australian Government programs that are potentially harmful to biodiversity.
The Biodiversity Council is concerned that the draft Sustainable Oceans Plan has critical gaps and would likely fail in achieving its stated national vision for a sustainable ocean economy.
Our submission on the Performance Framework for Queensland's Biodiversity Strategy
11 September 2024
The Queensland Government have developed a framework to support the implementation of their statewide biodiversity strategy. Our submission outlines two key concerns about the framework.
Submission to the Offshore wind industry consultation process
6 September 2024
Regarding the inquiry into the offshore wind industry consultation process, we suggest opportunities to improve outcomes for biodiversity and reduce conflicts between renewable energy project proposals and stakeholders.
The Biodiversity Council views the existing national forest policy architecture as failing to protect biodiversity. Read the submission for more details.
Submission to South Australia's proposed amendments to the Dog and Cat Management Act
6 September 2024
The South Australia Government have proposed changes to their Dog and Cat Management Act to improve cat management. In our submission we support the intentions and outline additional ways to improve cat management.
